Wandersong

Wandersong got my attention since I started reading a few lines in an interview to the devs on Edge a few months ago. As soon as I heard the game was released I gave up on my "no more backlog" oath and purchased it right away to play instantly and support the ingenuity behind this game. Does a bard really need an excuse to sing? Of course not! Music and singing might be the key to solve simple puzzles or temporary obstacles, but Wandersong allows you to sing how much as you please, while the music of the level itself becomes richer with instruments and layers as you do! Another key point of Wandersong is that the devs will to not let down users who do not feel confortable playing musical games due to any kind of personal biases. The game is really forgiving in this regard. As the story unfolds, the cast will increase not just in quantity but quality and sometimes you will just giggle heartily as you witness their actions. Wandersong is a game about hope and love which manages not to fall in corny corners thanks to self-mockery and a nicely mixed and paced ensemble of feelings . As soon as you think the game has shown everything... there comes something new! It is a must have for musicians and for all those who always felt a bit intimidated by all games that put music at their core.

Wandersong is flawed, and it doesn't matter. The music gameplay never really works, there are bugs, the first two acts are slow and twee - and yet, as it gradually builds, it's so earnest and passionate and filled with humanity and charm and warm hugs that you just can't hate it. Please buy it. Please stick with it through a bumpy opening. Please get to know Miriam and the Bard and all the other weird and beautiful characters. Definitely worth your time.

Wandersong is one of those games that doesn't look like much and has so much more under the surface. It's got a sense of optimism but it also is far from a sugar bowl. Rather, it plays like a loving Satire of RPG tropes, of the traditional "Save the World" plot kind. The platforming is well done and the rhythm game aspects are nicely implemented. I didn't expect too much from it when I tried it, only seeing that it was getting good reviews all around and finally deciding to give it a shot. I'll admit I was happily surprised by how drawn into the experience I was and how well it all seemed to come together in the end. It reminded me of earthbound in a way, not so much in the way Earthbound is quirky but the brightness and general lightheartedness it had, while still having enough dark moments to give the themes some weight.

First of all, the art direction and sound score in this game are enough to warrant the experience. This is the type of game where it doesn't punish you for failing. It allows you to keep trying because it's about perseverance, hope, and singing. I thoroughly enjoyed the game and it is what appears in the trailer. The puzzles and challenges vary in each section of the game. This variety did require some lateral thinking at times. Buy this if you want something different and savoir unique experiences. Nevertheless, there were a few bugs related to movement animations (stuttering) that occurred in a few places that made me sad. Sad because they distracted from the carefully crafted ambiance and style the designers put into this game. I don't know if the most recent patch addresses these sparse hiccups.