I couldn't avoid playing this game after playing my all-time favorite game (so far)... Chicory.

Chapter 1: 🎬
It took me almost the whole chapter to get into this game! I tried it a few different times, but eventually, when the second chapter started, it kinda clicked :>

Chapter 2: 🥁
I enjoyed ordering beans, making a theme song, and... getting the band together 😎. The game didn't hit until the start of chapter 3, though.

Chapter 3: 🏴‍☠️
This is where I got fully invested in the game, I'd say. Exploring with the pirates, following the map, and finding secrets felt really fun. It reminded me of a game I used to play as a child. Often indie games feel like reading a children's book. It gives me a joy that is hard to match...

Chapter 4: 🏭
The game took a very unexpected turn for me here. It focused on the whole time mechanic, which I liked. It reminded me of Stardew/Animal Crossing, with how you had to be exact on time a lot of the time. It felt similar to both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the film Klaus...!

Chapter 5: 🦄
This was probably the longest chapter and... one of the best. I didn't care much for the conflict between the people, basically? But otherwise, it had a lot of fun things. I almost expected it to be done, but then I got the magical school arc, which was really fun, with Metroidvania mechanics???

Chapter 6: 🌌
Kinda short? Not much to say about it. It felt a little simple, and apparently, every indie game has a mountain climbing section!

Chapter 7: 🏡 Mimimimimimimi

Well, while I'm still considering Chicory my favorite game...? This game was phenomenal. It did so many creative things, had some awesome songs, fun characters, awesome sound design, and really engaging dialogue. I did, however, miss the more open-world styled exploration in Chicory... I preferred the top-down view more. Wandersong, to me, almost felt too linear at points with not enough secrets to find. I'm not sure if that's a negative for the game itself or just my opinion!

Can't WAIT to see what Other Wishes do next!!!

This is the best game you've never heard of. The story of a bard trying to be a hero, but never really succeeding. The story of people and all their messes. A story of a witch trying to save the world. A story of dealing with death and grief and rage.

And most importantly, a story of hope.

What a game. What a stupendous game. I wish I could play it again with fresh eyes.

'Wandersong' ofrece una visión vitalista a los problemas mundanos de nuestra vida, de la mano de un bardo al que le cuesta mucho quedarse con la boca cerrada un rato (ni bajo el agua). Pero la importancia de esta obra no es la cualidad de cantar bien o mal (o hacer imposible la existencia a nuestra bruja compañera de viajes), es el estímulo que llama a cada uno de nosotros a expresar cómo somos y dejar atrás los miedos, apoyados con el poder de la música como medio de expresión. El mero hecho de usar el stick derecho para tocar notas con el bardo en cualquier momento/escena de la partida ya es un triunfo en sí. Una llamada a liberar tus ansias metomentodo y embellecer/marronear un momento dulce de la partida de la manera menos conveniente. O ponerse a bailar en un momento comprometido de la narrativa. La música es vida, expresar sentimientos nos hace libres, abrirse en canal no nos hace menos persona que otra, todos tenemos un espacio en el mundo.

Aunque pueda resultar empalagoso por instantes, la narrativa propuesta por Greg Lobanov propone muchos conflictos internos y soluciones agridulces que harán que la perspectiva que tengamos del viaje cambie notablemente. Porque es muy fácil decirle a alguien que se anime o "piensa en positivo", pero tener la determinación para seguir adelante no es fácil sin plantarles cara a los problemas y elaborar una convicción clara sobre qué hacer frente a ellos. Desde su exageradamente simple mentalidad optimista, el bardo es el vehículo necesario para conectar el mundo de 'Wandersong' y llenarlo de vida. Y quizá a raíz de esa pureza que hallamos en todas las personas y criaturas del viaje, esa pequeña cosa que les hace especiales a cada una de ellas, el clamor atronador que se produce en el estallido final se vive más intensamente de lo esperado. Cierto es que buena parte del juego viene conducido por historias secundarias, habitualmente desconectadas de la narrativa principal, que pueden resultar un peñazo por la lentitud en la que suelen desarrollarse (o los infinitos diálogos profundizando en los sentimientos de cada personaje); pero prefiero quedarme con el aspecto más noble del mensaje del universo de Lobanov. He aprendido a perdonar su holgura y verborrea pasional, y apreciarla en la medida que es, de donde y quién viene.

