''Pid'' is a

puzzle-platform game A platform game (often simplified as platformer and sometimes called a jump 'n' run game) is a sub-genre of action video games in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are charac ...

developed by

Might and Delight Might and Delight is a Swedish video game development studio and publisher based in Stockholm. The studio was established in 2010 and is best known for the ''Shelter'' series. History Might and Delight formed in 2010, comprising a team of 11 wh ...

and published by

D3 Publisher is a Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on February 5, 1992. The company is known for the ''Simple'' series of budget-priced video games. Their games have been released for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Ni ...

for

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through the

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PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on November 11, 2006, in Japan, November ...

through PlayStation Network, Microsoft Windows, and

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. On November 18, 2022, it was published by RedDeerGames for Nintendo Switch. It was announced December 7, 2011 and released worldwide October 31, 2012. The game received average scores, with reviewers citing its presentation and soundtrack as favorable, but having problems with the game's repetitive gameplay and frustrating puzzle solutions. ''Pid ''was the recipient of the 2012 European Games Award in the Innovate Newcomer category.

Gameplay

''Pid ''begins as a young boy named Kurt is left stranded on a remote

alien Alien primarily refers to: * Alien (law), a person in a country who is not a national of that country ** Enemy alien, the above in times of war * Extraterrestrial life, life which does not originate from Earth ** Specifically, intelligent extrater ...

planet. As he travels across the mysterious land, the boy must defeat terrifying robot enemies, as well as befriend unfamiliar allies in his quest to uncover an alien conspiracy and return home. The game takes place in a 2D side-scrolling perspective. The player must utilize a wide variety of different gameplay situations and mechanics to overcome and traverse the world's puzzle-like landscape. Kurt's primary tool is a white jewel that produces what the game calls "beams", which can be used to propel him in a manner of ways throughout the levels and solve various puzzles. The beams are used to create

gravity well The Hill sphere of an astronomical body is the region in which it dominates the attraction of satellites. To be retained by a planet, a moon must have an orbit that lies within the planet's Hill sphere. That moon would, in turn, have a Hil ...

s, which push Kurt outward into the air, with two allowed to be active at once in the environment. However, gravity manipulation is not the only way to interact with his surroundings, as Kurt also comes across a variety of other tools which can be used at his disposal. Blue and red bombs can be detonated to either damage enemies immediately or timed for strategical placement respectively. Burst beams will allow him to reach higher areas out of reach from the normal beams' gravity wells. Smoke bombs can obscure his location from enemy spotlights and flashlights. Kurt may also make use of a vest that allows him to withstand more damage. There is also a co-operative mode where both players are dependent on each other to solve puzzles and eliminate enemies, while also competing and testing their skills against one another.

Soundtrack

The music score was composed and recorded by a small group of studio musicians called Retro Family, based in Sweden. The soundtrack has notably been a large part of the game's praises.

Reception

Pid has received mixed reviews from critics, with a

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and GameRankings average score of 72/100 and 73% respectively. Criticism was directed at the game's repetitiveness and difficulty. GameSpot's Leif Johnson criticized the game's "excessively brutal difficulty, particularly in boss fights", while also enjoying the gravity puzzles and presentation, giving the game a 7/10. IGN's Colin Moriarty gave ''Pid ''a 7.8/10, or a "good" score, also praising the game's unique gameplay and setting as well its soundtrack, while also stating "occasionally wonky puzzles are bound to annoy" and puzzle solutions may be frustratingly obtuse. Other reviewers were much more positive, with Official Xbox Magazine's Chuck Osborn giving the game an 8.5 for its innovative gravity mechanic allowing "for more freedom in puzzle solving".

References

External links

{{commons category
''Pid'' official website
2012 video games D3 Publisher games MacOS games PlayStation 3 games PlayStation Network games Puzzle-platform games Video games developed in Sweden Video games set on fictional planets Windows games Xbox 360 games Xbox 360 Live Arcade games Nintendo Switch games