Aragami [Review of the game]
When meeting Aragami, the first thought may be something in the spirit of the banal “I thought it was more beautiful”. In any case, it was like that with me. The environment is drawn simple, the textures are greased, and people (especially their faces) even hint at the very effect of the “ominous valley”. Moreover, such a reaction surprised even me. I understood that from the small Indie Studio Lince Works, for which this is the first full-fledged project, you should not wait for technology. Yes, and the Unity engine, “softly” hinted ..
In fact, the project is not quite the first. There is also Path of Shadows (you can download free on the official website ThepatHofShadows.com), such a “vapor test” in the name of which “Prototype” flaunts. But, at the time of the creation of the “Trees of Shadows”, the studio as such did not exist yet, and their project was even the result of the work of five students. The game is three levels of something similar to Aragami (about five to ten minutes), which have slightly spoiled the plot of the future game. Only the figure of the protagonist here is some kind of feminine, the music is easier, it is not very convenient to play, and the enemies with light bulbs after death do not rotate after death. In general, you can play (a freebie!), but only for interest.
This is what the “trail of shadows” looks like
I never understood this fashion: write your names on grave slabs
P.WITH. But in general, by the stability of work and the presence of gameplay, even this free demo easily devotes many, many indie chorrores that are sold for money. I am so, bombed a bit.
Plus, there was a mysterious thing named Twin Souls, but if I understood everything correctly, this is just a demo version of Aragami itself.
The more I was surprised when after about fifteen to twenty gaming processes after about fifteen to twenty gaming processes, he stopped noticing all those flaws that cut the eyes at first. Yes, it could have been better. Yes, the interior of the premises seems too ascetic, and something is clearly not enough for filling the locations. But it happens worse and with worse optimization. But the atmosphere here is what! A cemetery, a forest, a military camp, a village on the water, a city, a temple … Visiting all these places at some point made him feel a curious tourist. Only some evil, killing innocent natives.
All of them will die, die, everyone will die.
Building levels can almost be called linear. One entrance, one exit, one gate, bypassing which can not reach a separate part of the location. But, for the whole game, there was never a feeling that I was locked in a narrow corridor, where there are only two paths: forward and backward. Moreover, the path back is closed by an invisible wall. In Aragami, you can get to its goal on the ground, on roofs, by corpses of enemies, long or short. In the building of interest, you can break into force, or look for another, less noticeable entrance. In some places, the road is even divided into two separate paths that will never cross. But, often I still want to examine both ways. Or make a “circle of honor”, simultaneously cutting out all the two -legged living creatures.
On the roof is safe. Well, now that the archers are dead, exactly safe. But it’s better not to stick out.
The atmosphere balancing between the eastern mystery, the strange peace and the spirit of ancient legends supports the wonderful soundtrack written by Two Featers studio. Sometimes it seems that the musicians are sitting in the same room with the player, and at the right time they begin to play the desired melody. It makes no sense to describe all this, just listen.
Here is the title topic that gives the mood to the game:
But this melody will accompany you if you “get” before raising the alarm:
But the escort of the boss casinotikitaka.com/ file:
And this is just my favorite melody.
The main character of Aragami is the vengeful spirit of Aragami. In our (or not ours) world, he comes to the call of the girl Yamiko, whose clan was destroyed, and she, the penultimate representative of her people, is imprisoned in a gloomy prison. The Caykho clan – the soldiers of the light in the most direct meaning of these words will act as a warring force. Their magic is tied to the use of magic light, their weapon shines painfully in the dark, and individual samurai even accompany magic bulbs.
The culprit of the celebration
Unfortunately, I really did not understand what Aragami is. There is a 2003 film of the same name, but CHTTPS: // Stopgame.ru/Blogs/ADD/EDIT/78523#The PROCOMNSED by the director RUHEHEY KITAMURA does not really coincide what will be seen in the game. The only common feature of two works – in both cases, Aragami is the spirit of a powerful warrior. That’s all. Are there any references and legends describing such spirits-I don’t know. If someone can give a tip, I will be glad.
The vengeful nature of the spirit, the bitchiness of the soldiers of the Kaykho clan, who enslaved the peaceful lands, as well as the eternal conflict of light and shadow – all this allows you to kill anyone who falls in the way without looking at the conscience without looking at the conscience. The main thing is to remain inconspicuous, because we have a purebred stells, which harshly punishes us for liberties. By the way, for the complete “cleaning” of the level, you can get a special medal, but why does it have no idea.
Arags has a classic arsenal that makes an amendment to the “shadow” mechanics, and diluted by several curious skills. In addition to standard teleports, the ability to create shadows (but not in well -lit places) and tracking (show the direction and distance to all important objects on locations), for example, you can hang an invisible remotely activated trap on the guard’s back. Samurai tastes gathered, discuss the latest news, and flew away at once a small black hole.
There was no suitable screenshot. Therefore, we just enjoy the views.
Or here is the invisibility working on the “shadow essence”. It is worth approaching the burning torch, the essence will instantly evaporate, and the Araks will appear to the gaze of enemies visible and almost defenseless. In such cases, it remains either to run away, or load a checkpoint (if you want to go through the level without anxiety), or to rush into a suicidal attack in a self-propelled guns. It may even be possible to cut someone before the main character dies. But he dies of Aragam after the first missed blow, and therefore heroic self -destruction often turns out to be beautiful, but absolutely meaningless.
