Review - Child of Light
A stunningly beautiful release, Child of Light is part platformer, part Japanese-style roleplaying game (RPG). The story follows Aurora, a young Austrian princess who wakes up in a strange land and has to find the sun, moon and stars so she can escape and return to her father.
While it may seem strange to play an RPG in two dimensions, where one can go only left or right, the gameplay is very well-thought-out and frequently inventive. Controlling both Aurora and her sprite companion with a thumbstick for each feels natural and makes exploring the gorgeously-drawn world more fluid and fun. The only big drawback of the game’s heritage is the turn-based combat, which allows for plenty of depth, but tends to slam the action to a standstill.
While not for everyone, any fans of deep Final Fantasy VIII or smooth indie hit LIMBO would find a lot to enjoy and marvel at.
★★★☆☆
This review originally appeared in INSIDER Magazine with The Irish Independent on 1st May 2014.