Translated by
Microsoft from Russian
Microsoft from Russian
To date, there are many games about survival, and their popularity is not weakening. From the otherworldly worlds in the style of Tim Burton and distant unfriendly planets to the living dead of the city and Wild Island with predatory horned creature-which only themes do not offer us large and independent developers. With such a variety to stand out against others is quite difficult, but in my opinion, "Echo of the Wilds" has achieved in this success.
Gamers, meeting games exclusively on the game, with caution bypass her side, not having time to evaluate the dynamic visual effects that go far beyond the laconic pixel graphics. Just a few minutes after the beginning it turns out that the eight-bit expanses of untouched nature are full of life: from the trees are boiled birds, the bushes fuss bees, on the leaves of the lilies filled with a frog, and at this time through the foliage The iridescent rays of the sun shine, the glare is shining and the dust shines on the light. Oh, come on, I will not be more convincing in the beauty of the game, it is not for everyone anyway.
Because Of the lack of detailed skills and intricate style of texts, which even native speakers hardly understand, at first it is incredibly difficult to understand what the game wants. You are trained to collect berries from bushes, to cut thin trees with stalks of a dense plant and to breed a fire for the night, but this is all – Welcome to free swimming. But a pleasant surprise from new discoveries is provided, starting with the study of new useful crafting recipes and ending with the moments when you go to one location, and come in a completely different, not marked on the map and clearly contains some secret.
The Chip of the game-in mystery. To start the hero of the game simply do not want to tell why he from his cozy apartment got into the forest and why each location seems to him at the same time familiar. But gradually, according to the capacious information, the picture of what is happening begins to open. It Helps in this mysterious ghostly helper and nightmarish visions, sometimes visiting the hero. Very unexpectedly It happens, falling asleep under the calming ambient at a crackling fire, to see a hard nightmare, elements of which meet the hero and awake. Thanks to this contrast, dreams are very easy to rank as a horror, which leaves an interesting imprint on the overall impression of the game.
Another important feature is the severe restriction. It manifests itself in everything: in the capacity of the inventory, in the number of places that can be noted on the map, as well as who will have time to visit from sunrise to sunset, and, of course, the number of memorable drawings for crafting. For Example, the map has 12 locations of more than 40 available, and this inhumane inventory I have not seen anywhere else: only 5 slots. Fortunately, improvements are available for all settings, but they still need to be explored and created.
All these strict frameworks would not be so problematic, if there was no change of seasons and ahead of the endless winter, cutting the way to all food resources. We'll have to Count every step. Once again, you can call the spring with an amulet, which will have to search in parts, solving difficult puzzles. By the Way, the creator of this little indie gem Anthony Case is happy and in detail in the community of the Stima.
As it becomes clear, survival is just the tip of the iceberg. This game should be carefully studied, gradually learning its hidden essence. First, simple basics like suitable for some work tools, then the purpose of mysterious locations and unique objects, and eventually you have to unravel what is happening in this magical place.
For a game made by one person, it is very unusual, and in general simply gorgeous.