The game has the block-pushing, key-finding, obstacle-jumping action of classic platformers, and would not be noteworthy if that's all it had. But besides running and jumping, you actually build the levels by connecting signs to each other so that you can reach the exit. It's a twist that makes this game as challenging and inventive as Braid and Portal.
The Pedestrian has high production values, featuring not just a stick-figure running through simple 2D signs but also the detailed 3D industrial environment in which those signs are hung. The music alternates between smooth jazz and cinematic (which reminded me of the American Beauty soundtrack), and reacts dynamically by getting louder and adding instrumentation when you finally make progress.
There is a story of sorts. The hopeful inner thoughts of your stick figure are told through Achievement text. Whatever the game reveals in the end is also part of the plot, though I can only guess as to what it's all about.
Some reviewers are saying Pedestrian can be finished in an evening. They're either pretty good at puzzles or used hints. It took me 12 eyeball-straining, brain-melting hours. The final puzzle is a real porker that took me about 2 hours to figure out, though it was fun because it was so different from everything that came before.
Puzzle-solving isn't my forte, and platformers aren't my favorite genre. But like Braid and Portal, Pedestrian has the right mix of difficulty and aesthetic appeal to stay fun enough for me to complete without giving up or using hints. I recommend it if you like such games or just want a new way to appreciate your stick figure friend on the bathroom door.
