Blanc offers a unique and mesmerising experience, but its restrictive puzzle solutions and unreliable camera can get in the way of the story. Still, the black and white art style and text-free story deliver a heartwarming adventure.
The game stars a wolf cub and fawn that are separated from their packs in the snowy wilderness. Each player controls one of the characters and they can play either locally on the same console or online with a friend.
Co-op
Blanc is a game that was designed for co-op, and while the game does offer the option to play solo, the experience is much more enjoyable with a friend. Players control one of two animals, each with their own special abilities. For example, the wolf cub can bite ropes to pull them while the fawn can act as a stepping stool to reach higher areas that would be impossible for the cub to jump.
The hand-drawn black and white art style is breathtaking, and the minimalist controls (one analogue stick, two buttons) make this a great co-op game for people of all ages and skill levels. However, the camera can be a bit clunky and sometimes it can be difficult to tell which animal is facing in which direction.
Overall, Blanc is a heartwarming and relaxing game that will make you want to snuggle up with a friend. The puzzles can be frustrating, but the storybook feel of this game is worth it.
Controls
Blanc is a simple game in terms of controls, but that doesn’t make it any less challenging. Each player controls either the fawn or the cub by using the left and right analogue sticks. Thankfully, the lack of combat and the absence of any text mean that even younger players can enjoy this cozy adventure.
While the gameplay is largely easy, some environmental puzzles are tough to solve. This is mostly due to the fixed camera angle, which makes it difficult to see behind environmental objects. In addition, the monochrome ink-laden style can make it difficult to discern environmental details.
The game’s soothing atmosphere and heartfelt story make it a worthwhile experience. However, it’s bogged down by frustrating puzzles and unexciting minute-to-minute action. If you and a friend are willing to work past these issues, then Blanc could be worth your time. Otherwise, it might be better to look elsewhere for a co-op experience that’s more fun and rewarding.
Puzzles
Blanc is a pretty game, and while the puzzles don’t go out of their way to be revolutionary, they’re still well-crafted. The wolf cub and fawn’s distinct strengths make figuring out what to do in each level relatively easy, and overcoming the obstacles that box you in never feels frustrating.
Its minimalistic art style also helps the gameplay shine; the black-and-white pen-influenced graphics feel straight out of a sketchbook and the monochromatic palette allows for some interesting techniques, like hatching, to stand out. However, it can be hard to see what’s on screen at times and options allowing players to change interface and graphic size would have been nice.
Rather than lean on dialogue or dramatic twists, Blanc relies on sound and music to tell its story. From the yapping of the cub and bleating of the fawn to the crunch of snow beneath your feet, the soundtrack carries the emotional beats of the story.
Graphics
In a game world that’s often filled with flashy effects and grandiose dialogue, Blanc embraces the simple. Its hand-drawn black-and-white style and text free storytelling make it easy for players to relax into its heartwarming story and gorgeous scenery.
Blanc focuses on teamwork between its two main characters, with the fawn’s ability to push objects and the wolf pup’s agility making navigating the snowy landscapes much easier. Both characters also have their own strengths to help out each other, such as the fawn’s small size helping it squeeze through tight spaces or the wolf cub’s longer legs allowing it to jump higher.
While most of the time the camera in Blanc keeps up with the action, there are a few areas where it can become disorienting. For example, when leaping across rooftops in a town the camera can fall well behind both characters, or when trying to navigate an area with numerous different levels of platforms where inputs are imprecise.
