Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise

Last updated
Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise
Agent A A Puzzle in Disguise.jpg
Developer(s) Yak & Co
Publisher(s) Yak & Co
Engine Unity
Platform(s) iOS, Android, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
ReleaseiOS
  • WW: October 28, 2015
Android
  • WW: October 19, 2016
macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
  • WW: August 29, 2019
Genre(s) Puzzle adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise is a puzzle adventure video game developed and published by Australian [1] studio Yak & Co. [2] The player's mission is to infiltrate enemy spy Ruby La Rouge's secret hideaway and put a stop to her evil plans.

Contents

Chapters 1-5 are currently available on iOS and Android with the complete tale of espionage on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, iOS and Android. [3]

Gameplay

Screenshot Screenshot 'Agent A'.jpg
Screenshot

The player takes the role of Agent A, a secret agent assigned to catch a dangerous enemy spy that has been targeting fellow agents. The game takes place in the secret lair of the main antagonist, Ruby La Rouge. After witnessing La Rouge's infiltration scheme that leads to the supposed demise of Agent A's chief in the prologue video, the player is then led to the secret lair on the shoreline not far from the committed crime. The player then gathers key items hidden in spots around certain parts of the lair that will lead to unlocking new areas in hopes of finally catching up with and defeating La Rouge. Collecting the key items and utilising them in the environment to solve the puzzles is the core mechanic while relying on the player's keen eye, logic and memory. [4]

Development

A teaser trailer was released on 8 April 2015 [5] and the full trailer was released later on 26 October 2015. [6] The art style of the game was inspired by the works of Kevin Dart and Shag which combined a cartoonish style world with a retro 60's look, further added on with textures, furniture and architecture from the same era. [7] Its initial working title was ‘Snowy Village’ with the art style more based on Fire Maple's “The Lost City” with the same mechanics as the final version. [7] The art style was then changed into a more appealing theme that not only rooted from developer Mark White's own preference for the secret agent theme and his love for the Bond films, but fit accordingly to the mechanic of finding hidden clues and objects. [7]

Reception

The iOS version has received “generally favourable reviews” according to video game review aggregator Metacritic . [8] Despite many fans asking for a sequel Yak & Co took to Twitter on May 11, 2020 to say that “Nothing is planned yet, but it’s possible.” Fans have also commented on hopes for an Agent B game following the post-credits scene of Agent A.

Nintendo World Report reviewed the Switch version of the game and praised its setting, its visual style, the dialogues and the "simple but fun" puzzles. At the same time the magazine criticized the lack of "a serious challenge" and game features that the Switch port is missing. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Pokémon</i> (video game series) Japanese video game series

Pokémon is a series of video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company under the Pokémon media franchise. It was created by Satoshi Tajiri with assistance from Ken Sugimori, the first games, Pocket Monsters Red and Green, were released in 1996 in Japan for the Game Boy, later released outside of Japan as Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version. The main series of role-playing video games (RPGs), referred as the "core series" by their developers, has continued on each generation of Nintendo's handhelds. The most recently released core series games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, were released on November 18, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch.

<i>Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords</i> 2007 video game

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a puzzle video game designed by Steve Fawkner for Australian game developer Infinite Interactive and published by D3 Publisher in 2007. The game combines role-playing with tile-matching elements. Taking place in a high fantasy setting, the player moves their character around the game's world and encounters monsters and other enemies to fight so as to gain experience and acquire treasure as in a typical role-playing game. Combat takes place on a board similar to Bejeweled, and by making matches of coloured gems, the combatants can cause damage to their opponents, cast spells, or perform other abilities that affect the flow of the game.

Professor Layton is a puzzle adventure video game series and transmedia franchise developed by Level-5. The property consists primarily of seven main video games, a mobile spin-off, an animated theatrical film, and an anime television series, while additionally incorporating an array of secondary titles and media, including a crossover game with Capcom's Ace Attorney series.

<i>Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4</i> 2010 action-adventure video game

Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 is a Lego-themed action-adventure video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. The game is based on the Lego Harry Potter toy line, and its storyline covers the first four books by J.K. Rowling and its film adaptations in the Harry Potter film series: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).

