Fez gets great review scores, despite launching with problems

Despite launching with a bunch of potentially fun-draining bugs, Polytron’s long awaited platformer arrived on the Xbox Arcade to a host of positive reviews.  So far, the game sits with a Metacritic score of 90, and is apparently one of the front-runners for the best indie title of 2012.

A unique twist on the puzzle platform genre, Fez introduces some never before seen mechanics in its bite-sized package.  Reviews have been mostly positive for the game, here is a sampling of what some critics have had to say about the game.

Joystiq – 100 – I haven’t smiled as much while playing a game since my first multiplayer run of LittleBigPlanet, and even then I was only smiling because I was terrible and enjoyed frustrating my friends as they ran gracefully through the levels. Fez is comparable to Braid or Limbo in terms of recent indie platformers, but it is infinitely more heartwarming than Braid and less terrifying than Limbo…There’s a lot to be said for a game that can make a grown woman squeal with glee dozens of times in a playthrough.

Eurogamer – 100 – The simple joy of exploration is at the very heart of the appeal of video games. In Fez, it’s absolutely unfettered.

Gamer Limit – 95 – Fez is a truly remarkable game, and can be placed in the indie pantheon along with Cave Story and VVVVVV. It provides a unique sandbox to engage in puzzle platforming, and it does that platforming aspect well – if you’re fan of the genre, don’t miss out on Fez. Let’s just hope the sequel doesn’t take five years to produce.

IGN – 95 – Curiosity, envy, and excitement dominate conversations about bewildering thematic patterns, creative solutions to intelligent puzzles, and unforgettable level design. Players are likely to gush about the beautiful aesthetic and childlike sense of wonder in equal measure.

Game Informer – 93 – No other game captures the potential and magic of the concept like Fez. The result is one of the most accessible, clever, and mind-altering experiences on the gaming market.

Game Revolution – 70 – Polytron has crafted an exceedingly gorgeous world, full of surprises, temples, and eye-melting cuteness. Switching perspectives holds up as a gameplay mechanic, deftly avoiding gimicky traps along the way…Still, technical missteps and a confusing, unintuitive map system, confusing branches and game crashes remind us that Fez isn’t the indie hero we need right now, but the one we deserve.