In Verbis Vertus Game Analysis

In Verbis Vertus consists of a mixture of first person exploration, puzzle solving, and, spell-casting through the use of voice commands. Throughout In Verbis Vertus the player will move through an underground system of tunnels and caves, progressing deeper into the earth. The majority of the game consists of interacting with and exploring this environment by solving puzzles and mastering spells.

The main appeal of In Verbis Vertus is it's spell casting. In order to cast spells, the player must memorize the words of a spell and clearly speak them into their microphone. The player may choose to preform these voice commands in English or in a fantasy language designed for the game. Using voice commands to cast spells is a novel concept, and I found myself initially enjoying the system more than
Although exploration and discovery are clearly meant to be a focus, I found the game oddly linear. In order to progress, the player must complete actions in a set order and way. Puzzles seem to have a single solution, leaving the player feeling like they are simply going through the motions rather than figuring things out on their own. Occasionally some puzzles will deviate from this, allowing a bit more experimentation, but these are few and far between. The game also allows backtracking, but provides no incentive for doing so. Fortunately, In Verbis Vertus is a good looking game. It's environments are often packed with color and interesting scenery, which is enjoyable to look at.

In Verbis Vertus has such a strong concept, but unfortunately falls short in execution, making what should have been a unique, captivating experience feel like a chore. Somewhere underneath all poor design decisions is a truly special game, which makes it all the more sad that I cannot recommend In Verbis Vertus. I hope a sequel is released which further develops all the unique ideas in In Verbis Vertus without its