I am so unbelievably confused why this game didn't release after Royal. While nothing in this game contradicts what happens in Royal, the lack of characters like Sumi and Maruki make the cast feel incomplete. It's even more striking when you realize that a lot of these plot points, notably with Sophia and Kuon, are remarkably similar to Royal. What it makes up for it is the quality of the writing, and the incredibly fun dungeons (jails) and boss encounters. As far as Warrior-styled crossover games goes, this one is probably the most complete package.

A wonderfully charming game that takes a basic Legend of Zelda-esque foundation and twists it in a meta, but quite engaging manner.

The best thing Tunic does is how it mixes the typical Zelda / Metroid-vania style of progression, almost exclusively locking you out of areas due to the lack of the right item, and enhances it with knowledge-based progression.

Tunic isn't exclusively based on locking you because of something you don't have, and instead by things you don't know. And this is done through great map design and an ingeniously cute Game Manual collectible, with plenty inside ready for you to decipher it

Being a kid was pretty rad, huh?

This game portrays the feeling of navigating a new world with the language barrier inherent to being a child.

It almost perfectly replicated the feeling I had of playing Ocarina of Time for the first time before I knew how to read, forcing me to use other clues, means of progression, and sometimes just fucking around until something works.

But with Tunic, this is by design.

This was a fantastic game, but what really pushed it into masterpiece territory was the final puzzle, which really brings the game's intentions full circle and is one of the most impressive and creative puzzles I have ever seen in a game.

It's a magical little experience, the likes of which I have never encountered in my adult life. If you’re looking for a game that can recapture that feeling of childlike wonder, this is your jam.

Yeah, I'm sad to say I'm not finishing this one.

The game, in most aspects, is pure genius. The booklet aspect of it is just an incredible experience to get through. Finding answers to questions you thought the game wouldn't bother to ask, and seeing them work. Recontextualizing the scenarios you've already visited several times with new knowledge. That feeling of "hey, this might work over there!". Often, without the use of any words.

This, however, is one of many games in recent times which have adopted the soulslike trend of revolving around struggle. Your struggle. In this case, I'm referring to its combat. It never felt good for me. Not because it is too difficult, but because it never feels satisfying. Your sword is too short, your dodge not long enough, your enemies' skin is too tough, yours is too feeble. I understand they want to give you a challenge, but I can't agree with the way they doing it. I understand the feeling of overcoming a challenge that other games, namely From Software games, give you. I beat every enemy in this game, except for the last phase of the last enemy, and not once did I find that here.

It just feels like everything the game can throw at you is a notch higher than it should be. I'm stopping at the final boss, I've made improvement and I'm almost there. I simply don't have much interest in replaying this fight until I learn how to defeat this enemy, because the only part that's left of this game for me, is the part I don't want to play.

Add to that a problem with its pacing, giving you a climax far too early in the game. The rest of my playthrough felt like crawling through the desert, hoping it would end soon.

I think most people will still enjoy this game. I enjoyed most of it myself.

Man, I love indie games. Only an indie game would be as unapologetically bold as Tunic. Tunic starts out as a cute topdown adventure game, with a neat manual and foreign language mechanic, but gets absolutely fucking insane as the game progress.

However, that boldness also means it won't be for everyone. I was just a bit too impatient for some of the later puzzles, so I got some hints from a guide. I wish it wasn't necessary, but I probably would have been to frustrated to continue otherwise. That's just the price you have to pay for being as unique as Tunic. Still worth it.