![]() The downside to this approach is Little Inferno can feel a bit short on value. There are 99 challenges in total and while you don’t need to clear all of them to unlock more items, it’s an addictive and rewarding system as these combos often have the most explosive, noteworthy results when burned. These combos reward stamps more frequently, thus making the process of experimentation more enticing. Some seem quite obvious from their title, while others draw from pop culture and meta humour in order to stump you, including some funny nods to the developer’s previous work. You’re only left with a clue in the form of the combo’s name and how many objects are needed. Combos can be formed by mixing selected items together, forming much of the brainteasers. While lacking anything in the way of scoring or time pressure, there is a goal system of sorts that drives the game forward. Some objects change the colour of the flame, others explode into smaller pieces – and mixing these together can be immensely satisfying. Each catalogue has a theme, ranging from edibles to technological and each carries their own traits which may affect the fire. ![]() Wait times can be skipped through stamps, though these do not drop as frequently as coins. Spiders which crawl into the fireplace can also be splattered for some currency. ![]() Once ordered and after a delivery time, you can then swipe objects into the fireplace and then back and forth to start the fire. Each item drops currency, creating a cycle which ensures you can continuously ignite. Players start with a handful of available items to order, but further objects unlock as you burn. Utilising the Wii U gamepad or Wiimote, Little Inferno structures its gameplay around catalogues to order. It’s one which proves a slow burn, as it takes a couple of hours to start unravelling darker elements of the world around you, but the satisfying reveals and sharp satire prove enjoyable for those with patience. Coupled with updates from The Weather Man and, despite the isolation, there is plenty of communication. What starts as initially keeping warm, slowly unveils titbits of world-building, including contact with a mysterious girl who requests objects from you. It’s quickly revealed that the climate of Burnington is suffering constant freezing temperatures and thus owners are encouraged to utilise the fireplace to keep warm. This puzzler sees players utilising the Little Inferno Entertainment Fireplace to burn objects. A genuinely intelligent narrative and accessible gameplay make this firestarter worthwhile, though a short runtime will prove a turn-off for value-conscious gamers and those who fail to connect with the story will wonder why they bothered. But like the story, there is more under the surface here than you might initially think. While perhaps appealing to pyromaniacs, the idea of a puzzler that sees you burning stuff doesn’t exactly scream ‘compelling game’. From the minds behind World of Goo and Henry Hatsworth, Little Inferno is one of those peculiar indies that proves a tough sell from a basic description.
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