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[Madserb2023]

I am pretty anti woke and I enjoyed the game for what it was. The theming made sense for the setting. Its not the new Snow White. I am not playing a Chinese person in 12th century London. Its completely consistent. The visuals were definitely the high point. The general platforming was also pretty decent. Reminded me of a game from the PS2 era regarding its design. The combat however was terrible. Much worse than Kena which overall made me prefer Kena in the end. Its not just repetitive, it lacks any impact when attacking. Feels like I am hitting air. Could be easily patched.

 

[Yoda]

Is this a AAA game?

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

There's a journal right there on that table by the window, but if you interact with the wall right before it, it goes into a cutscene and you can't collect it anymore; I hate it when games do shit like that.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

I think I'm goning to try this out on Gamepass next month, looks good.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Is this a AAA game?

No.

But its well made, feels polished.

 

[Ywap]

I'm at Chapter 7 and think the game is pretty good. I play on the hardest difficulty so the combat can get a bit messy sometimes

 

[adamsapple]

Is this a AAA game?

Not a full priced game and the studio has only made AA games, so I'm guessing this didn't have an AAA budget either.

That's some real good, stylized, texture work.

This is UE4, not 5 IIRC, the old engine still putting in some real good work.

 

[caligula13]

loved the game. are there similar games that I can play after this one? maybe also with the option to skip the combat?

 

[Cyberpunkd]

I am pretty anti woke and I enjoyed the game for what it was. The theming made sense for the setting. Its not the new Snow White. I am not playing a Chinese person in 12th century London. Its completely consistent. The visuals were definitely the high point. The general platforming was also pretty decent. Reminded me of a game from the PS2 era regarding its design. The combat however was terrible. Much worse than Kena which overall made me prefer Kena in the end. Its not just repetitive, it lacks any impact when attacking. Feels like I am hitting air. Could be easily patched.

This is the right approach and contribution to this thread instead of all the bitching about SBI.

Is this a AAA game?

No, it's a AA game with a pricing to reflect that, which unfortunately means it's DoA since I do not think this segment of games exist anymore - people will justify paying more for AAA regarding quality and length, and cheaper than that they would...buy a AAA game on discount.

Not a full priced game and the studio has only made AA games, so I'm guessing this didn't have an AAA budget either.

It's a solid AA game.

loved the game. are there similar games that I can play after this one? maybe also with the option to skip the combat?

Similar as in what? Elex games are action RPGs from Piranha Bytes, they are very AA in terms of budget but have mostly great story and world-building. Elex is however rather difficult, especially at the start.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

loved the game. are there similar games that I can play after this one? maybe also with the option to skip the combat?

Check out Ori games.

2 D metroidvania. But top tier gameplay (especially second part).

Different games obviously but similar, fairy tale type feeling.

 

[AJUMP23]

Made it to chapter 11. The climax of 10 was good. Music is still excellent.

 

[analog_future]

Just starting Chapter 9. All the people choosing to ignore this one are really missing out. Particularly anyone who enjoyed Kena: Bridge of Spirits.


On a technical level, the visuals are nothing to write home about, but the art direction makes the game look frequently stunning.


Some of my shots on PC (4K DLAA/120fps/Max Settings):

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

loved the game. are there similar games that I can play after this one? maybe also with the option to skip the combat?

Idk about the option to skip combat but check out the Ori games or ReCore, they're all also on GamePass.

 

[n111ck]

Anyone found their dualsense controller stops responding after a few minutes play? Started today with both DS4W and DSX on the gamepass version.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Just finished the 'fight' with Hugging Molly. I didn't really try I just listened to the music and eventually skipped boss.
The big cave area right before the boss encounter reminded me of the old Alice Madness games.
It is still taking me time to get through the game even though I'm skipping the fights.
The flight up the Witches nose was scenic.
I'm still in Chapter 9, Much longer game than I thought.

 

[Nydius]

The big cave area right before the boss encounter reminded me of the old Alice Madness games.

I caught myself reminiscing about Alice: Madness Returns a lot while playing this. Glad to see I wasn't the only one.

A shame we'll never get a proper new American McGee Alice game.

 

[Critical Hit]

Anyone found their dualsense controller stops responding after a few minutes play?

It didn't work for me at all. Used DS4W too.

 

[RPS37]

I'm at the last chapter and there's a handful of things that really annoy me gameplay wise but I still generally had a good time.

 

[analog_future]

I believe I'm on Chapter 11 now. Game keeps getting better as I near the end. Most of the game I was sitting in that ~7.5/10 range but my final score may sit at 8 or above if this trajectory continues.

The environments are so interesting and surprisingly varied while keeping a very cohesive through-line from level to level.


Some more of my shots on PC:

 

[adamsapple]

I believe I'm on Chapter 11 now. Game keeps getting better as I near the end. Most of the game I was sitting in that ~7.5/10 range but my final score may sit at 8 or above if this trajectory continues.

The environments are so interesting and surprisingly varied while keeping a very cohesive through-line from level to level.


Some more of my shots on PC:

Beautiful.

 

[Darsxx82]

I believe I'm on Chapter 11 now. Game keeps getting better as I near the end. Most of the game I was sitting in that ~7.5/10 range but my final score may sit at 8 or above if this trajectory continues.

The environments are so interesting and surprisingly varied while keeping a very cohesive through-line from level to level.


Some more of my shots on PC:

Im in the same chapter

One of the most beautifull game this generation without a doubt for me.

