Songbringer – First Steps – Gameplay without Commentary – IDC Plays
0Sometimes when we analyse a game, it can’t be denied that what’s in front of us is different. On this occasion in particular, Wizard Fu Games brings us a 2D atypical action game and all the qualities needed to make it stand out on the indie scene.
It is somewhat reminiscent of Zelda and a delight, technically speaking. Songbringer offers us a healthy dose of humour and some suffering along the way.
Playing Songbringer entails confronting the danger posed by a game that is procedurally-generated – based on a pattern you give it – while surviving a hostile environment that could send you over the edge. Wizard Fu Games does not shy away from the fact that this game is considered hardcore, and you can expect to die again and again, after many a tense moment.
No let’s address what a feast for the eyes it is; this is pure pixel appreciation. It’s committed to its retro feel, but it also has a modern touch which means characters don’t just look like they’re stuck to the surface, they have more of a presence. This is further aided by integrated shadows, and the constant rain and its pixelated drops landing in the lakes, setting it apart it from a 16-bit title.
Songbringer pays homage to, and parodies, Legend of Zelda from the very start. You begin by descending into a cave in pursuit of a sword, which is then raised in a way that is quintessentially Hyrule... But this is just the beginning. Later, you put in six-letter word (anything you like, it doesn't have to make sense), and the game map is generated based on that. The randomness of it means that every time you start a new game it feels like everything works out. That said, not everything’s a bed of roses. Strange, unnerving dialogue bring you back to the reality that you are passing through an unpleasant, dystopian world.
Elements of fantasy are mixed with eye-grabbing metallic platforms, giving you the feeling that you’re amongst the ruins of some fallen techno-medieval civilisation. On top of this, there are objects to help you throughout your adventure. Interestingly, there is a blatant psychedelic element to the game. To recover and sharpen your senses, you will need to take certain substances which are typically hallucinogenic. In fact, these sensations come on because of what we are shown by the game. Another interesting aspect is the option to meditate. The developers clearly liked the idea of mixing "wild" and "unruly" with meditation zen.
Don’t worry though, it’s mostly about swinging swords and moving around the screen while swathes of enemies try to take you down. There are also several weapons to be unlocked, all of them almighty. The whole thing is doused in a serious sense of humour (and, above all, ridicule), right from the moment we meet the protagonist, Roq Epitheos, who is shirtless, having lost his clothing in a shipwreck that left him "stranded" in the world of Ezkera.
To conclude, it has to be said that Songbringer is a true roguelike, drawing from RPG experience yet offering one that is more "hardcore". It makes its mark with its randomly generated maps, and a certain simplicity – which it tries to compensate for with weaponry and a good level of difficulty.