Origament: A Paper Adventure Review (PC)

It takes a great deal to turn a tale without context into a viable option for a compelling video game. In fact, it’s either something that you have or you don’t — that “drive” that entices people to sign along the dotted line and embark on nonsensical pilgrimages without actually reading the terms and conditions. It isn’t something that you can just do, nor is it an idea that you can just scrunch together and send out to the world like origami ships on a radioactive ocean. The ambiance has to be perfect, and the message has to make you feel like the reward is far better than the burden. It doesn’t even need a voice; it just needs to entice you to weave and flounder in the dark while it tends to an almighty climax on the farthest apex of its silent path. Journey did it, and so did Flower, for that matter. Yet, the question still stands here: How does Origament: A Paper Adventure fit into this story? How does it compete with the other ships in the vast ocean?

As I said, it takes a lot for indie voyages like these to make a lasting impression. In the first several minutes or so, you either find something to fall in love with, or you simple discard it and launch it into a paper waste bin before searching elsewhere for a therapeutic cure to scratch “that” itch. And when it comes to this world, in particular, it doesn’t make too much of an effort to fill your head with unnecessary jargon. No, it just hands you an anthropomorphic letter, and it tells you (vaguely) that, due to a spectacular storm, you suddenly have the power to shape-shift and move, and that you need to find the recipient, who just so happens to be somewhere on what feels like the opposite end of the earth. Lo and behold, you have your story. A piece of paper awakens to an archival world, and decides to venture out to locate their missing address. Again, you don’t need to be a wizard to connect the dots here.

Origament: A Paper Adventure describes itself as a puzzle-platforming adventure game, and rightly so. As the courageous letter in this vibrant and wholesome diorama, you—a piece of paper that can transform into planes, boats and other basic origami structures—are given the chance to set out to cross vast distances and, through the power of your anthropomorphic spirit, tackle logical puzzles en route to the ever-elusive address. There are cities to explore, weather conditions to avoid, and various environmental jigsaw puzzles that require you to alter your form in order to bypass them.

For the record, Origament isn’t a taxing game, nor is it one that forces you to scratch your chin as it illuminates a plethora of nonconventional crossroads for you to ponder. It just asks you to follow a linear path, and frequently complete various environmental tasks, some of which require you to scrunch yourself up into a ball, some of which require you to glide through various obstacles and evade irritating weather-related curveballs. There’s more to it than that, but you get the idea. It’s simply the case of leaning into your origami tendencies to tackle areas and puzzles. A boat can aid your nautical exploration; a plane can help you navigate turbulent winds; and a ball can give you a speedier boost, and so on and so forth.

While there isn’t a lot of context etched into the game, Origament is a surprisingly easy one to glide into and learn on the fly. From a mechanic standpoint, there isn’t a lot for you to wrap your head around. But that isn’t what this game is. It isn’t a technical masterpiece with innovative components strewn into the UI; it’s a laid-back journey that reflects compassion and determination in a soothing and meaningful way, with as little as a courageous craft and a dynamic world to convey its message and pull you deeper into its story.

If you comb over the fact that there isn’t much of a storyline to unravel here, then you should be able to see Origament for the beautiful work of art that it is. Alongside a generous selection of themed stages and characters, it also features a brilliant aesthetic that can, I don’t know, just make you feel good. It’s paper, true, yet Space Sauce Studio has done a splendid job of breathing a lot of life into its roots here, with a ton of neat and oh-so-wholesome touches and details to highlight its world and the importance of its message. Does it do enough to hold a candle against the likes of Journey? Eh, it does and it doesn’t. It might not be the perfect carrier for indie video games, but it is a unique one that brings a lot of its own heart and soul to the table.

Verdict

Origament: A Paper Adventure unfolds in a lovingly crafted world where origami and voiceless art collide with whimsical fantasy and palpable messages of hope and wonder, adventure and mystery. Even without the gift of context, it feels like a beautiful story that deserves to be heard. Does it always make sense? No, but that’s sort of the point. It’s a soulful experience that just makes you feel good, like a laid-back journey on a one-way train through the countryside. It isn’t something that you need to experience twice to enjoy, much less comprehend. But it is one that makes the single stint worth your time with stepping stones and platforms to marvel at along the way. And that’s all that you need here: a peaceful voyage through the countryside, with, perhaps, a few pit stops to give you something to do other than gaze through the window for a couple of hours.

There’s a tremendous amount to love here, truly, and therefore, I can’t help but recommend Origament as an ideal choice for those looking to plant their seeds in a world that’s a little different to your average paper-thin pilgrimage. It’s cute, meaningful, and above all, a whole lot of fun. What more could you want from a game like this?