I Am Bread Review

• Title: I am Bread
• Developer: Bossa Studios
• Publisher: Bossa Studios
• Genre: Action, Simulator
• Platforms: PC, Mac
• Release Date: Dec. 3, 2014
• Price: $12.99

“Become Toast!” That is my purpose. That is my goal.

For the past week I’ve been a sentient slice of bread, wreaking havoc across multiple divisions. I stuck, swung and shook my loaf around with the sole purpose of becoming toast. I rode skateboards, shattered porcelain and flew in zero gravity.

This is my story.

I am Bread is the newest game from Bossa Studios, the creators of the amazingly popular Surgeon Simulator. This time, you play as a slice of wholemeal bread that has as a life goal the sole purpose of becoming toast. To achieve this goal you start by reaching a toaster, and as the game progresses you have to think of increasingly creative ways to get crispy. Oven? Check. Hairdryer? Check. Barbecue? Check. Rocket? Chec..wait, what?

Most levels are based around Mr.Murton’s house (we’ll get to him in a bit), where objects are strategically placed to hinder your movement, help you navigate or simply to be wrecked. The floor, dirty surfaces, water and even ants, all contribute to reduce your “Edibility” meter. Once it reaches zero, you get an F rating and start the level all over again.

Each corner of the slice is mapped to a button, and pressing it grips the corner in place, allowing our slice to “walk” and even vertically ascend walls and objects. Unfortunately, gripping is limited by a short timer and once that runs out, you let go and are then forced to rest until the meter refills. Despite all odds our slice is strong enough to move heavy objects such as chairs and boxes, open cupboard doors, throw plates and even to ride skateboards. Sometimes though, due to this mechanic you can clip through an object and end up propelled into the air. It’s fun when it happens, but it can be a serious bug none the less.

Like their previous game, the painfully hard control system is part of what creates the experience of I am Bread. The game is relentless so don’t expect it to hold your hand at any given time.

Sometimes though, due to this mechanic you can clip through an object and end up propelled into the air. It’s fun when it happens, but it can be a serious bug none the less.

During your journey you can rub your slice on “deliciousness” increasing items such as jam, butter, honey, potato chips, baked beans and candy. “Deliciousness”, alongside “Time” and “Edibility” are factors taken into consideration to define your finishing score.

Before any new story level you can read a file from Mr. Murton’s psychiatric evaluation, which ends up giving us the story and providing background into why there is a loaf of bread in the bathroom, or at the lounge. I won’t spoil the story (yes, there is a story), but apparently Mr. Murton is not as crazy as everyone thinks. Each completed level unlocks freeplay on that location, and once the story is complete you unlock other game modes such as Cheese Hunt, where you play as a cheese hunting cracker; Rampage, where you prove your worth as a baguette of mass destruction; Bagel race, were as the name implies you race around tracks as a bagel, and Zero-G, where you have to become toast in zero gravity environment.

I am Bread has a great atmosphere caused by the amazingly catchy soundtrack and  colorful graphics, and every single level is full is bread puns and references. Everything from book titles, to fridge magnets, there is no butter game (I’m sorry)  to grin at bread puns.

Unfortunately, the frustratingly difficult controls, alongside the repetitive nature of the gameplay can take their toll on the experience, turning a initially fun game session into a rage inducing situation. Bossa Studios knows it, so they added a myriad of functions into the game to allow easy sharing of gameplay situations. As if it wasn’t evidenced by the big bottom button depicting a camera, the game allows quick screen-shotting, along with integrated gif recording.

 

In short, I am Bread is a fun game with an excellent atmosphere that puts you on a quest to overcome your difficulties and become toast,  but ultimately one that gets defined by it’s difficult nature. Each level presents multiple paths, and even after the story mode is complete there is still more content to experience. It’s still a good game to play with friends and to stream, but after a few hours it can easily turn into a frustrating experience.

Go get I am Bread if you are into are into hard to beat games. Tell us what you think of the game in the comments below!