 

[AJUMP23]

Finished the game. Music is excellent. Environments great. Combat is easy. Game is a good 7. The writers really hate rich people.

 

[Chukhopops]

I just finished it, I came into it with zero expectation since I had no faith in Compulsion Games at all after We Happy Few.

I'm quite impressed, it was really excellent, smooth controls, beautiful world, incredible soundtrack and even the story was interesting and done elegantly without overwhelming the gameplay with 15 minutes dialogue and exposition breaks like so many games do. Voice acting and songs were top tier.

Combat was the only part that felt a bit too simple and underdeveloped, it wasn't bad but you quickly understand the combos and then you just stomp every encounter.

There is clearly a lot of talent in this game, the level design, the animation work, the visual effects. The obvious inspiration for it is the old 3D Rayman games (The Great Escape and Hoodlum Havoc) with some elements like the thorn walls looking very similar and even the soundtrack (the chase sequences in particular).



What drives me mad is how shit the marketing for this game has been, between the Developer Direct showing the absolute most boring and ugliest part of the game and the complete lack of effort on MS' side, even cheap content like social media and trailers etc. Microsoft marketing is really composed of some of the dumbest motherfuckers on the planet.

Between this and Psychonauts 2, MS has two world-class action-platformers completely forgotten in the sands of time.

 

[Roberts]

Didn't have time to play games for a week but finally sat down and finished it. I have tons of small complaints about it, but as an audio-visual experience it is as good as it gets and loved that it gets better and better. Chapter 12 is pure bliss and one of the better gaming experiences recently. Combat might be simplistic but at the very end you fight these things and it just felt cathartic in a way most action platformers don't.

 

[Darsxx82]

Well, I just finished the game.

A very satisfying experience, mainly because it's the kind of game I needed right now after very long games that I enjoy, but that felt tiresome and took a long time to complete.

Nothing that hasn't already been said. Straightforward gameplay, from the X360 era, 10/10 in terms of audio and visuals for me. The heavy burden of a combat system that isn't up to par despite having potential.
I think the arena-centric combat and lack of enemy variety are a big part of the flaw, and they feel repetitive and soulless. They seem more like a shoehorned-in excuse. In fact, that you have the option to remove and skip It says it all.

All in all, the simple but well-executed platforming, interesting story, and characters in conjunction with the splendid graphic/artistic level make up for the negatives of the combat system.

8/10. I wish there were more games of this type to complement other types.

One of the games I've captured the most this generation...

 

[Lionel Richie]

I'm at the start of chapter 6 and I'm having fun thus far! Aside from Hazel having modern protag syndrome (she doesn't shut up), I'm really enjoying the game. The combat and platforming are not world class by any means, but I love the visuals and the whole thing is solid enough. Good game!

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Pleasantly surprised by how good the game was, and very glad I didn't listen to the sheeple nonsense about SBI etc.

Visuals are fantastic and the music is even better. Very solid gameplay, nothing spectacular, just solid. Platforming felt good. Narrative was depressing but I enjoyed it.

I wanted to give it an 8 because of the camera and some funky controls at times, I'll go with a 7.5. Very good. Idk what metric MS has for the game or the studio but I hope they get a chance to make another game for MS.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Finished Chapters 10 and 11. The dark nighttime swampy area with the broken steam paddle boat was well done.
I need 150 more floofs to unlock everything.

 

[RPS37]

Finished it. It was pretty cool. Like 13 hours.
I don't regret paying to play early.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Credits roll; I finished it.
I 'cheated' most of my way through. I skipped the combat sections, but I did do the boss fights and kooshma runs. Total playtime was about 14 hours.
I got enough floofs to unlock everything and even found a few more near the end for extra's.

I hope this game gets nominations for art and music. The 3d object assets were packed everywhere, and the world was large, varied, dripping with something new to see.
I would recommend people on the fence about this game to turn off the combat, forget the floofs and just see the world. As a walking sim/platformer it works.

I'm not a fan of little fight arenas to be completed before moving on style of level design. If you delt with enemies while platforming would have been a better game, I think.

I did not run into any show stopping bugs, but there were a few times the character would get hung on the geometry and start spazing out or get in a loop trying to reclimb onto something over and over.
I thought the areas with the little puppet dude were way to small and tight to maneuver around and not much interesting beyond hey look at the little animal houses.

In the end I liked it. 7, would have been an 8 if they had not made node-based arena combat, again I don't like that.
The themes were tragedy and loss. Beautifully heavy stuff.

edit-I played this on PC with a full Dolby Atmos surround sound and the audio and music never once let me down. The nightmare (kooshma?) level should be played with a surround sound system with all the different music bands coming from all directions at the same time.

 

[YCoCg]

Watched my wife play through most of this but helped out in some areas and it's actually been a pretty good experience. The clock tower climb reminded me a lot of PS2 era style platforms and was something I enjoyed the most.

Fuck the Huggin' Molly though splitting the phases up by having Hazel fall down the hole each time so you had to run back up, that just felt like padding, at least the music was good and the big orchestra part of the final phase was banging.

 

[Bartski]

I beat it last night. As many have pointed out, the art direction and overall visual design really carry the game, giving it a distinct, delightfully beautiful bajou blues vibe. I skipped hunting down all the collectibles, which seem necessary to fully unpack the surprisingly dark story. While it won't win any Game of the Year awards, it's cozy and uncomplicated — the perfect palate cleanser after playing something heavier. 7.5/10.