Indeed.Starting up the second in the Mondo series, Mondo Agency by Cactus Games, I was, like before, captivated by the imagination behind the game's presentation.  As I played I had in mind my review of the first, Mondo Medicals, asking myself if I was too harsh.

I couldn't move past that 2-3 barrier the last time.  While I love the mood of these games, Mondo Medicals' puzzles were mean.  They were good in that they forced you to think outside the box, sometimes as literally as that metaphor can get without one busting a gasket trying to imagine it.  They were also, however, the kind of puzzles that you could spend a little too long trying to figure out because of sheer travel time on foot, which was pushing it for me. 

So I'm faced with a similar problem as before.  Great presentation alongside a game with no saves, occasional clipping problems (that forced me to use a built-in cheat for the level the first time), and puzzles that treat the user like an unwanted tourist.  Mondo Agency puzzles so far have been a little bit better on giving me "a-HA!" endorphins when I figure them out (they're not too tough when you get the idea); so there's some progress (or regression, if you liked the older game's style).  But I've reached a point now where I don't see the solution, and so I either have to leave the game running or start it over from scratch.  I will return to it, though, because I want to beat it on my own and not cheat.

The big question, though, is how to rate games like this.  Experiments are fun even if they don't function perfectly as games.  As an experiment, and a visual and aural experience, I like both the Mondo games so far.  As games, I couldn't recommend them to anyone who didn't place that presentation highly.  I'm forced to rate such games with the same stern eye I'd give a 2-years-in-development, mainstream, committee-made banality fest. 

No major company would dare do the COOL stuff in these games.  That's what's funny about all of this; what I think are these games successes would be avoided for fear of alienating a market base.  I've seen many mediocre puzzlers and platformers that hadn't an iota of originality come from mainstream companies, while few if any of them would have mystical box heads spouting poorly conjugated reverse-speak in cut-scenes while the protagonist wanders through gray, claustrophobic hallways in search of answers, but it's the quirks like these that make these programs interesting to me. 

When I'm done with Mondo Agency I'll likely review it.  That is, if I can beat the damned thing.