Words, words, words…
Not all games seek to give a cheap thrill and Prose & Codes, a text-based puzzle game, intends to educate as well as entertain.
Prose & Codes is a game that includes 60,000 full e-books and uses classic literature as the basis for cypher puzzles. Basically, the player has to guess letters to fill in the blanks and crack the code.
This is all part of the Gutenberg Project, designed to encourage more people to become engaged with reading. A very wholesome motive for the development of a game.
At the end of the round, the quote from the classical novel and the title of the novel it is taken from is revealed. The player then has the option to read the novel.
One day I will find the right words, and they all will be simple
There are thousands of different novels included in this game, from every conceivable genre. From Huckleberry Finn to Great Expectations, they are all there, sorted into genre categories.
Three tiers of difficulty allow the player to adjust the level of challenge, which dramatically affects gameplay. This also facilitates some progressive challenges while playing over time.
Do mine eyes deceive me?
The visual style of the game is sophisticated and appropriate to the overall tone. It looks as though the player is staring into an open book.
The title menu is also aesthetically elegant and easy to navigate.
Music to my ears!
Much like lo-fi beats to study and chill out to, the musical score of Prose & Codes is gentle and perfect for concentrating on word puzzles.
The relaxed classical music is the order of the day for this contemplative and often challenging title.
Great Expectations
This game is clearly not for everyone. It is a title that is relaxing and assumes a certain love of literature, which will not be shared by all.
But if we are all honest with ourselves as gamers, do we really want to play COD forever? Do we not need some chill time on our PC?
Surely, a shorter game with smaller rounds or levels is perfect to start off a game session or at the end of a stressful day.
Prose & Codes fills this niche perfectly. According to the developer, its aim is to encourage the enjoyment of great literature. And it achieves this easily, but only for those who already enjoy it.
It’s just a shame that Prose & Codes didn’t take subject matter from classical literature and run with it.
Some detailed, hand-drawn visual imagery perhaps, or moving text that is a little more stimulating than the static text on the screen.
Or even some different game modes and features would have increased the exhilaration. Perhaps a time-trial mode.
A different approach, giving options to thrill rather than simply help the player relax, could have gone a long way to making this game more stimulating.
Footnotes
Baring in the mind the developer’s intentions to inspire more readers, using short quotes from books may not achieve this. Perhaps focusing a little more on character or plot, rather than short extracts could be more effective in encouraging non-readers to engage?
In its current form, Prose & Codes is less a game, more a literary resource, be it a very strong, appealing one.
Therefore, this title is likely to entertain those already interested in reading and put off anyone without an existing interest.
Because after all, classical literature is surely designed to entertain and inspire, not send anyone to sleep. And this is what that Prose & Codes’ developers fail to capitalise upon.
Summary
Limited scope, limited fun. If you love a good story, try something like Thronebreaker to become part of a rich narrative, rather than observing it from afar.
Prose & Codes is available to buy on Steam.
