This quick look was part of that influenced me to jump in: http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/quick-look-obduction/2300-11517/

My thoughts so far:

It's an adventure game, from the makers of Myst. A spiritual successor to that series. But presented with a full 3D rendered environment that you can freely walk around like an FPS.

It's reminding me of The Witness too. That game was influenced by Myst.

Similarities:

• Abandoned landscape showing traces of habitation
• Limited world interaction
• No inventory
• Information is what you collect and carry from one place to apply elsewhere, to unlock something

But there's some FMV-style stuff. Live actors, just like old Myst.

On that world interaction. No shooting or jumping or climbing. You can push buttons, push open doors, pull levers, and pick up some objects to examine (then you have to put them down again).

In the Witness, there's only one sort of thing in the world to interact with: maze puzzles. Those are connected to mechanisms, which open doors, operate lifts, shoot lasers, etc. That seems a purer system. There's no uncertainty about what you can interact with. Just the line puzzle panels. (And the voice recorders.)

So... you need to be more observant in Obduction, to find the necessary interactables. This can be interesting when it's some weird alien mechanism you're trying to operate!

I'm really enjoying it so far. I never played Myst, but I played Riven back in the day. I found it quite difficult and obscure. I'm making swift progress in Obduction, it feels like. Played 4 hours, and I've done something with the Tree.