The Turing Test
Genres: Puzzle, Horror, Sci-Fi, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Adventure
Play modes: singleplayer
Release Date: 30-8-2016
Rating: 4.5/5
Developer: BULKHEAD
Our verdict
8/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 5–7 h
The Turing Test is a first-person sci-fi puzzle game set on Jupiter's moon Europa. You play engineer Ava Turing, sent to find a missing ground crew, and work through chambers of tests that the station AI, Tom, says only a human can solve. Your main tool is a device that moves power between sockets and machines. It suits solo players who enjoyed Portal or The Talos Principle.
Around 87% of more than 5,500 Steam reviews are positive. Players often compare it to Portal and praise how steadily it introduces new mechanics, so nothing grows stale. Most say it starts easy and gets harder towards the end, though some call the difficulty uneven. The story and voice acting are described as solid rather than outstanding.
The main caveat is price. Several reviewers feel the puzzles are on the easy side for its full price and advise buying on sale. Most finish in five to seven hours. A safe pick for chamber-puzzle fans, best bought at a discount.
Pros
- Power-transfer tool keeps chamber puzzles fresh
- New mechanics introduced at a steady pace
- Europa station setting with an AI-driven story
Cons
- Puzzles lean easy for long stretches
- Full price feels high for the length
About
The Turing Test is a challenging first-person puzzle game set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. You are Ava Turing, an engineer for the International Space Agency (ISA) sent to discover the cause behind the disappearance of the ground crew stationed there.
Upon arrival a series of puzzles awaits you – tests which, according to the station’s AI, Tom, can only be solved by a human. These puzzles have apparently been set by the missing ground crew – but why have they created them and what are they hiding from?
In an evolving story based on mankind’s instinctual need to explore, protect and survive, you’ll delve deeper into Europa’s ice crusted-core and discover that the lines between man and machine begin to blur. Armed with the Energy Manipulation Tool (EMT), solve puzzles to open the way forward as you learn the true cost of human morality.
Key Features:
* Harness the ability to transfer power between machines using your ‘Energy Manipulation Tool’ providing a unique twist on gameplay mechanics and puzzle logic.
* Learn the significance of player control as you switch between multiple perspectives to solve The Turing Test’s most challenging puzzles.
* Discover a story with multiple layers of depth and conspiracy; challenging concepts of human morality and giving freedom to players to form theories about the fate of ISA's crew members.
