Crowborough, Nov 2021
I didn’t even notice the joke in the game’s name until the intro began, but if you’re quicker on the uptake then you’ll have guessed that the setting for One Wing is the most budget of airlines. While the in-world plane may be budget, the game itself certainly isn’t – DarkMaster have developed a reputation for their impressive set designs.
In this instance the technology is most vividly on display early on, setting the scene with some dramatic and entertaining effects. Impressive though that was, for me it was outshone by the gloriously funny intro – I strongly recommend taking the time to appreciate the humorous details around you before diving into the puzzles.
Such a good start sets a high bar for the rest of the game to live up to, and while there was plenty to enjoy, the puzzles aren’t the strongest part of One Wing; like their other game Reliquary, there’s a certain amount of searching and also casting around with a single UV torch that struggles against the ambient lighting. However, while the effects are most striking at the start, I thought the puzzles got generally stronger towards the end, with a shift away from hidden codes towards more physical mechanisms and more complex solutions.
Of the venue’s two games, Reliquary has been getting the highest ratings. Although I can absolutely see why, given that game’s cool effects, for me it’s a split decision between the two. The familiar airplane decor of One Wing isn’t as exotic as Reliquary’s lost tomb, but is equally convincing and well built (even if the physical layout of the later stages strains suspension of disbelief a little!), and on balance I’d give the edge to the puzzle flow of the airplane game; and the humour of this game is delightful. 