After the original release and a new edition, Tunic it was also released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, and we got to try it in his incarnation for Sony consoles. We have already had the opportunity to review the title (here you will find the aforementioned review), but if you have not yet tried Tunic and are interested in buying it for Sony or Nintendo Switch consoles then you are in the right place.
“This is not a dress, this is a Tunic!”
As a premise, it must be specified that anyone who has already played Tunic on other platforms will find no new surprises in these new versions. There are no additional motion controls or news regarding the contents, the technical aspect or the gameplay. For those who have already had the opportunity to play Tunic, therefore, our advice is to buy it only if you want live this experience a second time (or a before, of course). Tunic on the surface shows a delightful art style and a fairytale tone which makes it incredibly similar to the design of many of the classic chapters in the series The Legend of Zelda. But beneath its cheerfully disarming aspect hides a game intent on to test the determination and patience of the players. The apparently warm and welcoming world of Tunic is teeming with enemies ready to hinder us in any way possible.
Originally announced in 2017 as Secret Legendthe clear influence of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series immediately attracted public attention, especially thanks to stunning graphics with isometric view and to the adorable protagonist, a fox wearing a green tunic. After five long years, however, it was realized that the similarities with the Nintendo franchise only stop at a few elements, and that the soul of the title it is much closer to games belonging to the series Souls. The gameplay of Tunic is in fact based on quite difficult clashesAnd shrines where we will be able to restore the life points but which will cause the enemies (but not the bosses) to respawn. The health potions they are recharged after the rest at the sanctuariesthe gold earned will be lost when you are defeated and to reclaim one’s wealth we will have to go back to where we were killed.
Finally, the environment is designed around shortcuts And backtracking. It is quite evident from this superficial comparison that Tunic owes a lot to the Souls series but, as well as the resemblance to The Legend of Zelda, there is more to it than that. The surface of Tunic refers to the Nintendo series, the soul is clearly that of a soulslike, but the heart is that of a old school adventure game.
Tunic’s visual style is absolutely stunning. The isometric view helps it stand out from many other action-adventure games on the market, but what’s most impressive is the way the world has been designed. The play areas they are beautifully designed and crafted and the lighting effects give an extra touch to the whole. It would have been easy for Tunic to come up with a pixel art aesthetic, now a practice for many indie titles, but the choice made it made the whole experience a absolute joy on a visual level. This approach is combined with some equally excellent musical choiceswith a blend of ambient melodies and pumping synths depending on the position and action.
The plot of Tunic is one of the most obvious hints of Zelda’s influence. The protagonist fox, whose name is unknown, is dragged to a beach and must venture out in search of a weapon to carry out his mysterious mission. The story itself it is presented in a mysterious and vague way and it leans on conventional clichés, but wraps them in a way wonderfully innovative through the use of a player’s manual. This manual is one of the most interesting game mechanics of the experience, as it will come together over the course of the adventure finding pages within the game world.
Working almost like an in-game wiki, much of the text won’t be clear at first (being written in a runic language) until you make discoveries while playing that they will reveal its meaning. There are hints, clues, and complex puzzles to be found if you look at each page in detail, with some even requiring you to collect the entire set (which you’ll need to do if you want to unlock the true ending of the game).
“I’m not Zelda!”
The gameplay of Tunic it is equally divided between combat and exploration. The isometric point of view is used to deliberately obscure secret stairs and paths, therefore it will be necessary to scour the environment in every corner to find the best orientation. It can be frustrating at first, especially with the lack of clear signage leading to a lot of aimless wandering, but once you have a clear idea of the game’s design it will become a real joy to understand the maps. Using the lock button to shift the camera view will help reveal some secrets, but in general the area is worth a good look before throwing in the towel.
In full Metroidvania style, another clear influence on the title, the player it will need specific tools and skills to reach certain areas. Many of the game’s locations can be explored right away, but the difficulty or lack of equipment they prevent you from deviating too much from your intended route. Revisiting areas with an expanded inventory will allow you to reclaim previously inaccessible treasures. The game, however, it will never tell us which will be the right way, indeed it will not give us any indication. There is no on-screen message telling you how to fight or where to go. Often you will even happen to pick up items with which you won’t know what to do until you start experimenting.
What Tunic really excels at is also the way it encourages you to use the environment and enemies to your advantage. Long before picking up the blade you will need to cut out growths, you will observe that some enemies can clear your path with their swords. You can then use this detail to induce enemies to hit you, dodge at the last second, and watch them break down the obstacle that prevented you from moving forward.
As far as the combat system is concerned, not only most enemies do massive damage as a general rule, but the emphasis is mainly on the “attack and dodge” strategy. Obviously everything is related to the resistance bar and, similar to what happens in the Souls series, the moment you run out of stamina you will be more vulnerable to enemy attacks by taking even more damage. The combat is very often asking the players to approach the fights in a defensive way, but there is however a menu that offers the possibility of deactivate the mechanics of the resistance for those who want an experience closer to Zelda that a Dark Soulsplus other options that make the title definitely less difficult. These options are a fantastic addition as they highlight that combat is only part of the charm of the gameand this makes the title much more accessible to those who are easily demoralized in the face of too high difficulties.
Regardless of the accessibility options, Tunic delivers to the player several additional items to use in battle. The basic equipment is useful, but the game is designed in such a way that all objects have a purpose And all enemies are faced with certain strategies to be defeated.
The transition from Xbox to PlayStation, as you can guess, it is not feltand what is seen on Microsoft consoles is also confirmed in those branded Sony. The technical aspect of Andrew Shouldice’s title therefore returns as we remembered it, but on the other hand we could find it lack of real improvements. However, given the indie nature of the title, the graphic aspect used it worked perfectly as it already was on Xbox, and it wouldn’t make sense to introduce changes in its transition to PlayStation and Switch. Furthermore, being an indie title, even with regard to the PlayStation 4 version the title behaves very well without it any kind of drop in frame rate.
In conclusion, Tunic also convinces on PlayStation 4, standing out again as one of the funniest, most rewarding and interesting gaming experiences in recent yearsIt takes a while to feel at home in the wonderful world of Tunic, but once you have mastered the opera you can not help but fall in love.
Review
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Tunic (Tested on PS4)
8.5Total Score
With its super sharp graphics that are also characterized by an overabundance of vibrant colors, Tunic is gorgeous to see and play and showcases the incredible synergy between stunning artistic design and technical excellence. A seductively beautiful and practically perfect blend of The Legend of Zelda mechanics and those of the Souls series, Tunic is a boundlessly fascinating and highly demanding adventure that succeeds so well in its intent that it is almost a videogame miracle. Finally, the options to manage the difficulty of the work leave you no excuse not to try Tunic, unless you have already played the title on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S.
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