Typoman Explained

Typoman
Developer:Brainseed Factory
Publisher:Brainseed Factory
Director:Bilal Chbib
Designer:Zein Okko
Composer:SonicPicnic
Genre:Puzzle, platform
Platforms:

Typoman is an independent video game developed by German indie studio Brainseed Factory for Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and mobile. The game follows a hero named HERO who crafts words to alter the environment around him.[1]

Gameplay

Typoman features a number of environmental puzzles that are solved by crafting words that are relevant to the situation. For example, players can spell "up" to activate an elevator, or "open" to open a door.[2] Situations become increasingly complicated as the game progresses, requiring the player to come up with puns to manipulate items.[2]

Development

The idea of Typoman was born out of a desire to experiment with typography and gameplay. Brainseed Factory founder Bilal Chbib explained that the original plan was to have objects and monsters shaped out of letters.[3] As development continued the team eventually decided to implement puzzle based gameplay using letters and words.[3]

The game was originally a Wii U exclusive, and Nintendo showcased the game at the Nindies@Home program during E3 2015.[3] The game launched for Wii U in the same year.

A year after release, Brainseed Factory published an updated version of the game called Typoman: Revised for PC, Xbox One and PS4. The revised version implements several design and graphical improvements.[4] The PC version launched in 2016, with the console versions following in February 2017.

Reception

The original Wii U version of Typoman received mixed reviews from critics, with a score on review aggregator Metacritic of 57/100. Typoman: Revised for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 was better received, scoring 73/100 and 75/100 respectively.

Critics generally praised the game's concept, atmosphere and art style, but directed criticism towards the game's length.

Accolades

Year Award Category Result Ref
2015Game Connection America Awards, San FranciscoBest Console / PC Hardcore [5]
Best Casual
Most Promising IP
Deutscher Entwicklerpreis CologneBest Game[6]
Best Indie Game
Best Sound
Best Game Design
Best Console Game
Gaming Trend's E3 Awards, Los AngelesBest Art Style[7]
Quo Vadis 2015, BerlinBest of Quo Vadis Show[8] [9]
2016Deutscher Computerspielpreis, MunichBest Presentation [10]
German Educational Media Award, MunichBest Youth Game[11]
2018TIGA Games Industry Awards, LondonBest Puzzle Game [12]
Visual Design

Notes and References

  1. Web site: OPMUK staff. February 16, 2015. OPM Team Debate: Which under-the-radar game will take PS4 by storm in 2015?. GamesRadar+ (PlayStation Official Magazine – UK). September 22, 2018. June 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150611062147/https://www.gamesradar.com/which-under-radar-game-will-take-ps4-by-storm-2015/. live.
  2. Web site: Priestman. Chris. May 18, 2015. Typoman's dark world is made of letters that you'll have to sort into words to survive. Pocket Gamer. October 15, 2017. July 5, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170705140743/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Typoman/news.asp?c=65417. live.
  3. Web site: Cardoso. Jose. June 27, 2015. Wii U exclusive Typoman pays tribute to writers and oppressed authors, uses essential GamePad features. GameZone. September 22, 2018. September 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923011037/https://www.gamezone.com/news/wii-u-exclusive-typoman-pays-tribute-to-writers-and-oppressed-authors-uses-essential-gamepad-features-3420504/. live.
  4. Web site: Luke K.. August 4, 2016. Typoman: Revised announced for PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One. Critical Gamer. October 15, 2017. August 10, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160810082439/http://www.criticalgamer.co.uk/2016/08/04/typoman-revised-announced-for-pc-mac-ps4-xbox-one/. dead.
  5. Web site: Game Connection America 2015 Development Awards – Winners Revealed. Events for Gamers. 5 March 2015. 24 September 2020. 22 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200922052629/https://www.eventsforgamers.com/game-connection-america-2015s-development-awards-winners-revealed-pr/. live.
  6. Web site: Deutscher Entwicklerpreis 2015. PCGames. 9 November 2015. 24 September 2020. 27 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927181434/https://www.pcgames.de/Deutscher-Entwicklerpreis-Event-218946/News/Nominierungen-bekannt-gegeben-1177331/. live.
  7. Web site: Gaming Trend's Best of E3 2015 Awards. Gaming Trend. 22 June 2015. 24 September 2020. 11 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210411014328/https://gamingtrend.com/feature/gaming-trends-best-of-e3-2015-awards/. live.
  8. Web site: Typoman gewinnt Best Of Quo Vadis 2015. Film- und Medienstiftung. 2023-03-28. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328004704/https://www.filmstiftung.de/news/typoman-ist-best-of-quo-vadis-2015/. live.
  9. Web site: QUO VADIS 2015 - Best of Quo Vadis Show powered by Google. YouTube. 2023-03-28. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328004701/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrH1wD5BakE. live.
  10. Web site: Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2016: Das sind die besten Spiele des Jahres. Deutscher Computerspielpreis. 2023-03-28. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328002555/https://deutscher-computerspielpreis.de/presse/deutscher-computerspielpreis-2016-das-sind-die-besten-spiele-des-jahres/. live.
  11. Web site: Pädi 2016. SIN Studio im Netz. 2023-03-28. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328002556/https://www.studioimnetz.de/projekte/paedagogischer-medienpreis/paedi-2016/. live.
  12. Web site: TIGA 2018 Winners. TIGA. 2023-03-28. 2018-12-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20181219211559/https://tiga.org/awards/2018-winners. live.

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