Typoman

{{short description|2015 video game}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = Typoman

| image = File:Typomanlogo.png

| developer = Brainseed Factory

| publisher = Brainseed Factory

| director = Bilal Chbib

| designer = Zein Okko

| artist = {{Plainlist|

  • Arton Rexhëbogaj
  • Lea Dickert
  • Oleg Gorshkov
  • Michael Koloch
  • Zein Okko

}}

| programmer = {{Plainlist|

  • Lino Morales
  • Florian Wurth
  • Tim Schroeder
  • Clemens Schmitt
  • Aaron Grabowy

}}

| composer = SonicPicnic

| released = {{collapsible list|title=November 19, 2015|{{Plainlist|

  • Wii U
  • {{vgrelease|WW|November 19, 2015}}
  • Microsoft Windows
  • {{vgrelease|WW|August 15, 2016}}
  • Xbox One
  • {{vgrelease|WW|February 17, 2017}}
  • PlayStation 4
  • {{vgrelease|WW|February 21, 2017}}
  • Nintendo Switch
  • {{vgrelease|WW|February 22, 2018}}
  • iOS & Android (Remastered)
  • {{vgrelease|WW|July 7, 2022}}

}}}}

| genre = Puzzle, platform

| platforms = {{plainlist|

}}

}}

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.{{cite web|author=OPMUK staff|date=February 16, 2015|title=OPM Team Debate: Which under-the-radar game will take PS4 by storm in 2015?|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/which-under-radar-game-will-take-ps4-by-storm-2015/|website=GamesRadar+ (PlayStation Official Magazine – UK)}}

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.{{cite web|last=Priestman|first=Chris|date=May 18, 2015|title=Typoman's dark world is made of letters that you'll have to sort into words to survive|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Android/Typoman/news.asp?c=65417|website=Pocket Gamer}} Situations become increasingly complicated as the game progresses, requiring the player to come up with puns to manipulate items.

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.{{cite web|last=Cardoso|first=Jose|date=June 27, 2015|title=Wii U exclusive Typoman pays tribute to writers and oppressed authors, uses essential GamePad features|url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/wii-u-exclusive-typoman-pays-tribute-to-writers-and-oppressed-authors-uses-essential-gamepad-features-3420504|website=GameZone}} As development continued the team eventually decided to implement puzzle based gameplay using letters and words.

The game was originally a Wii U exclusive, and Nintendo showcased the game at the Nindies@Home program during E3 2015. 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.{{cite web|author=Luke K.|date=August 4, 2016|title=Typoman: Revised announced for PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One|url=http://www.criticalgamer.co.uk/2016/08/04/typoman-revised-announced-for-pc-mac-ps4-xbox-one/|website=Critical Gamer|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-date=August 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810082439/http://www.criticalgamer.co.uk/2016/08/04/typoman-revised-announced-for-pc-mac-ps4-xbox-one/|url-status=dead}} The PC version launched in 2016, with the console versions following in February 2017.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| title =

| MC = WIIU: 57/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/typoman/critic-reviews/?platform=wii-u |title=Typoman for Wii U Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=March 5, 2019}}
PC: 67/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/typoman-revised/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Typoman: Revised for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=March 5, 2019}}
XONE: 73/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/typoman-revised/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Typoman: Revised for Xbox One Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=March 5, 2019}}
PS4: 75/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/typoman-revised/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Typoman: Revised for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=March 5, 2019}}
NS: 68/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/typoman-revised/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Typoman: Revised for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=March 5, 2019}}

}}

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.

{{clear}}

Accolades

class="wikitable sortable"
YearAwardCategoryResultRef
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="10" | 2015

| rowspan="3" | Game Connection America Awards, San Francisco

| Best Console / PC Hardcore

| {{Nom}}

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.eventsforgamers.com/game-connection-america-2015s-development-awards-winners-revealed-pr/|title=Game Connection America 2015 Development Awards – Winners Revealed|website=Events for Gamers|date=5 March 2015}}

rowspan="1" | Best Casual

| {{Won}}

rowspan="1" | Most Promising IP

| {{Nom}}

rowspan="5" | Deutscher Entwicklerpreis Cologne

| rowspan="1" | Best Game

| {{Nom}}

| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgames.de/Deutscher-Entwicklerpreis-Event-218946/News/Nominierungen-bekannt-gegeben-1177331/|title=Deutscher Entwicklerpreis 2015|website=PCGames|date=9 November 2015}}

rowspan="1" | Best Indie Game

| {{Nom}}

rowspan="1" | Best Sound

| {{Nom}}

rowspan="1" | Best Game Design

| {{Nom}}

rowspan="1" | Best Console Game

| {{Nom}}

rowspan="1" | Gaming Trend's E3 Awards, Los Angeles

| rowspan="1" | Best Art Style

| {{Won}}

| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://gamingtrend.com/feature/gaming-trends-best-of-e3-2015-awards/|title=Gaming Trend's Best of E3 2015 Awards|website=Gaming Trend|date=22 June 2015}}

rowspan="1" | Quo Vadis 2015, Berlin

| rowspan="1" | Best of Quo Vadis Show

| {{Won}}

| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.filmstiftung.de/news/typoman-ist-best-of-quo-vadis-2015/|title=Typoman gewinnt Best Of Quo Vadis 2015|website=Film- und Medienstiftung}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrH1wD5BakE|title=QUO VADIS 2015 - Best of Quo Vadis Show powered by Google|website=YouTube}}

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | 2016

| rowspan="1" | Deutscher Computerspielpreis, Munich

| Best Presentation

| {{Won}}

| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://deutscher-computerspielpreis.de/presse/deutscher-computerspielpreis-2016-das-sind-die-besten-spiele-des-jahres/|title=Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2016: Das sind die besten Spiele des Jahres|website=Deutscher Computerspielpreis}}

rowspan="1" | German Educational Media Award, Munich

| Best Youth Game

| {{Won}}

| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.studioimnetz.de/projekte/paedagogischer-medienpreis/paedi-2016/|title=Pädi 2016|website=SIN Studio im Netz}}

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | 2018

| rowspan="2" | TIGA Games Industry Awards, London

| Best Puzzle Game

| {{Nom}}

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web|url=https://tiga.org/awards/2018-winners|title=TIGA 2018 Winners|website=TIGA}}

Visual Design

| {{Nom}}

References

{{Reflist}}