Manual Samuel (Xbox One) Review

Unlike other side-scrolling games, players don't use the left stick or D-pad to move Samuel around. Instead, they press left trigger to move the left leg, right trigger for the right leg. They have to remember to alternate their steps: left, right, left, right. Walking requires a dedicated effort. The average adult blinks ten times a minute, so it's an essential part of this game. By pressing the A button, players can fight off blurry vision. Breathing in and breathing out are relegated to the X and B buttons, respectively. Can't have Samuel collapsing due to a lack of oxygen, right? The hands are controlled via the RB and LB buttons. Anything else that occurs, gamers will just have to play it by ear. Luckily, there isn't a button for hearing.

This control scheme is interesting, since it requires players to be dexterous, or have a mind for strategy. Trying to breathe, blink, and walk all at once is difficult, so sometimes the player has to prioritise. If they're aware of the current situation, then they don't really need to blink, do they? It's all right to be half blind while walking down a corridor. Take a nice deep breath before attempting strenuous tasks, because doing a cumbersome dance on the controller can be problematic. There aren't really any penalties for failure, aside from the narrator making light of Samuel's miserable predicament. However, this is a speed-oriented game, and flopping around like a one-legged toad wastes valuable seconds.

The humour tends to be hit or miss. The cut-scenes aren't particularly funny, but everything that's happening in-game is amusing or even hilarious. Trying (and failing) to get through the day is a laugh, and the game offers enough freedom to goof off and make mistakes. The scenarios are also varied and at least a little inventive. Some - like driving to work - run a little long, but the pacing isn't too bad overall. This is a short game, though, so it's worth attempting the time attack and co-op modes, while also figuring out how to obtain all of the hidden achievements.

The controls suffer from a slight delay. This is most noticeable when trying to talk or avoid choking. It's something that can be easily adjusted to. The boss fights can also be annoying, but it's more of a side effect of the controls. At times, players are expected to do the controller equivalent of rubbing their stomach while patting their head. Every now and then, the wrong button gets pressed, Samuel tries to move his right leg twice in a row, and bad things just happen. It's more stressful during speedrun attempts, because a couple of lost seconds might result in missing the gold trophy.