I would be lying if I said that I was good at playing puzzle games. It’s really not my forte to play these kinds of video games, or maybe that’s just because I lack the experience to be good? Well, a recently released puzzle platformer has caught my attention, and I have decided to give it a try. The game is called The Lightbringer, which was created by indie developers Rock Square Thunder.
STORY
The Lightbringer’s story revolves around a world that has ancient monoliths that once generated precious resources. Consumed by avarice, the tribe dwelling in the north drained most of these resources. Corruption then took over the monoliths and produced evil slime creatures.
Our main character, an unnamed youngster, has to inherit the Lightbringer title—which his departed sister previously held. He now has the responsibility to save the world by collecting light orbs and using these to cleanse the corrupted monoliths. To achieve his goal, he will be traversing different environments filled with tricky elements and vile creatures. It would not be an easy task for a boy, but worry not, the soul of his late sibling will guide him through the mission. Everything will unfold little by little as one progresses through the story. Not to mention, all of the game’s dialogues are delivered in poetry style—and every line was written magnificently.
GRAPHICS AND AUDIO
The Lightbringer’s art style is stunning. Because of the vibrant cartoon style, every color and detail is beautiful and relaxing to look at. On the other hand, the sound design is equally breathtaking; A combination of guitar, drums, and piano complements the soothing visuals of the environment. Rock Square Thunder did a great job in designing the game.
MOVEMENT AND COMBAT
Now, your common enemies don’t really look dangerous since they’re just black-colored slimes that slither around the world. Although, some of them are pretty intelligent because they come up with creative ways to protect themselves, like using armor and stones to protect their heads. The boss fights have a more grueling experience, though. I wouldn’t go into detail to prevent spoilers, but some of them felt inconsistent and annoying. However, Rock Square Thunder did a wonderful job combining platforming and combat aspects in these levels.
I might be bursting your bubble, but you will not be killing enemies using a bow or a sword and shield because our Lightbringer has chosen the classic boomerang. Using the weapon is pretty straightforward. Just click the right mouse button to aim and then throw it using the left mouse button. The boomerang can also interact with several elements within the game, such as destroying boxes and collecting light orbs.
On paper, the movement controls look plain sailing since our unnamed hero can only make basic moves such as running, rolling, and double-jumping. However, the isometric-camera style is taxing and feels very limited to play with. I have died a lot of times by miscalculating the distance of my jumps because of bad angles. Though, I think this is a feature intended by the developers to make it a more challenging experience for its players.
PUZZLES
Outside of combat, and as expected of this genre, you have to solve time-consuming puzzles to finish a level. Expect to pass through various elements, such as booby traps, complicated blocks, fire-breathing totems, and switches. Because of puzzle elements, the levels (especially the later ones) are dense and confusing. Some platforms are added to view the entirety of a level by standing on it. However, expect a more strenuous adventure since The Lightbringer doesn’t have maps to aid you through the journey.
Unfortunately, the game doesn’t have a checkpoint system. You have to restart the whole level when you lose all of your life points. I previously mentioned that I was terrible at puzzle platformers. Imagine my frustration trying to solve the puzzles while jumping through disappearing blocks but eventually falling into my doom. Don’t get me wrong, though! The experience was still pretty fun, and I would definitely recommend the game to my friends.
Summary - Worth Playing
Summary - Worth PlayingPros
- The game is exceptionally well-designed
- Unique poetry dialogues
- Beginner-friendly
Cons
- There are no maps in the game
- No checkpoints are frustrating
- Annoying boss levels