ampiere
Bio
Amateur bassist and professional dork.
Amateur bassist and professional dork.
Badges
GOTY '23
Participated in the 2023 Game of the Year Event
Gone Gold
Received 5+ likes on a review while featured on the front page
Donor
Liked 50+ reviews / lists
Noticed
Gained 3+ followers
GOTY '22
Participated in the 2022 Game of the Year Event
2 Years of Service
Being part of the Backloggd community for 2 years
Liked
Gained 10+ total review likes
N00b
Played 100+ games
Favorite Games
243
Total Games Played
000
Played in 2024
005
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Really fun and creative! Not quite the crazy kaleidoscopic platforming I hoped for, but it's fun!
When I first saw the announcement for Wonder, I was admittedly a little skeptical. I've played just about every Super Mario Bros. 2D platform prior, but something about the gameplay footage didn't click with me. But I'm delighted to say that just after a few hours those worries dissipated. The game is full of fun platforming, clever twists, colorful visuals, and a catchy soundtrack. While that's all certainly praiseworthy, I think that's as far as it goes.
The platforming is... good. The Wonder flower mechanics are... good. The art direction is... good. Nothing really rose above the threshold of "wonder". The level design in particular didn't feel as tight as previous entries, and the final (final) level was less a test of skill and more a brute force grind. The game features co-op, but it's very much designed around a single player experience. It's also a shame that boss fights weren't more varied or lean into the craziness of it all.
Still, Wonder is a silly experience that will eventually put a smile on your face.
When I first saw the announcement for Wonder, I was admittedly a little skeptical. I've played just about every Super Mario Bros. 2D platform prior, but something about the gameplay footage didn't click with me. But I'm delighted to say that just after a few hours those worries dissipated. The game is full of fun platforming, clever twists, colorful visuals, and a catchy soundtrack. While that's all certainly praiseworthy, I think that's as far as it goes.
The platforming is... good. The Wonder flower mechanics are... good. The art direction is... good. Nothing really rose above the threshold of "wonder". The level design in particular didn't feel as tight as previous entries, and the final (final) level was less a test of skill and more a brute force grind. The game features co-op, but it's very much designed around a single player experience. It's also a shame that boss fights weren't more varied or lean into the craziness of it all.
Still, Wonder is a silly experience that will eventually put a smile on your face.
This review contains spoilers
A delightful adventure with some Soulslike action, mellow tunes, and frustrating endgame secrets.
Everything about the game's aesthetic is just so damn good: from the Lifeformed soundtrack, to the saturated colors of the overworld, to the nostalgia of CRT TVs and player manuals. Piecing together disparate ends of the map felt so satisfying, especially when I realized I could've done it right from the start.
I think a fatal flaw of mine is to go for the secret ending first. In pursuit of the Golden Path, Tunic plays as an entirely different game. This second half of the game– endlessly scouring the environment and backtracking for secret puzzles a la The Witness– was a total drag. Even more disappointing was learning that the end result basically skips an otherwise fun and challenging boss fight.
Also, I found the game had an insane difficulty spike, right before obtaining the Hero's Laurels. Had I known about the difficulty settings, I would've definitely bumped it down a notch just to get through it.
Everything about the game's aesthetic is just so damn good: from the Lifeformed soundtrack, to the saturated colors of the overworld, to the nostalgia of CRT TVs and player manuals. Piecing together disparate ends of the map felt so satisfying, especially when I realized I could've done it right from the start.
I think a fatal flaw of mine is to go for the secret ending first. In pursuit of the Golden Path, Tunic plays as an entirely different game. This second half of the game– endlessly scouring the environment and backtracking for secret puzzles a la The Witness– was a total drag. Even more disappointing was learning that the end result basically skips an otherwise fun and challenging boss fight.
Also, I found the game had an insane difficulty spike, right before obtaining the Hero's Laurels. Had I known about the difficulty settings, I would've definitely bumped it down a notch just to get through it.
i am quick as hell