The use of any skill is associated with some restrictions. Basic skills work at the very “essence” that can be restored, just standing in the shade. But something more complicated, like the murder at a distance with the help of a dagger woven from shadows, will require the use of a special “rune”. There can be no more than two for each skill, and the spent can be restored by visiting the sanctuary, or fed a living opponent to a shadow dragon (sometimes a snake). The latter looks very funny and leaves no traces, but takes more time and produces more noise than the usual murder.
Shadow dragon in action.
The Caykho clan samurai, unfortunately, do not differ in special intelligence. It is worth shaking the Aragami with his bells, and the nearest enemy obediently goes to the sound. But, the inconsistency of the blanks is compensated by their aggressiveness and a sincere desire to destroy the violators of calm. Debt for a samurai is not an empty word, but laziness was cut off with the umbilical cord. Found a corpse – anxiety. Saw something suspicious in the shadows-anxiety. We saw the enemy – they hit the defeat, sometimes not even notifying their approach by a fighting cry. And archers are at all the same creatures. A particularly suspicious shadow has been held among the shadows – it shoots without hesitation and warnings. And therefore, with the HUD turned off, you have to peer if you should not follow you a nasty “laser” of the sight. And listen to whether someone’s steps are heard nearby. The reasonable placement of the guards is also pleasing. Patrolling the terrain, they constantly intersect with each other, so to find the right moment for murder is not so easy. Had not yet had time to destroy the freshly killed body, the guard is already showing around the corner and begins to blow, raising the alarm.
A rare case of a narrow corridor.
By the way about the interface. With the hints turned off (they will remain only when using some skills), there will be nothing superfluous on the screen at all. The shadow essence scale is inscribed in a cloak. Runes-Umenies-in the same place. No pop -ups “run, the enemy sees you!”Simply not. Only the main character, the area, and enemies. Well, okay, the point is, where without it.
Even tips, and they are trying to hide.
In general, “bosses” are also pleasing. I usually don’t recognize them in Stells. You will sneak, turn around, tuned in a certain pace of the game, and suddenly a fucking! Locked in a small room, and be honest. In Aragami, this is not. Each boss is another Stell-Mission, just with additional restrictions. The exception is except that the final duel, where the protagonist is trying to kick the antagonist, while not “sleeping” and not substantly under the return blow. And the antagonist uses the same tactics “Seek-Bay-Bugi”. It looks almost like in a fantasy film (Chinese).
The only thing I have a real claim is the first “boss”. I still did not understand if it is a bug, or a “feature”, but it can only be dug it only once (and he will die after the third). Then the impact button refuses to work. And the computer has nothing to do with it, for PS4 this is also true. Despite the fact that the level is easy to pass with the help of skills (kick in flight, kick during teleportation “from below”), all this leaves some questions. Worst that there are six guards next to the Boss at the level. While I realized what was happening, I had to clean the location three times. Some dishonest “hardcore” turns out.
Out of the Aragami out of place, you should not wait. Firstly, the action requires attention and concentration, but you will not have to invent something completely extraordinary. Secondly, the main dangers will wait for maniacs who quietly cut out all the guards. Then you really have to think about someone-where-where, and in what order. If you just move from point A to point B, and even faster (seriously, someone plays pure stells, not wanting to get the medal of the Ghost?), it is unlikely that the passage will be associated with some problems. There are enough checkpoints, to study the locations and changes not the problem.
We study the area
And back to the plot. Like the tie with the call of the vengeful spirit, history is distinguished by some simplicity, and even naivety. Yes, in the end (spoiler!) Yamiko will not be the penultimate, but the very last one of the clan. Yes, everything is not as prosaic as it was thought at the beginning. But, there are more than enough hints of interchange, and plot turns do not strive to surprise. In terms of building the plot, Aragami resembles STYX: Master of Shadows, where throughout the game the goal was to “get the heart of the amber tree”, and only closer to the finale did some kind of dynamics began.
But, even in its simplicity, the local story manages to “hook” something. The death of each of the main characters (even the first “boss”) responds with a light coating of sadness, to some extent incomprehensible, because they simply do not have time to fully open up. And the final scene, made in the spirit of Asian classics, leaves mixed emotions of sadness and satisfaction, smoothly leading the player to reading the credits. I admit, I was surprised to read European names, and having learned that the studio that created the game is in Barcelona. I would like to say something on the topic “Made with love”, “Project with a soul”, or something no less pathos. But I will not.
Instead, I insert a pathos frame.
Now, re -reading the text, I understand that I must put a specific assessment to the game. Just in order not to mislead readers. Yes, I stayed almost in complete delight. A small team was able to do what sometimes failed to big studios. The game is perfectly optimized, comfortably played, and brings a lot of pleasure. And for me, the assessment of the game floats somewhere between “commendably” and “amazing”, and even with the “My Choice” sign.
But will the Western audience just evaluate all this eastern romance? The question is difficult. Yes, in terms of atmosphere, this is pure Japan. No, the game has nothing to do with the anime (probably I’m not an anime specialist). And yes, she is more like a lover than for the general public. And therefore, before us is either a strong “rifle” or slightly stretched “commendable”. To read an urgent recommendation if you are attracted to stells and/or eastern atmosphere.