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 collection of bosses and dungeons. Nevertheless, it is what’s added on prime that actually shines.
To start out with, the cunning hero would not actually have a sword, however all through the sport you will 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 will additionally discover objects with which to improve your stats, amongst different rewards. It is fundamental stuff, nevertheless it’s executed properly and offered clearly.
Fight is straightforward, as talked about. A mixture of sword swipes, some magical skills, and some helpful bombs are your offensive choices, and you ultimately 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 problem spikes. You possibly can tone down the issue everytime you like, although. It really works properly sufficient, however occasional points with the lock-on could cause some premature deaths.
Higher, and extra essential than fight, is exploration. Navigating the overworld will take you to numerous areas, every full of hidden paths and head-scratching puzzles. Backtracking happens very often, which may make sure components of the sport can really feel barely tedious. Nevertheless, 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 important info, however they’re additionally paramount for fixing lots of the recreation’s head-scratching puzzles. It is an extremely elegant manner of providing 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.