<i>Mighty Switch Force! 2</i> 2013 video game

Mighty Switch Force! 2 is a puzzle platformer developed and published by WayForward Technologies for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the fourth game in WayForward's Mighty series and the sequel to 2011's Mighty Switch Force!. The game was released on the Nintendo eShop on June 13, 2013 in North America and in the PAL regions on June 27. The game was later released for the Wii U in October the same year. A puzzle game using similar elements and assets, Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down!, was released for iOS on February 12, 2015 and for Microsoft Windows on June 4.

<i>The Room Two</i> 2013 video game

The Room Two is a puzzle video game developed by British-based Fireproof Games as a sequel to The Room. The game was originally developed for the iPad and released in December 2013; it was made universal to work with the iPhone in January 2014. The Android version was released in February 2014. A Windows version was released on 5 July 2016. An Apple Arcade version, named «The Room Two+», was released on 2 April 2021. It was also released for Nintendo Switch in August 2022.

<i>Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker</i> 2014 video game

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a 2014 action puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in 2018 with additional content. It is a spin-off of the Super Mario series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. The game stars Captain Toad and Toadette as they complete levels, defeat enemies and save each other from the antagonist Wingo. Each level is contained within a miniature diorama-like environment that requires puzzle-solving and platforming challenges to complete. The player also uses the Wii U GamePad to rotate the camera and reveal new information and interact with the environment.

<i>The Talos Principle</i> 2014 puzzle video game

The Talos Principle is a 2014 puzzle video game developed by Croteam and published by Devolver Digital. It was simultaneously released on Linux, OS X and Windows in December 2014. It was released for Android in May 2015, for PlayStation 4 in October 2015, for iOS in October 2017, for Xbox One in August 2018, and Nintendo Switch in December 2019. Virtual reality-enabled versions for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive were released on 18 October 2017. A DLC entitled Road to Gehenna was released on 23 July 2015.

<i>The Escapists</i> Strategy video game

The Escapists is a strategy game played from a top-down perspective. The game was developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and following a Steam Early Access release in 2014, was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It was released on iOS and Android in 2017. A Nintendo Switch version of the game containing all downloadable content was released in 2018. The game was launched on the Epic Games Store on 23 September 2021, with the weekly free game campaign of Epic Games. Players assume the role of an inmate and must escape from prisons of increasing difficulty.

<i>Windosill</i> 2009 video game

Windosill is a 2009 puzzle video game by Vectorpark for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, web browsers, and iOS. The player advances through eleven different rooms by interacting with each level's environmental objects. It was developed by Patrick Smith, an artist who taught himself to animate and program the game in Adobe Flash. He was inspired by a variety of painters and artists. The game was first released for Windows, OS X, and web browsers in 2009, and was later ported to the iPad in 2011, with several added features.

<i>Donut County</i> 2018 video game

Donut County is a puzzle video game developed by American designer Ben Esposito and published by Annapurna Interactive in 2018. The player moves a hole to swallow objects, which makes the hole increase in size. The concept originated in a game jam based on pitches from a Twitter account parody of game designer Peter Molyneux, and later added a mechanic similar to that of Katamari Damacy. Other inspirations for the game included Hopi figurines—a theme Esposito later relinquished—and locations from Bruce Springsteen songs. Donut County was released in August 2018 for iOS, macOS, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows platforms while versions for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch were released in December 2018. It also released for Android in December 2020.

<i>Human Resource Machine</i> 2015 video game

Human Resource Machine is a visual programming-based puzzle video game developed by Tomorrow Corporation. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Wii U in 2015, being additionally released for Linux in March 2016, for iOS in June 2016, for Android in December 2016 and for the Nintendo Switch in March 2017. Human Resource Machine uses the concept of a corporate office worker assigned to perform tasks that involve moving objects between an inbox, an outbox, and to and from storage areas as a metaphor for assembly language concepts. The player works through some forty puzzles in constructing a program to complete a specific task.

