Owlboy
Owlboy is a Norwegian indie game made by a small team of about a half-dozen people. It features some of the most charming and endearing characters I've seen in a 2-D game. I was genuinely moved by their stories, dialogue, humor, and affectionate natures. Look at the sprite work! What's not to love? Some of the background work is astounding too. Couple that with a great soundtrack and you have a recipe for retro delights. The gameplay is relatively straightforward. No part of it emerges as any great surprise. I would also say that the level design of the dungeons left me a little wanting as well. They utilize the newest companion/unique ability you've acquired, but it's nothing you haven't played before. Some sequences are downright annoying due to some confusing controls and aggravating trial-and-error timed dodges. What's really left me feeling out of sorts is the story. Its cutesy aesthetics belie a story bursting with deeper mysteries and consequences that could cause the world to come crashing down around you. The ending was a bit ambiguous for me and I hate that. Not the fault of the developer, just personal preference. Apparently, there was more lore locked away behind obscure items in hidden places around the world and that annoys me as well. Especially because there was no map or fast travel option to mitigate tedious wandering around the open-world that tends to look way too similar from screen-to-screen. Overall, despite it's faults, I'd still say its worth checking out if you catch it on sale. Its charms are undeniable and its characters wonderful.
Owlboy is a Norwegian indie game made by a small team of about a half-dozen people. It features some of the most charming and endearing characters I've seen in a 2-D game. I was genuinely moved by their stories, dialogue, humor, and affectionate natures. Look at the sprite work! What's not to love? Some of the background work is astounding too. Couple that with a great soundtrack and you have a recipe for retro delights. The gameplay is relatively straightforward. No part of it emerges as any great surprise. I would also say that the level design of the dungeons left me a little wanting as well. They utilize the newest companion/unique ability you've acquired, but it's nothing you haven't played before. Some sequences are downright annoying due to some confusing controls and aggravating trial-and-error timed dodges. What's really left me feeling out of sorts is the story. Its cutesy aesthetics belie a story bursting with deeper mysteries and consequences that could cause the world to come crashing down around you. The ending was a bit ambiguous for me and I hate that. Not the fault of the developer, just personal preference. Apparently, there was more lore locked away behind obscure items in hidden places around the world and that annoys me as well. Especially because there was no map or fast travel option to mitigate tedious wandering around the open-world that tends to look way too similar from screen-to-screen. Overall, despite it's faults, I'd still say its worth checking out if you catch it on sale. Its charms are undeniable and its characters wonderful.