Parker Schofield

Neat puzzles-- good for a first-time puzzler like myself. Puzzle mechanics were updated at a terrific pace and it kept me engaged from one puzzle to the next. The narrative pacing is disjointed by unnatural pauses in conversation while you finish longer puzzles-- this could have used a few cutscenes for more complicated dialogue. I have issues with the storyline, and although I don't think I have spoilers ahead, my following critiques do touch on the theme, are picky, and suggest feedback no one asked for. The philosophy involved is oversimplified to utilitarianism and the take on evolution is dated and heavy on individualism. An A.I. in this story's context would have more nuanced and (at minimum) modern views on social evolution, especially since it would have been designed to cooperate with an onsite biologist in the far future. Even after their discussions, I don't get the sense the main characters (nor the player) fully engaged the question of what is morality? The A.I. background is tenuous and could do with a more trusting discussion of formal, programmatic decision theory; objective functions; and/or their origins in human philosophy so it wouldn't feel like a black-box explanation to a logically infallible deity. For both the main characters, it would have been more compelling to explore epistemology through self-examination, regular outcome-altering decisions and distrust toward both A.I. and the supporting human characters on Europa-based and Earth-based.