There are two unrelated games called Golem: Longbow Games’ 2018 PC puzzle adventure and Highwire Games’ 2019 PS4/PlayStation VR action-adventure. They offer different genres and play loops, so their reviews should not be treated as judgments of the same game. Longbow’s game drew a 5/10 from GameSpot for puzzle readability and movement frustrations; Push Square’s review of Highwire’s game praised its presentation but raised concerns about combat tracking and camera behavior.
Which Golem is this review about?
Check the developer and platform before relying on a review or looking for the game. Longbow Games made a PC puzzle adventure released in 2018; Highwire Games made a PS4 action-adventure designed for PlayStation VR, released in 2019. The titles share a name, not a setting or gameplay.
| Game | Platform and release | Core play | Review evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golem by Longbow Games | PC; Steam lists May 29, 2018 as the release date. Steam publisher page | A girl and a shape-shifting golem work together to solve puzzles and reactivate machines in an ancient tower. The developer describes 10 levels and five golem forms. Longbow Games’ official page | GameSpot reviewer Alessandro Barbosa gave it 5/10 in a review published June 6, 2018. GameSpot review |
| Golem by Highwire Games | PS4/PlayStation VR; reviewed by Push Square in November 2019. The PlayStation Store listing says PlayStation VR and PlayStation Camera are required for the PS4 version. PlayStation Store listing | A VR action-adventure in which a child explores with magical gifts; melee attacks and parries are directly controlled by the player. Highwire creative director Jaime Griesemer on the game | Push Square reviewer Graham Banas assessed the North American PS4 Pro version. Push Square review |
Longbow Games’ Golem: a puzzle adventure with readability problems
Longbow’s game is built around cooperation between a girl and a companion that changes shape. Its tower setting, pictograph clues, and machine puzzles give the adventure a distinctive visual premise. The developer lists 10 expansive levels and five golem forms, but the appeal depends on whether its clues and movement communicate clearly enough for the player to make progress.
In GameSpot’s June 2018 review, Alessandro Barbosa praised the art direction, score, and evolving companion concept. He criticized inconsistent puzzle clues, unclear movement, backtracking, and difficulty spikes, and scored the game 5/10. That is one critic’s assessment, not an aggregate rating or a measure of every player’s experience. Barbosa summarized his frustration this way: “Golem’s inconsistent puzzles and jarring difficulty spikes will infuriate you more than they infatuate.”
#1 Best Overall
- Golem is a story-based game about twine, an adventurous Kid who has been Seriously injured. Stuck at home in her bed, she dreams of exploring the outside world
- early on, she discovers the ability to create and control Stone creatures known as golems. At first, she can only build small doll-sized golems to send around her room…
- eventually her powers will grow, until she can Command enormous 15-foot tall Giants to explore an ancient abandoned city, engaging in epic Sword fights with the huge golems of the Silent watch
- developed by industry veterans behind blockbuster franchises like Halo, destiny, and infamous
- with innovative VR controls developed by Jaime griesemer - Game Designer on Halo & destiny
Highwire Games’ Golem: VR combat and comfort concerns
Highwire’s game is a separate PS4 VR adventure. Creative director Jaime Griesemer described its story as one about an injured child exploring through magical gifts with help from family. Its combat is designed around direct physical control: Griesemer wrote, “One-to-one melee combat has always been core to Golem’s gameplay, and it is really only possible in VR.” The PlayStation Store listing specifies that PlayStation VR and PlayStation Camera are required.
Push Square’s November 2019 review of the North American PS4 Pro version praised the art direction, world building, animation, and music. Reviewer Graham Banas also reported problems with combat tracking and camera behavior, including nausea. Those are the reviewer’s reported concerns, not a guarantee that every player will have the same experience.
Rank #2
- CRYSTAL TRADING EXPEDITION: Resume your role as a crystal trader, exploring Carvania's mountain ranges and valleys.
- GAMEPLAY REIMAGINED: Century Golem: Eastern Mountains reimagines Century: Eastern Wonders with exciting new elements.
- THE CALL FOR ADVENTURE: Combine with Century Golem Edition for a unique gaming experience known as "The Call for Adventure."
- EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION: Part of the Century: Golem series, mixable with other games for an immersive gaming adventure.
- VIVID MANGA-INSPIRED ART: Immerse yourself in the whimsical world with stunning manga-inspired artwork.
Which review should you use?
- If you mean the PC puzzle game: read GameSpot’s review for its specific discussion of clue consistency, movement, backtracking, and difficulty.
- If you mean the PS4 VR game: read Push Square’s review for its assessment of presentation, combat tracking, and camera behavior, and check the hardware requirement in the PlayStation Store listing.
- If you are comparing the two: compare the puzzle-and-companion loop of Longbow’s game with the VR exploration and player-controlled melee of Highwire’s. They are not competing editions, and one review’s verdict does not transfer to the other.
The available review evidence here is one named critic score for Longbow’s title and one named review of Highwire’s. It does not establish a comparable publisher-supplied aggregate across the two games, so a combined score or shared verdict would be misleading.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Day 1 Edition contains a 5.3” x 7.3” softcover 70-page art book, a CD featuring select songs from the soundtrack, and a 7” x 4” Santa Destroy commemorative biker license plate, all in a custom box with an original illustration
- Grow Your Galactic Legend - In classic No More Heroes style, the Galactic Superhero Rankings are packed with outrageous boss battles, each oozing with personality; Soar through the ranks and prove you're the baddest in the universe
- Old Dog, New Tricks - From beam katana boss to wrestling pro, Travis can do it all; Take violence to new extremes with the customizable Death Glove, and punish those deadly invaders with combat that suits your style
- Superheroic Side Hustles - Explore Santa Destroy on Travis’ Demzamtiger to pick up odd jobs, from Coast Guard missions to toilet cleaning, then hit the road to unique locales like Neo Brazil and Thunderdome to keep the cash rolling in
- Bolder, Badder, and Better Than Ever - Thanks to sharper visuals, No More Heroes 3 has never looked better; Add in improved load times and better responsiveness, and you’ll be dishing out eye-popping ultra-violence in no time
Rank #4
- Play and share with friends on console, mobile and Windows 10
- discover community creations in the new in-game store
- access new mini games and game modes through servers
Rank #3
- PRIMORDIAL GOLEM ENCOUNTER: Join crystal traders on a quest to discover and trade soul crystals with ancient, powerful golems.
- TRILOGY FINALE: The thrilling conclusion to the Century: Golem trilogy with endless possibilities.
- LIMITLESS FUN: Unfold the endless world of possibilities as you engage with primordial golems pre-dating human existence.
- MIX AND MATCH: Combine this game with any other Century: Golem title to create original and captivating gameplay.
- SOUL CRYSTAL TRADING: Take on the role of traders, seeking to uncover and exchange soul crystals in a world full of surprises.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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