El núcleo jugable está plagado de usos creativos y formas de emplear al bardo como instrumento, pero en ningún momento posee una profundidad muy allá. Sin quitarle mérito a su enorme creatividad, en muchos momentos se sabe incómodo de jugar, especialmente en algunas secciones plataformeras donde las físicas de los actores no actúan como se espera de ellos. Visto en perspectiva, acometer cualquier ejercicio musical de 'Wandersong' es parecido a loquefuesequehicieses jugando a 'Wii Music'. Tenemos que seguir unas notas y patrones rítmicos determinados, pero el diseño sonoro del juego suele adaptarse a lo que hacemos, de modo que nada parece tener sentido y todo lo que hacemos está bien... salvo que no suena demasiado bien. Es raro y puede resultar cargante en muchos momentos de la partida, pero también tiene su intríngulis, si se me entiende. Es una cosa... especial. Algo así.

Pero en definitiva, creo que las ~12h invertidas en 'Wandersong' han sido muy satisfactorias al final. Personalmente no obstante, creo que le he fallado un poco por no acercarme al juego con la mejor predisposición posible. Ha llevado mes y pico para terminar la aventura por la desidia que me producían los diálogos y lo que se enrollan las viñetas secundarias. Pero detrás del juego hay mucho corazón, mucha ternura y una actitud frente a la vida demasiado bonita como para dejarla aparcada en una biblioteca (inexistente en realidad) de Steam. 'Wandersong' merece una oportunidad.

I hate to dock the game so heavily, but the bugs in it are what caused me to abandon it.

I don't know if the Xbox Gamepass version for PC hasn't got some of the patches they put out or what, but it will repeatedly hang after about act 4. Some minor bugs earlier in the game were manageable but woof did they get bad in Rulle. The game wouldn't stop freezing before every dialogue, and sometimes just walking around.

I really wish this had worked because I felt the characters were charming, the story was a fun take on the concept, the writing was great, the songs were pretty good, and I liked that it was a little looser about being about the music. Heavily involved with it, but not a dedicated rhythm game. It was a strong contender for one of my favorite games of the year if it hadn't had too many issues.

Maybe on your chosen platform it'll work better, and if so I wish you all the best. I highly encourage you to do one that gives refunds though, as I've never went from loving a game to being so annoyed by it as hard as on this one.

May try it again, so I'm backlogging it

Wandersong is a cute, easygoing, and extremely wholesome puzzle game with a neat singing gimmick. The graphics look decent and are deceptively simple. At first, you feel the one-man-band vibe, but it quickly becomes VERY impressive with the insane tricks the dev/s pulled with using the graphics and gameplay so creatively. My first impression was that it reminded me of Pikuniku. Its really easygoing, and theres no difficulty whatsoever, so relax and enjoy it. The writing is easily A tier, very moving, wholesome, and engaging. I laughed many times, I spent a good portion of the game with a beaming smile, and I'm a guy who for whatever reason doesn't really smile much. And I also very nearly cried happiness at the end.

The story takes a while to get going, but once it does by golly does it speed off like a train, by chapter 2, I was heavily invested in the character progression and development, and wider story and was enthralled by the lovable characters at every single turn.

By chapter 3, I fell in love with the devs' sense of humour, they have the best kind of lighthearted internet culture you can find in laid back, creatively driven fandoms with a nod to the old style internet, think Homestuck (which there are s e v e r a l references to), Artfight, Newgrounds, etc. This kind of vibe is right up my alley, and I wish more netizens embraced it more. I'm trying to be a nicer and more wholesome netizen myself, this game inspires me towards that further.

In chapter 4 I pet the dog, did the bardy thing, and made a depressed young man happy. :D

By chapter 5, I was going crazy with all the insane tricks the dev was pulling, and my interest in The Bard and Miriam's relationship peaked and stayed for the rest of the game, I also realised that Audrey is a total bellend here.

Chapters 6 and 7 weren't as crazy as chapter 5, but the ending almost made me cry. Thats all I'll say about it.

I didn't pay any money for this, I got it as a Christmas present from a REALLY good friend. She really knows how to pick em. With hindsight from playing it, I would say its worth the A$30 theyre asking, but I wouldn't have gone for it until it went on sale for 60%+, maybe you should too if you're not totally convinced in how good it is or have a backlog and can wait to save some money.