Leila is a point-and-click puzzle recreation during which you play as a mom uncovering her childhood reminiscences and trauma one chapter at a time. You discover these reminiscences in a forest-like setting, tackling previous relationships, the boring repetitiveness of rising up, the battle of Leila’s writing profession, and the trauma she nonetheless carries from issues she noticed as somewhat lady.
Whereas Leila’s story tends to take a extra miserable route, this recreation does an awesome job at dealing with robust conversations, showcasing these harsh emotions by way of artwork. It has a surrealistic method to its storytelling, a few of which appears fairly disturbing, however superbly captures what Leila’s attempting to say.
The puzzles intertwine with the artwork, making them distinctive and difficult (but in addition enjoyable). For instance, one of many puzzles includes you reconstructing teenaged Leila’s face as she tries to find who she is and the way she desires to painting herself. Nonetheless, different puzzles are extra primary, protecting the sport from getting too overwhelming. At one level, you’re serving to a robotic along with his damaged components by connecting his coloured wires to one another with out having them intersect. It’s a traditional puzzle recreation I’ve performed quite a few occasions earlier than, however it labored on this context and nonetheless stayed true to the sport’s aesthetic.
Though Leila revolves principally round puzzles, it has journey components as properly. Every puzzle pertains to a sure level in Leila’s life. You journey by way of her reminiscences by strolling by way of a forest and heading whichever manner an indication factors you.
Primarily based on a pair choices within the recreation, you discover her reminiscences in several order, however finally you don’t miss out on something. In a single puzzle, you stroll by way of Leila’s home, tidying up bedrooms, wiping off kitchen counters, scrubbing a bath, and sweeping her front room. It’s good that there’s combine between journey, puzzles, and story.
The one factor I had hassle with was the cursor. Taking part in on Nintendo Swap, it’s typically exhausting getting your cursor to maneuver precisely the place you need it to. And in Leila, it’s both you’re immediately on the thing with which you need to work together, or nothing will be achieved with it. This will get more and more tough the smaller the thing will get. With a mouse, I can see how this wouldn’t be an issue in any respect. However with Pleasure-Cons, it’s not precisely superb. I used to be nonetheless capable of play your complete recreation, nevertheless, and solely discovered myself caught with this problem just a few occasions. So, within the grand scheme of issues, cursor use didn’t have an effect on my play-through too negatively.
With a creepy however fascinating artwork model, an emotional story, and difficult puzzles, Leila does an incredible job at serving to you relate to its important character and really feel for her. Whereas the conversations held on this recreation can really feel heavy, it focuses on the plus aspect, leaving the participant with a way of hope.
