It’s extremely similar to the way jumping and gliding were handled in Journey, both in implementation and actual feel. As you explore the world, find collectibles, complete puzzles, and finish certain story objectives, the amount of times your eagle can flap while carrying you increases, allowing you to jump higher and glide farther. Your eagle allows you to flap into the air for a boost in height, while also giving you the ability to glide from higher areas. The speed meter can be spent to dash across long distances or slide down slopes, and chaining gem shots while running allows you to essentially zip around the island endlessly.Īs for your eagle, this is one of the aspects that most hearkens back to members of Giant Squid’s history working at thatgamecompany, especially in regards to Journey. The island the game takes place on is covered in floating gems that, when hit with an arrow, fill up a portion of the archer’s speed meter. For The Pathless, movement is largely tied to the archer’s bow. The majestic feeling of surfing across the sand in Journey is an iconic feature of that game, as is the way underwater movement in Abzû felt so responsive and graceful. While the way the story is told might be different, one thing about The Pathless that remains faithful to its predecessors is the grace of movement. The fact that so much of the lore in The Pathless is made explicitly clear is an interesting touch, and while the story told is truly fascinating, I would have enjoyed having a few elements be more open to interpretation. Stumbling across ancient ruins, hidden caves, and lavish palaces presents several opportunities to uncover knowledge about the world and its inhabitants, which is a considerable change to the more open-ended nature of its predecessors. The core story is simple, but what The Pathless does in regards to side stories and world building is what makes it feel so rich. An evil specter known as the Godslayer has corrupted the animal spirits that reside over the island, and it’s up to the archer and her eagle to restore peace and tranquility. The Pathless is centered around a skilled archer who arrives at an island plagued by a curse. Fans of the more interpretive nature of Journey and Abzû’s storytelling may be skeptical of this change in formula, but Giant Squid has put incredible thought into how it’s handled and have crafted a thoroughly engaging experience. From the moment the game opens with some expositional text, to the way it introduces fully voiced characters shortly after (fun fact: the language spoken is entirely made up for the game), Giant Squid makes it clear that The Pathless is a departure from their norm. With their new game, The Pathless, Giant Squid carries over many of the elements that made Journey and Abzû such beloved titles, while also introducing new mechanics and design philosophies that give it its own identity.Īlthough Journey and Abzû told their tales entirely void of spoken or written dialogue, The Pathless takes a more traditional approach to storytelling. Fans of Abzû compared its wordless narrative, interpretive lore, and Zen-like traversal to 2012’s critically acclaimed Journey, which is fitting since Giant Squid was founded by several people who used to work at the studio that made it, thatgamecompany. Available On: iOS, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5ĭeveloper Giant Squid’s first release, the 2016 underwater exploration game Abzû, was a beautiful and contemplative adventure through the depths of the ocean.
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