The atmospheric, experimental sci-fi gameAfterglitchhas made waves thanks to its innovative approach to storytelling through motion and action, as well as its groundbreaking visual style and aesthetic. Clearly,Afterglitchhas been designed to be an immersive experience, rather than providing players with what they would typically expect from a sci-fi video game.
Afterglitch’sgameplay is simple and straightforward; it’s pretty much possible to complete the game with the use of one hand alone. With that being said, the game contains a surprising amount of depth despite its short runtime. Here are a few key tips for beginners playingAfterglitchfor the first time.
10Don’t Be Afraid To Take Notes
Afterglitch’sdifferent stages and levels can feel quite abstract and confusing to navigate as players make their way through them. A large part of the gameplayinvolves puzzle-solvingor trying to find a path from point A to point B in different parts of the game, while trying to make sense of its trippy visual effects and backdrops.
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As such, making notes when trying to complete a more complex or abstract level can be helpful for players who are new to the game. This makes it easier to remember everything that’s going on in the level, as well as simply enjoy the experience.
9Make A Mental Map
As mentioned above, the gameplay inAfterglitchrevolves around navigating through various levels, which are generally anything but straightforward to solve. Players struggling to figure out a particular stage should try to make a mental map of where they’ve explored thus far and where they are yet to go.
This can make each level feel more manageable, as the game’s stages do follow a certain structure or layout (for the most part, anyway). Having a mental map of where players need to go can make it easier to not get disorientated by the more complex or out there visual effects in some of the stages, too.
8Enjoy The Ride
Afterglitchis a game almost entirely based on its narrative and theatmospheric experienceit provides. This is a large part of why the gameplay itself is so simplistic; the intent behind the title is for players to enjoy the ride, rather than having to focus excessively on what they’re doing or how they need to respond to different events in the game.
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So, one of the most important things for any beginner toAfterglitchto keep in mind is that they, above all, should try to simply enjoy the game for what it is and has to offer players.
7Use The Camera
It might not feel very intuitive in a game that can feel abstract and obtuse at times, but navigating different levels and solving puzzles inAfterglitchis often quite reliant on using the camera to explore where the player is standing from different angles and orientations.
For players who are feeling stuck on a particular stage or unsure of how they should navigate through it, one of the best things to do is to experiment with moving the camera or exploring an area with the camera at a different angle. This can often make a world of difference.
6Keep An Open Mind
For anyone who’s playedAfterglitch, it more or less goes without saying that the game represents a fairly unorthodox and, at times, obtuse gameplay experience. Not unlike a walking simulator, players don’t actually need to do very much in Afterglitch, and parts of the game can feel truly bizarre thanks totheir galactic visualsand narratives.
As such, trying to keep an open mind when playingAfterglitchcan help players get the most out of the game. Simply enjoying it for what it is, rather than trying to be critical or have any particular expectations, is vital.
5Focus On Narrative Exposition
Afterglitchfocuses heavily on its narrative, essentially at the expense of more complex gameplay or objectives. Because of this, players will generally get the most out of the game by concentrating on the story, its depth, and what the narrative may be trying to communicate to them.
Upon closer inspection,Afterglitch’sstory is quite complex and compelling. Players who neglect this aspect of the game in favor of concentrating on the gameplay or the sheer strangeness of what they’re seeing are really missing out.
4Take Breaks If Necessary
While its runtime is fairly short, playingAfterglitchcan, at times, bean overwhelming experience. The abstract visual effects and relative lack of concrete objectives can make the game feel disorientating or even downright confusing during longer sessions.
Players who are feeling like this should take a break from the game and come back to it when they’re feeling refreshed. Some time away fromAfterglitchcan help things fall into place, as well as make it easier to navigate through the game when players do pick it up again later.
3Find Meaning In The Story
Players who enjoy engaging with a particular narrative and trying to dissect its meaning will easily get the most out of playing through a game likeAfterglitch. For players who don’t tend to do so,Afterglitchmight be the perfect place to start.
The game’s visuals and levels themselves don’t often contain much meaning; rather, they provide a backdrop for a complex story aboutan alien civilisationand different dimensions. Players should do their best to consider what the game’s narrative is telling them at face value, as well as any deeper meaning that might be there.
2Replay The Game If Needed
The first playthrough of a game likeAfterglitchcan more or less feel like a blur. And, with the game’snarrative being fairly complex and deep, it can be tricky to grasp all of its layers and nuance in a single playthrough.
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So, if players are left feeling like they may not have fully mined the depths of the story thatAfterglitchhas to tell, they might want to consider playing through it multiple times. This way, they can really explore what the game has to offer. Doing so isn’t as tedious as it sounds.
1Explore As Much As Possible
Oftentimes,Afterglitch’sdisorienting, obscure levels can leave players feeling intrigued and wanting more. Players should ensure that they’ve thoroughly explored each stage of the game before moving on to the next one.
Each level inAfterglitchprovides a deeply original experience, and different visual effects or experiences can be hidden away at times. Clearly, the title was designed to create a unique, complete sensory world. Players who go to the trouble of making sure they’ve seen everything that each level has to offer will ge more out of the game than those who don’t.
Afterglitchis out now on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, and Microsoft Windows.
