Why was six scared of seven? Because seven eight nine. A classic, and further insight into the psyche of a Generation X gamer who is easily entertained by dad jokes and cheap puns. Here are my thoughts on SEN Seven Eight Nine, published by Indie Champions, for the Nintendo Switch.
Not too long ago, I was introduced to this upcoming puzzle title, and it captured my attention due to the claims of being a zen-like, minimalistic thinking title. I can confirm that SEN Seven Eight Nine has both of these qualities and doesn’t apply the cheap shot of playing some cliche mokugyo (that’s a Japanese gong, and yes, I’m showing off). Equally, there are no splash animations saying that I did a good job and continue to be mindful and some BS proverb.
Now would be a good opportunity to talk about how an indie title, it gets the right level of being addictive, while on a budget. But it has no meaning if you say it for every indie review, and especially if it isn’t true. The concept of not having an ongoing tutorial is welcomed with open arms, and using the touchscreen to slide up and down the colours, numbers and symbols feels very natural and effortless, but SEN Seven Eight Nine isn’t a game I’m addicted to or would binge on for hours on end.
With SEN Seven Eight Nine, it’s relaxing without any feeling of urgency. While it doesn’t put me to sleep, it doesn’t have me actively thinking about playing at any given moment. Granted, I review so many titles that it’s hard for a game to stand out, but I always allocate sufficient time to appraise them. Getting ahead of myself, while it isn’t my go-to title, I will be periodically coming back to the game, unlike a lot of the titles I review.
Overall, it’s a bit of a paradox for me. On one side, I complete a puzzle in SEN Seven Eight Nine almost as quickly as it began, but then for a moment or so after, I question how I got to the solution so quickly and if I were to reverse engineer my actions, would I be able to replicate them? Most of the time, I could, but it’s like explaining grammar in your native language for the everyman; you can do it, but you don’t necessarily know why.
The choice of sound effects really burrows into my head. Not in the negative sense in that it grates, but a somewhat rewarding tone as you steadily get each puzzle right. I sometimes felt like an ape being tested and tapping my chest each time I got it right. The only thing missing, other than the audible rewards, was a biscuit, or would it be a banana? Who knows. It’s not a test to get into Mens, as there’s no pressure from SEN Seven Eight Nine in any way whatsoever, but there’s an element that does make you feel pretty smart, whilst feeling at ease.
Unlike games like Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, there isn’t the motivation of improving your intellect or cognitive functions, nor are there the same level of games – SEN Seven Eight Nine is the same throughout, albeit with increasing levels of difficulty.
It’s not that I dislike the game, not in the slightest; it’s a great title and a unique concept worthy of your time if you enjoy puzzles, but because there are no variations or additional features like a two-player mode or leaderboards, it may put off some puzzle seekers. But to be honest, I wouldn’t want any of those features as it would spoil the simplicity and, dare I say, the elegance of the game. Though I wouldn’t make a fuss if there were a two-player mode. That said, the other player is most likely to ‘get it’ more than I do.
