One of the puzzles in The Bridge had me perplexed. I was supposed to obtain two keys within the level that would allow me to make it to the next room. One was easy to get, but the second was way more trickier; it could easily fall off a ledge into the abyss, never to be see again. But as it turns out, there was actually a way for that key to slide to me - all it took was the right positioning and just the right gravitational pull for it to slide without falling off. In The Bridge, it’s all about positioning and the gravitational forces at hand. The presentation is basic and the game is on the short side, but it’s an intriguing puzzler with unique gameplay and a macabre atmosphere that’s very memorable.

I wouldn’t say that there is a story to The Bridge. There is, but there isn’t, which I’ll explain in a bit. You control an older looking man immediately as you load the game and enter his house. There are four doors (or chapters) that will lead to six levels each in the game (you can also unlock the tougher mirrored versions after beating the four chapters). The first few levels are relatively simple, but as you advance further in the game, they become more difficult, using vortexes and other elements that will hinder progress. I never felt that the game was extremely difficult, but there were a few times where it took me a while to solve a puzzle. Thankfully, there is also a rewind feature that can take you back in case you mess up. This made it even more simpler to complete a level and the frustration level was never that high.

The game’s mechanics are the most intriguing part of the game. Again, you control a nondescript older gentleman as you travel through various rooms with the goal of going to the next room. Sometimes, you’ll need a key. Other times, it's all about figuring out how to solve the puzzle of a room - there’s no jumping. Rather, it’s all about using the L and R buttons (or ZL/ZR) to shift gravity in your favor that will allow you to go to the next room.

Presentation wise the game is rather simple. There’s no color to the game; it’s all in black and white, but the hand drawn graphics look very impressive and polished. The music is somber, and there’s not much story. But all this actually enhances the aura of the game, in all honesty. It’s a somber, mysterious game with gameplay that challenges the mind. The goal of the game is not to tell a written story, though there are some text that tells some sort of story after you’ve completed each stage. It never seemed that important to dwell on as I ventured further in the game, as the gameplay always seemed to be emphasized over everything else. I’m fine with this, as any story told would probably not be as interesting as manipulating gravity, after all!

I had fun with The Bridge. It’s a bit short, and the lack of a narrative can be jarring for some. But it’s a simple puzzler that focuses on the gameplay, and it works here as it’s one of the more interesting puzzlers that I’ve played as of late. This is the kind of game the works well on the Wii U; with its gravitational gameplay element it fits perfect with the GamePad’s gyroscope features as well as the touch screen controls. While it lacks in certain places when it comes to presentation, the ambiance makes up for it. The Bridge is different than most puzzlers on the Wii U eShop, but that, along with its emphasis on gameplay, is what makes it stand out the most.