Close Menu
  • Gaming
    • Game Guides
    • Codes
    • Game News
    • Game Previews
    • Game Reviews
    • Game Features
    • Game Lists
    • Platforms
      • Nintendo
      • PC
      • PlayStation
      • Xbox
      • Mobile
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Movie Features
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV
    • Reality TV
    • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • More
    • Anime
    • Lists
    • Podcasts
    • Reviews
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
The Nerd Stash
  • Gaming
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Videos
The Nerd Stash
Home»Exclusives»Review: BLACKHOLE (PC)

Review: BLACKHOLE (PC)

Version Tested: PC Also available on:ย GNU/Linux, Mac OS Developer:ย FiolaSoft Studio Publisher:ย FiolaSoft Studio Genre:ย 2Dย sci-fi platform game Itย is hard for me to precisely describe how I…

Krysta ThorntonBy Krysta ThorntonJuly 19, 20155 Mins Read
This article is over 9 years old and may contain outdated information.

Version Tested: PC

Also available on:ย GNU/Linux, Mac OS

Developer:ย FiolaSoft Studio

Publisher:ย FiolaSoft Studio

Genre:ย 2Dย sci-fi platform game

 

Itย is hard for me to precisely describe how I feel about BLACKHOLE. Some immediate descriptors include funny, witty, charming, entertaining….as well as infuriating, frustrating and somewhat sadistic. I truly felt at times that I was being trolled by the developers. The game is billed as a hardcore platformer, and more than delivers on that promise. BLACKHOLEย is aย niche title aimed at a small group of hardcore players, but for what it is, BLACKHOLE does everything right.

2015-06-28_00005
On board with the crew

 

BLACKHOLE takes place in 2121 where the players find themselves the lowest ranking member of the starshipย Endera. The crew of the spaceship,ย Captain Jetsen, ATI, Selassie, Nejfake, Smusa and Skelet, and an AI named Auriel, have been tasked with closing black holes that are threatening the existence of earth. And unsurprisingly, you end up playingย as the unimportant “coffee guy”, aka the guy who gives the captain coffee. Unfortunately, the ship malfunctionsย and crashes on Entity, an object resembling a planet. There, the crew ends up separated from each other, with the exception of coffee guy and Auriel. Together, they come up with a plan on how to fix their spaceship, save the survivors of the crew and close theย black hole once and for all.

The game is surprisingly well written, characters have strong personalities from the start, and continue to deliver punchline after punchline throughout the game. The ship’s AI Auriel is chimes in frequently in the middle of stages, offering humorously sarcastic encouragement, such as exclaiming “you can make it” after the player dies for the umpteenth time. The ship’s crew still take jabs at you for being the lowly coffee fetcher, despite the player rescuing them. The game also features full voice acting of exceptionally high quality. Watching the cutscenes feels like a satisfying reward for completing a tough level.

435115-endera3-653x367
On the bridge with Auriel the snarky AI

Environments in the game are varied and actually feel unique and inspired. It seems like many developers would have settled for a generic setting, or typical themed settings such as the fire world, ice world, etc, but BLACKHOLE delivers much more than that. Each world has specific gameplay elements that fit with the world’s theme, such as lava in the underground caverns and deadly vines in the jungle. The color pallet is pleasing and the simple art is creative and well done. The soundtrack is one of the highlights of the game and fits well with the tone of the game, and helps immerse the player in the environment.

2015-07-03_00002
Seeking out a lostย crew memberย in theย jungle

From a gameplay standpoint, the goal of the game is to gather collectiblesย in order fix the ship. The game is separated into several themed dimensions, each withย central hub area with about ten stages to explore, each containing multiple pickupsย to be collected, and a boss stage in which a crew member is rescued and a critical part for the ship attained.

The game is part puzzle game and part platformer, and requires the player to both figure out how to get to their goal, then reach it without dying horribly. The main mechanic in BLACKHOLE is the ability to change the direction in which gravity acts upon the player. When the player steps on a glowing patch of the level, the entire screen rotates and reorients in a new direction. A simple concept, but one that required some genius level design on the part of the developers. Mechanics such as trampolines, sliding blocks, pulleys, and climbable walls must be combined used with gravity in various orientations in order for the player to progress.

2015-06-28_00018
Underground in the caves

Difficulty is absolutely brutal; timing and controlling jumps requires incredible precision. Collectibles on a given stage are lost when the player dies before exiting the stage, meaning if the player wants all collectibles on a stage, they must collect them all in one go and make it back to the stage exit without dying. It is pointless to try and articulate how difficult this game is. In the few hours I played this game I died more times than I did in every other game I have ever played combined times 10. The critical point here is that the game is not irritating because it is poorly designed, but because it is intentionally made to require loads or practice, skill, and patience. In an era where many games are designed to coddle the players, and adjust to their skill level, BLACKHOLE is a reminder of an time longย past, where games were brutally difficult, and progression required true dedication from the player.

This game made me realize that despite having beat hundreds of games over 20 years, I am not hardcore, at least not as hardcore as the people who generally play this genre of game. BLACKHOLE is not a bad game by any means, but it is not a game for the casual masses. For these who wish to test their mettle, BLACKHOLE comes highly recommended.

Purchase Now on Steam for $14.99!
Also Available onย GNU/Linux & Mac OS

[review]

Related Topics
BLACKHOLE Fiolasoft Studio Indie Games
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Email
Krysta Thornton
  • Website
  • Facebook

I believe that games are an important form of entertainment, and that they can uplift and inspire millions of people around the world. I love JRPGs, and dabble in many other genres, especially MOBAs.

SUGGESTED READS

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate TWID Vendor Changes
Game News

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Is About To Be a Lot Less Confusing Thanks to All of These Core System Changes

Michael Madsen in Kill Bill
Celebrity

‘Reservoir Dogs’ Star Michael Madsen Found Dead In His Malibu Home

Death Stranding 2 Hidden Details
Features

10 Mind-blowing Details in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Destiny 2 Weapon and Armor Tiers
Game Guides

How Do Weapon and Gear Tiers Work in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Exotic Items
Game Guides

All Exotics in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Power Level 200
Game Guides

How To Reach Power Level 200 Fast in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Trending
Texas Man records a package thief stealing boxes off the porch

Texas Man Comes up With โ€˜Epicโ€™ Idea To Get Revenge on Porch Pirates: โ€˜This Is Genius’

Florida bride has special moment with two fathers at wedding

Florida Bride’s Father Shocks Guests At Wedding When He Sees Her Stepdad In Crowd: ‘Cries In Daddy Issues’

A picture of the Texas police impersonator.

Texas Police Impersonator Ambushes Couple and Ends Up Crawling For His Life: โ€˜He Literally Turned Into a Wormโ€™

MAGA Supporter With a Megaphone Harasses Safeway Protestors in Colorado

MAGA Supporter With a Megaphone Harasses Safeway Protestors in Colorado: ‘Couldn’t Even Make the Cut for ICE So He Had to Settle For This’

The Nerd Stash
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
© 2025 The Nerd Stash. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.