Enjoying video games can mean you can be taught new issues about distant elements of the world or varied cultures – and that may solely be an excellent factor. That’s the case with The Rewinder; a sport through which the design relies on Chinese language ink work. This led me down an web rabbit gap, taking a look at how the artwork kind was developed, the way it has been a part of tradition because the Tang Dynasty over a thousand years in the past.
However The Rewinder is a sport that is filled with different surprises as effectively, because it mixes a bunch of sport mechanics, mini-games, and mythology.
The Rewinder is a point-and-click 2D journey with wonderful pixel artwork. The story that performs out is nothing wanting epic, and the opening cutscene is advised by means of Chinese language work. There was one thing referred to as the Warfare of Apotheosis that has ended, but as a substitute of making a world of peace, one thing is severely fallacious. The entire cycle of demise and rebirth is damaged, as ghosts and demons run wild on the earth. It’s right here the place particular heroes are despatched from heaven – Rewinders. These characters can return into previous recollections, altering the destiny of individuals in regard to their demise.
You play one of many Rewinders: Yun, who seems to be like he’s retired however known as again into the fray by a sidekick referred to as Mild. Yun goes out to assist some misplaced souls discover their method again into the afterlife and work out what’s been going fallacious. The story is brilliantly unusual, however great and humorous at instances. And there isn’t any hand holding right here, as you’re thrown into an unfamiliar tradition. I discovered it fascinating and the very best a part of the sport.
The gameplay itself works like a standard point-and-click journey. You stroll across the ranges speaking to the array of characters, each residing and useless. You tackle duties, shifting from one place to the subsequent, amassing objects that you should utilize and provides to individuals for different quest stuff. It’s very a lot the standard fare of a point-and-click journey.
However in The Rewinder there are additionally an incredible variety of mini-games and puzzles to try to full. There are mixture puzzles through which the clues are left mendacity round. There’s an incredible abacus puzzle, a weight and scales puzzle, and a few great dexterity puzzles.
Then there may be the precise rewinding mechanic itself. This lets you go into sure individuals’s previous, all by activating a reminiscence shard. Right here you get to dwell out a bit of their lives; a second that impacts how they’d die. You may pause and rewatch this part in the event you like and your objective is to alter the long run, carried out by analyzing clues across the space, turning these clues into ideas that can be utilized to alter the individual’s path of motion. So for instance, you may need a thought to cut down a tree that, in a while in life, might kill somebody. These sections are very intelligent and it signifies that The Rewinder is unbelievable to play by means of as you’re employed out the solutions.
The sport’s visuals are superior, principally as they’re primarily based on these Chinese language ink work. Operating as a pixel sport in type, there are some nice results, lighting, and creativeness proven right here. Good characters and backdrops are the highlights of the sport’s visuals.
However sound-wise, The Rewinder is a disgrace, as a result of I might have cherished to have taken on this world with absolutely voiced characters. As an alternative we’re left to some respectable results and a pleasing soundtrack.
The Rewinder might effectively transport you into a unique world and tradition. I doesn’t clarify an excessive amount of, however does present an amazing piece of storytelling with some wonderful world-building. As with most point-and-click video games, sometimes the puzzles can really feel a bit obtuse. however the different very good sport mechanics just like the mini-games and rewind ability make up for it.
If you’re after a journey into the East with an amazing story and weird mechanics, then The Rewinder may very well be up your alley.
