- Exceptional gameplay and design
- Captivating atmosphere and art style
- Outstanding music and sound
- Engaging story with delightful pig companion
- Evokes classic Zelda feel
- Some technical issues and stiff combat
Emotions
Players felt satisfied by the game's well-implemented mechanics, particularly the fun and fair puzzles, rewarding exploration, and balanced combat. The nostalgic art style, engaging story, and high-quality audio also contributed to a fulfilling experience, often meeting or exceeding long-held expectations.
Admiration stemmed from the game's exceptional artistic execution, including its detailed pixel visuals, fantastic soundtrack, and immersive atmosphere. Reviewers frequently praised the evident 'love for detail' from the developers, especially noting the quality of animations and overall polish from a newcomer studio.
Joy was primarily evoked by the game's charming and childlike art style, the adorable pig companion, and the warm, emotional plot. Players also found great enjoyment in solving satisfying puzzles, engaging in combat, and the overall fun and humorous presentation of the game.
Excitement was driven by the game's captivating premise, unique pig companion, and high-quality music and graphics. Many players expressed anticipation for the full release after positive demo or beta experiences, often having followed the game's development for a long time.
Nostalgia was a strong emotion, with players frequently comparing the game's retro pixel art, dungeon action-adventure puzzles, and overall gameplay to classic titles like Zelda and Minish Cap. This evoked fond memories of childhood gaming experiences and a trip back to retro-style gaming.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 98% · Negative 2%. Score: 2 / 100
Positives:
- Players consistently praise the game's well-implemented action-adventure mechanics, engaging puzzles, and balanced mix of exploration and combat. The world design is open, detailed, and full of charming interactions, making for a highly enjoyable experience.
- The game is lauded for its unique, beautiful, and coherent atmosphere, often described as melancholic and lovingly designed. It draws players in with its heart and depth, creating a truly immersive experience.
- The game's soundtrack and sound design are frequently highlighted as incredible and a real highlight. The music is emotional, fits every environment perfectly, and significantly contributes to the overall atmosphere.
- The game's pixel art style is consistently praised for being beautiful, clean, and delicate, combining classic pixel art with modern elements. It creates a unique visual identity that is both warm and melancholic.
- The pig companion is a standout feature, praised for making the journey less lonely and adding heart and humor. It's well-implemented, helps with exploration and puzzles, and is often considered the best part of the game.
Negatives:
- The game suffers from occasional stuttering, general lack of polish in some areas, and instances of glitching through walls. Colliders are also not correctly set, impacting gameplay.
- Players found the combat to be lacking, stiff, and not fresh. On higher difficulties, enemies become damage sponges without offering a satisfying challenge or reward.
- The story chapters feel disconnected, and players struggled to connect with characters due to insufficient time spent in each area. A specific long cutscene felt out of place given the limited character context.
- Some players felt there were too many collectibles, and the overall world map was perceived as being too small.
- A critical bug causes the screen to go black and prevents progress in the swamp's mushroom mine, halting gameplay entirely.
Gameplay:
- Players frequently compare the game's action-adventure and exploration style to classic Zelda titles, noting its retro feel and inclusion of Metroidvania elements. It blends story-driven adventure with charming puzzles.
- Combat difficulty is flexible, with an invincibility mode for those who prefer to focus on puzzles and story. While normal difficulty is considered good, hard mode can make enemies feel like damage sponges, though boss fights are generally challenging but not frustrating.
- The puzzles are well-received, often tied to character abilities and offering satisfying solutions. They strike a good balance, being challenging but fair, and consistently introduce new experiences.
- The main story provides 6-12 hours of gameplay, with significant side content, secrets, and optional routes extending the experience for completionists. This offers good value for different playstyles.
- The pig companion is a notable feature, allowing players to ride it and utilize it for solving puzzles. When playing as the pig, stealth or other mechanics are used instead of direct combat.
Performance:
- Players consistently report that the game runs flawlessly across various platforms, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux distributions. The game is noted for its stable frame rates and minimal hardware demands, indicating a well-optimized experience.
- The game performs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, maintaining stable 60 FPS and offering good battery life. Players also appreciate that in-game texts are easily readable on the device's screen.
- The game's translation is well-executed, contributing to a positive player experience. This suggests attention to detail in making the game accessible to a wider audience.
Recommendations:
- Players strongly recommend this game, especially for those who enjoy classic Zelda-style top-down adventure games with Metroidvania elements. Many reviewers felt transported back to their childhood and found it well worth the price.
- Reviewers specifically advise playing the game with a controller or gamepad. While keyboard and mouse are functional, the gamepad offers a superior and more comfortable experience.
- Players suggest checking out the demo to get a feel for the game. This indicates confidence in the game's appeal to its target audience.
Miscellaneous:
- Players would appreciate more hidden fish species and additional fishing locations to enhance the gameplay experience and provide more exploration incentives.
- Despite initial confusion regarding the game's title, one player perceived an underlying intention by the developers to delve into philosophical themes within the game's narrative or design.
