FAKE RONJAN!!Off Topic Tuesday: Child of Light
I finished Child of Light on the PS4 over the weekend, and I loved every second of it. In today's unfortunate guns-guns-guns, shoot-shoot-shoot, murder-murder-murder video game landscape, it's truly a revelation that should be experienced by everyone. Here's why:
5. Combat & progression
This game is a mechanical throwback filled with turn-based battles against fantastical beasts. I really enjoyed the progression: as my party of characters defeated enemies, my characters gradually improved their abilities, in turn allowing them to defeat more powerful monsters. It's a tried and true system, executed to perfection.
4. The rhyming
This game set out to be an interactive fairy tale, and part of the charm there is that every line of dialogue -- whether narrated or a conversation between characters -- rhymes. The timing isn't always perfect, but that added to the charm for me, as it indicated that these characters had to put in extra effort to rhyme like they're "supposed to".
3. The game world
The game is visually stunning, as it uses an animated storybook aesthetic to great impact. The game is set in Lumeria, a mystical land of talking mice, goblins, and fearsome creatures, and this world -- while not incredibly vast or epic in scope -- was a treat to explore. From the forests to the plains to the ocean, I was fully engrossed.
2. The music
Composed by Couer de pirate, the soundtrack for this game is a mix of melancholy melodies and energetic anthems. Aurora's theme is the heart of the soundtrack, as it even plays on the beautiful title screen. Meanwhile, the battle themes are pounding, orchestrated affairs, perfect for the drama of combat. Here's my favorite track in the game.
1. Tone & underlying message
The main plot of the story resonates due to its themes of loss, sadness, and solace, but it's the individual character stories that will stay with me. Whether it's exile, severe depression, or unrequited love, the game's somber tone belies the message that no matter how dark it seems, the people around you will be the light.
In the end, I can't recommend this game enough. It's gorgeous, it's fun, and it's impactful. And, oh, by the way -- it's only $15. I'll remember this game for a long time ... and not just because I want to go back and play it all over again.
-rj