<i>Pokémon Picross</i> 2015 video game

Pokémon Picross is a freemium puzzle video game featuring Pokémon characters developed by Jupiter Corporation and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo 3DS. The title is part of the "Picross" nonogram series that use number-based grid puzzles to reveal pictures. It was released as a downloadable title on the Nintendo 3DS eShop worldwide in December 2015.

<i>Knights of Pen & Paper</i> 2012 role-playing video game

Knights of Pen & Paper is a role-playing video game developed by Behold Studios and published by Paradox Interactive and Seaven Studio. It was released on October 30, 2012, for iOS and Android, and on June 18, 2013, for Windows, OS X and Linux. A Nintendo Switch version, entitled Knights of Pen & Paper: +1 Deluxier Edition, was released on May 29, 2018, in North America and Europe and on November 21, 2019, in Japan. Similar versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released on May 29 and May 30, 2018, respectively.

<i>Please, Dont Touch Anything</i> Puzzle video game

Please, Don't Touch Anything, later re-released as Please, Don't Touch Anything: Classic on the Nintendo Switch in Europe and North America, is a puzzle video game developed by Russian indie studio Four Quarters and published by Bulkypix and Plug In Digital. It was released on March 26, 2015 on Steam for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, and on October 21, 2015 for iOS. It received a remake with virtual reality support, Please, Don't Touch Anything 3D, that was co-developed with Escalation Studios and released on December 7, 2016 on Steam for Windows and Mac OS X. An enhanced port of Please, Don't Touch Anything was released for Nintendo Switch on November 22, 2018 with updated graphics and more solutions.

<i>Assault Android Cactus</i> 2015 video game

Assault Android Cactus is a twin-stick shooter developed and published by Witch Beam. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux in 2015, PlayStation 4 in 2016, Xbox One in 2017 and Nintendo Switch in 2019. An enhanced version for the Switch was released in 2019 as Assault Android Cactus+.

<i>Pokémon Café ReMix</i> 2020 video game

Pokémon Café ReMix is a free-to-play puzzle video game developed by Genius Sonority for the Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS. The game was released on June 23, 2020, in North America, and on June 24, 2020, in Japan, Europe and Australia.

Scribblenauts is a series of action puzzle video games primarily developed by independent studio 5th Cell. The series is owned and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The first game in the series was titled Scribblenauts and was first released on September 15, 2009, in North America, exclusively on the Nintendo DS. Since the release of the first game, five other Scribblenauts games have been released, in addition to two compilations and two comic adaptations.

<i>Kingdom: New Lands</i> 2016 video game

Kingdom: New Lands is a 2016 strategy game developed by Noio and Liquorice and published by Raw Fury. It was released on 9 August 2016 for Windows, macOS, and Xbox One. A follow-up of the 2015 video game Kingdom, players take control of a mounted monarch as they build and defend their kingdom from monsters called the Greed. The monarch can recruit subjects such as builders and archers to fortify their base, while progressing towards their goal of ruling over five islands. New Lands was a free update for owners of the original version. Versions for iOS and Android were released in March 2017, and for Nintendo Switch in September 2017, followed by PlayStation 4 on 16 January 2018. The game received mixed to generally positive reviews on release.

<i>The Past Within</i> 2022 video game

The Past Within is a 2022 adventure video game developed and published by Rusty Lake. It is a cooperative multiplayer game where two people must share clues to solve puzzles. It was initially released for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. A Nintendo Switch port was released in 2023.

References

  1. "Yak and Co". Twitter . Retrieved 7 Mar 2020.
  2. "Yak & Co". Yak & Co. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  3. "Agent A: A puzzle in disguise". App Store. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  4. "Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise". Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise - Press. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. "Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise". Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise - Teaser Trailer - YouTube. Yak & Co. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  6. "Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise". Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise - Full Trailer - YouTube. Yak & Co. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 "Interview with Mark White". Debriefing Creator Mark White About "Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise". App Unwrapper. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  9. "Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  10. Dotson, Carter (3 November 2015). "'Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise' Review – Secrets and Vases". TouchArcade . Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. "Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise (Switch) Review". NintendoWorldReport.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.