Out at midnight: Roll through the history of typography in puzzle-platformer Type:Rider
Punctuation larks
Ever wanted to learn about the history of the written word while simultaneously solving tricky physics puzzles?
Well, to use a hideously outdated reference, there's an app for that.
In Cosmografik's Type:Rider, you're taken from Cuneiform script to pixel-driven computer fonts. At the same time, you're challenged to complete platforming sections and simple conundrums that are vaguely reminiscent of Limbo and NightSky.
The puzzles are often relevant to the current history lesson. So, there are big platen presses out to squash you during the letterpress level, for example. And you'll need to dodge fires while learning about the book burnings of the 16th-century Counter-Reformation.
You will get the basic jist of the history through the level names and backdrops, but you'll also unlock little encyclopedia pages if you want more details. Plus, collectible characters, in appropriate fonts, are hidden around the level.
Type:Rider contains ten worlds, each of which is based on a different font and built from a collage of reference photos, paintings, and graphics.
There's also loads of extra stuff to find, a top soundtrack from AudioGaming, and three control schemes.
Type:Rider is marvellously well made. Furthermore, you'll constantly be surprised by new ideas and puzzle types.
If all that sounds good to you, know that Type:Rider will hit the App Store at about midnight tonight, priced £1.99 / $2.99. An Android edition will be out very soon.
