Tunic is greater than it seems. It treads acquainted floor to traditional Legend of Zelda-style adventures, with easy fight, a big overworld, and a choice of bosses and dungeons. Nonetheless, it is what’s added on prime that actually shines.
To begin with, the cunning hero does not also have a sword, however all through the sport you may slowly accrue all of the gear you want. Your stock homes weapons, devices, consumables, and passive perks — all of which have their makes use of. Within the numerous treasure chests, you may additionally discover objects with which to improve your stats, amongst different rewards. It is primary stuff, but it surely’s executed effectively and offered clearly.
Fight is easy, as talked about. A mix of sword swipes, some magical talents, and some helpful bombs are your offensive choices, and you finally get a defend to go together with your defensive dodge roll. Enemies are properly designed and surprisingly difficult, together with some bosses that may be actual issue spikes. You’ll be able to tone down the issue everytime you like, although. It really works effectively sufficient, however occasional points with the lock-on could cause some premature deaths.
Higher, and extra necessary than fight, is exploration. Navigating the overworld will take you to numerous areas, every filled with hidden paths and head-scratching puzzles. Backtracking happens very often, which may make sure elements of the sport can really feel barely tedious. Nonetheless, thorough explorers are rewarded handsomely.
A key a part of Tunic is its digital instruction booklet. Its gorgeously illustrated pages are strewn throughout the map, and discovering them not solely offers you very important data, however they’re additionally paramount for fixing most of the recreation’s head-scratching puzzles. It is an extremely elegant manner of supplying you with a nudge with out over-explaining all its secrets and techniques.
We cannot spoil what occurs, however Tunic slowly peels again layers proper to the very finish. It is a cohesive, satisfying recreation that scratches an old style action-adventure itch, going above and past with subversive, cerebral puzzles. It perhaps goes on a contact longer than it must, however this little gem of a recreation punches above its weight.
