Child of Light

[cmdrdredd]

Game seems to be getting some favorable reviews, it's only $14.99. Anyone try it yet? There's a demo available on PS3 & PS4. I'm downloading it on PS4 now.

 

[Lil Frier]

Nope, it didn't seem like something I would care for. However, if there is a demo on the One, I might try it out. I have another $20 in Bing Rewards to spend, so if it turns out to be decent, maybe I'll pick it as my next game.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The game feels slow...something about it just doesn't feel exciting *shrug*

I do however like the artwork very much and the dialog always rhyming is kind of fun for the characters. The battle system is pretty good, there is a time bar at the bottom that scrolls to tell you who gets a turn next and when they will cast their move so you can be strategic and interrupt an enemy. You can also move Igniculus in real time to heal or slow the enemies so you can move before them, but the exploration is just slow and sluggish to me. Especially since you have to control both Aurora and Igniculus. I guess it may be better if I was doing two players and someone else controled Igniculus for me to heal and get the oculi stones instead of slowing down the game for me to do it.

 

[KeithTalent]

Just watched some gameplay. Certainly looks cool, but it seems like it could be a bit boring. Going to try the demo later.

KT

 

[purbeast0]

never heard of it but just saw the trailer. looks kinda neat but yeah it does look a bit slow. something about it reminds me of max on x1. i'll give the demo a try if i can remember. still haven't turned my ps4 on in about 3 months heh.

 

[Drako]

I must download this tonight. I've been anxiously waiting for a nice little RPG for the new consoles. Now the question is, Xbox One or PS4? :hmm:

 

[Super56K]

I tried the demo on PS4 last night and quickly uninstalled. There's a lot to like for JRPG fans (and $15 is so cheap), but I'm not one of those people.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I tried the demo on PS4 last night and quickly uninstalled. There's a lot to like for JRPG fans (and $15 is so cheap), but I'm not one of those people.

I'm a fan of JRPGs but they need to make the world more interesting. Maybe it's just the demo but exploring the world was just boring and felt tedious.

 

[Fulle]

I tried the demo with my daughter, who's 6.

I have mixed feelings about it. The game was pretty, and had charm. The characters were definitely appealing to my daughter. The backdrops were gorgeous, and there were nice clean menus. But, I can't say we were having a lot of fun....

First of all, controlling the little light blob isn't very exciting for the second player. I appreciated the clean combat system, but didn't appreciate how many hit points enemies had, and how slow and drawn out the fights felt. The skill tree felt pretty unnecessary, tbph. The dialogue was meant to be story book, but overly forced with its rhyming. Puzzles felt overly simplistic to the point of having no purpose (especially since we recently completed Trine 2, which has excellent puzzles)... making exploring pretty boring.

I want to like the game, since I appreciate what they were trying to do. The game has a strong sense of elegance to it. But at the same time I think there's evidence there that this one might be over-praised.

There's a hipster trend right now where anything artsy and pretty gets good reviews, for the most part. But doesn't a game also need to be fun? Am I missing something? Because I was bored out of my mind.

 

[sweenish]

There's a hipster trend right now where anything artsy and pretty gets good reviews, for the most part. But doesn't a game also need to be fun? Am I missing something? Because I was bored out of my mind.

You're still using the classic definition of a video game where fun is a big factor. There's zero things wrong with that.

The "hipster" trend you're describing is probably the indies that are delving more into interactive storytelling experiences through gameplay. Whether you classify them as "video games" has little impact on the developers' goals.

I have a tough time calling Gone Home a video game by my definition, but I am glad I experienced it. I'm glad people are trying to push the medium.

Video games need to diversify in a big way. My best example is Spec Ops. I didn't necessarily find the gameplay to be "fun," but I could not stop playing. It was still a very fulfilling experience for me. It's one thing to read or watch The Heart of Darkness, but it's another beast entirely to live it, even vicariously.

 

[Majcric]

I just beat the demo this morning before work. It's a pretty neat little game.

 

[Anteaus]

I want to like the game, since I appreciate what they were trying to do. The game has a strong sense of elegance to it. But at the same time I think there's evidence there that this one might be over-praised.

There's a hipster trend right now where anything artsy and pretty gets good reviews, for the most part. But doesn't a game also need to be fun? Am I missing something? Because I was bored out of my mind.

You make solid points but try not to be too hard on the game. Fun factor should definitely weight into a score, but you have to balance it against the entire package. Yes it is artsy, but it is also $15 and meant to be somewhat fluff. For the market it's competing in, it deserves very high marks. Only when you compare it to $60 titles with 50-100 million dollar budgets does it show its obvious weaknesses. Every game that comes out doesn't have to hit on all the same points, as say GTAV (arbitrary example, don't flame), to get a good score. We tend to get a lot of trash in that price range.

 

[Lil Frier]

I don't think that's necessarily true, Anteaus. I look at it, think it looks kinda neat, but I still don't think it looks like a game I'd spend $15 on. Now, a lot of that is my lack of interest in the genre, but I don't see this as something where a higher budget would have made it better or anything. I think Powerstar Golf or Trials Fusion, both at $20, are better buys than this. That's obviously an opinion, as this all is, but I just don't see $15 as a price I'd take this game at.

Again, not a game I'd like, so there's probably no buy-in price for me, I just don't think that using its price tag as an excuse for its flaws is the best defense.

 

[KeithTalent]

I finished the demo this morning and I really enjoyed the game. Love the art style and the character movement. Also enjoy the use of the light blob guy both in and out of battle.

I think I will actually grab this one.

KT

 

[Dacalo]

Grabbed it Day One, and I am about 2 hours into the game. It gets a little more interesting after about an hour or so. I am enjoying the game as it is, and am not trying to compare to any JRPGs. The hand drawn art is beautiful and the sound track is very relaxing.

 

[Drako]

Definitely worth $15 IMO.

I finished it up this morning - my biggest gripes with the game are:

1) The poem shtick gets old pretty quickly.
2) The combat is too easy, even on 'hard' difficulty.
3) I found myself using Aurora, and two other characters for most of the game.

 

[exdeath]

I'll pick it up eventually, but digital only games are low priority for me since they won't exactly be hard to come by.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Grabbed it Day One, and I am about 2 hours into the game. It gets a little more interesting after about an hour or so. I am enjoying the game as it is, and am not trying to compare to any JRPGs. The hand drawn art is beautiful and the sound track is very relaxing.

That is good to hear, that it gets better further along.

 

[drbrock]

Bought it yesterday(Wii U) while having a lazy day on the couch. So far a great game. Actually challenging in the battles and not a grind fest. Never felt challenged in the FF series. I have already died twice in this game. Probably need to master the interrupt/defend system a little bit more.

 

[Drako]

Bought it yesterday(Wii U) while having a lazy day on the couch. So far a great game. Actually challenging in the battles and not a grind fest. Never felt challenged in the FF series. I have already died twice in this game. Probably need to master the interrupt/defend system a little bit more.

Using Igniculus correctly is also key. He makes the game almost too easy IMO. You also need to master character swapping if you are in trouble.