It has been a while since a game challenged me. I think the last game that drove me nuts with puzzles was probably Portal. And let me just say, how very appropriate to start the review this way.
ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard, from the developer Pixel Maniacs and publisher PM Studios, is a puzzle game that mimics the likeness of Valve’s sci-fi puzzle first-shooter, while also throwing in some clever antics of its own to make it somewhat different but on point with Portal 2. Based on color combinations and trying to manage increasingly difficult stages, ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard is unique in its style and grace, while also bringing some familiarity to the gameplay process.
So, let’s get our paint gun ready and try to remember color combinations so that we don’t bring too much shade to this review.
To begin, let’s talk story. While the joy of Valve’s Portal series is having a vague lore for fans to fill in the blanks, ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard brings enough to get launched. Much like Portal, the story has our protagonist wake up and arm themselves with a weapon of sorts. A paint gun, to be exact. The purpose? The protagonist is about to be put through the wringer with a bevy of puzzles and obstacles that require paint to push through.
While the story is not as narratively rich or connected as Valve’s series, ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard brings its own charm with bits and pieces of backstory as players go along, while also leaving some room for interpretation. For a game like this to stick, the narrative has to be completely thought through and presented in a less-than-serious tone, while also maintaining a healthy dose of mystery to keep players wanting more. In a sense, I think that ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard accomplishes that goal, as it sprinkles humor into the mystery and forces players to push forward for the next-step reveal.
Now, is it as life-changing and epic as Portal? Not at all. This isn’t that type of game, as the story pieces really do rely on a sassy narrator that will probably push players hard enough to want more. So, having expectations on the same level as Valve’s cash cow isn’t fair, so I am not going to knock it for not quite reaching those narrative heights. ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard brings its own goofiness and doesn’t try too hard to become more than it wants to be – a humorous and somewhat relaxing game.
Speaking of the game, let’s get into gameplay.
The gameplay for ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard revolves around paint guns and mixing colors in order to progress. Players will find this out right from the get-go, as they will acquire a paint gun and will go solve puzzles. The puzzles are led by the paint gun, which spits out color onto designated blocks and objects in each room. The colors correspond with doors opening, electricity being turned on for switches, and even connecting robots (and more) to help navigate electrical beams through the colored blocks.
On the surface, ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard’s gameplay is simple to master, as pointing and shooting isn’t too complicated, as it pulls heavily from Valve’s portal gun mechanic structure. Much like Portal, where the player uses the two different color portals to navigate puzzles, ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard relies on its gimmick of paint guns to do the same. But! That is pretty much where the similarities part ways.
The puzzles within ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard are clever, as they can be difficult. Players will feel that right out of the gate, as the first few puzzles immerse the player into the gameplay without much blatant instruction, pointing them in a nice HCI-driven structure into matching colors to open doors. As the game progresses, though, the puzzles become far trickier and a bit far out there.
The first taste of that difficulty shift starts with orbs. At some point, the players will see robotic orbs that require color changes. Changing the color of the orbs means they create an electrical connection to the corresponding color the player has in the room. At times, these orbs have to connect to multiple-colored blocks, and other times, the player must navigate them (literally) using different blocks at different times with varying colors. This sets the tone for how difficult the rest of the game is, which does its best impression of the Cliffhanger game from The Price is Right. The game becomes incredibly complicated, sometimes throwing in more color-changing blocks than necessary, and forcing the player to choose which block to change to move the orb into position and which ones to leave out. Sometimes the player has to lead the orbs from one room to the next, setting them up in certain spots to open doors or unveil stairs to climb. And as ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard keeps rolling, these types of puzzles become more and more difficult.
The hill gets steep quickly, and trying to solve puzzles becomes a slow and steady process. So, is that a good thing? Well, in this type of puzzle, first-person sci-fi genre, yeah, it’s expected. At times, the puzzles will feel like running through mud, which doesn’t necessarily hurt the gameplay’s entertainment value, but it will most assuredly frustrate even the most Portal-hungry gamer.
At the end of the day, the game’s constant climb with difficulty also breeds creativity and fun levels, especially when you exit the lab scenario. The developers do their best to keep the player engaged through changing scenery and objects. ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard works well, as I had fun with this game, even when I was miserably slogging through it at times. It’s one of the most challenging games I have played in years.
Overall, the puzzles are clever, increasingly challenging, and packed with humor and personality. Yes, ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard takes a page out of the Portal handbook, but it does it respectfully well.
Anyway, on that note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
ChromaGun 2 Dye Hard, from developer Pixel Maniacs, is a tip of the hat to Valve’s Portal. It carries the essence that makes Valve’s series popular while bringing a unique style, well-designed puzzles, and plenty of difficulty to the table.
