The moment where you're helping the girl with the accordion was quite touching!
The moment where you're helping the girl with the accordion was quite touching!
The mechanics don't change completely (you are still essentially singing your way through) but how each Act plays out feels very fresh and different. The closest thing I can relate this to is a game like Paper Mario TTYD where the way each chapter plays out is pretty unique (most notably Chapters 3, 4, and 6).
It absolutely gets more dynamic than this though. For some examples:
The mechanics don't change completely (you are still essentially singing your way through) but how each Act plays out feels very fresh and different. The closest thing I can relate this to is a game like Paper Mario TTYD where the way each chapter plays out is pretty unique (most notably Chapters 3, 4, and 6).
It absolutely gets more dynamic than this though. For some examples:
There are many more instances of small gameplay changes aside from the ones above, but having just beaten the game last night I never grew tired of the gameplay nor felt any section went on too long. In true puzzle fashion, this game does an excellent job introducing new ways to use its core mechanic and then capitalizing on them fully before moving onto the next.
- Using different notes to move platforms in different directions
- Using different notes to move time forward and backward in addition to speeding up and slowing down
- Using different notes to steer a boat
- Using different notes to change the direction of wind tunnels that propel you in said direction
- Using any note to activate anti-gravity spheres within a certain range of your voice
All of the above combined with the compelling characters, story, and world have made this one of my all-time favorites. As I said earlier, nearly every aspect of this game was frequently subverting my expectations. It's been a long time where I didn't have a vague idea how a game would play out moment to moment, and when I did have a vague idea, it more often than not turned out to be wrong. Even for simple side/fetch-quests Wandersong managed to surprise me. Will likely dive back in for a second play-through within the next month, which I don't tend to do so quickly with story-focused titles.
I really just hope it's selling okay at this point...
There are 7 acts in total with Act 5 being the longest and Acts 1 & 7 the shortest. Once you beat the game you unlock a scene select that lets you jump to specific parts of each act. Useful for picking up any missed dance moves or revisiting old dialogue.
Haha wow. I'm tempted to go back and do the same to watch that scene but think I would still feel too bad knowing its meaning
I mean, I haven't seen too many other comparisons to Paper Mario tossed around. I did see the Destructoid reviewer mention Color Splash (and the series as a whole minus Sticker Star) but, while that game has it's merits, I would definitely more closely compare Wandersong to the narrative structure and unpredictability of the first three titles over the last. Even the designer of game said he's not a fan of the series lolThe comparisons to Paper Mario in terms of chapter structure and subverting expectations definitely have put this game on my radar.
I get what you're saying. Paper Mario 1-3 are the only great PMs anyway. Wandersong seems to capture a similar sense of whimsy with a colorful cast and vignettes like Paper Mario. I just bought it so I'll see how it goes.Haha wow. I'm tempted to go back and do the same to watch that scene but think I would still feel too bad knowing its meaning
I mean, I haven't seen too many other comparisons to Paper Mario tossed around. I did see the Destructoid reviewer mention Color Splash (and the series as a whole minus Sticker Star) but, while that game has it's merits, I would definitely more closely compare Wandersong to the narrative structure and unpredictability of the first three titles over the last. Even the designer of game said he's not a fan of the series lol
But it definitely scratches that same itch for me as Paper Mario, TTYD, and, to a slightly lesser extent, Super Paper Mario in terms of a whimsical adventure that remains deep and meaningful and always knows how to surprise you in spite of a deceptively straightforward main task (collect X amount of Y things). This game is full zany characters, settings, and plot points but is able to flesh all of it out in such a natural way that its world not only makes sense but feels lived in.
Haha seriously cannot praise this game enough. While I would agree that the platforming could be improved, it, or any other aspect, never felt like a hindrance during my playthrough.
Only an hour in but this Wandersong is won-der-ful. Definitely getting Paper Mario and Night in the Woods vibes. I love how much heart it has.
Act 2 fun:I spent way too long trying get the perfect jingle for the candy shop.
In addition to the tone differences mentioned by jariw, there's more of a focus on gameplay here than Night in the Woods. Still not a strong focus on gameplay, but it is certainly better incorporated. Lack of interesting (to me at least) gameplay and those pesky dream sequences are the two things preventing me from replaying NitW.
Weird,Oh, so I closed the software and restarted it and now it's letting me progress.
Similar in dialogue, talking animals, ghosties, and a couple of the acts take place in towns that kind of give that vibe. Also, like NitW, this game can be laugh out loud funny.
Third place for me, after The Gardens Between Us and Synthetik. Very good.Love this game. It's full of heart, great writing and lots of humor. It's one of the best indie games of the year.