This review contains spoilers
wow. just wow. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this video game since I discovered it and I'm not sure if I ever will cease to.
have you ever engaged with a piece of art that makes you think in hindsight about how grateful you are that, seemingly, the right people in the right place at the right time all gathered together to create something truly special? this is doing that for me. not many times before have I seen media that's so happy to exist as itself. to feel the love of creation bursting at the seams. the ideas and concepts floating around like, well, daydreams. it doesn't bother me that the game design, as a platforming title, is simple as can be. it doesn't bother me that the visual presentation leaves something to be desired in certain moments. so many disparate elements of design and structure combine into something that's unlike anything I've seen before and likely will see again and I had a great time on those terms.
music means a lot to me in video games. I'm a sucker for any score that's willing to actually incorporate itself into the characters, the world, the themes of one. Napple Tale's soundtrack (beautifully composed and performed by a dream team of prolific industry talent - what did I say about the right place at the right time?) is a part of the story. the characters are hearing these songs just as you are, like they're playing through the wind. its usage of music in that sense would have already sold me on the game being a favorite of mine, but it goes beyond that. every character you talk to, every jump you make, every boss you battle, all tell a story about remembrance, celebration, living life to the fullest in the time you have.
maybe that sounds silly, don't get me wrong - it definitely is sometimes. I'm just amazed by how well Napple Tale is able to feed all of its elements back into each other in ways that compliment it. the vision of its messages are so clear and everything it's trying to say is so deeply important to me as a person that I guess I can't say I'm surprised that it resonated with me so much. instant favorite and an experience that I'll never forget.
have you ever engaged with a piece of art that makes you think in hindsight about how grateful you are that, seemingly, the right people in the right place at the right time all gathered together to create something truly special? this is doing that for me. not many times before have I seen media that's so happy to exist as itself. to feel the love of creation bursting at the seams. the ideas and concepts floating around like, well, daydreams. it doesn't bother me that the game design, as a platforming title, is simple as can be. it doesn't bother me that the visual presentation leaves something to be desired in certain moments. so many disparate elements of design and structure combine into something that's unlike anything I've seen before and likely will see again and I had a great time on those terms.
music means a lot to me in video games. I'm a sucker for any score that's willing to actually incorporate itself into the characters, the world, the themes of one. Napple Tale's soundtrack (beautifully composed and performed by a dream team of prolific industry talent - what did I say about the right place at the right time?) is a part of the story. the characters are hearing these songs just as you are, like they're playing through the wind. its usage of music in that sense would have already sold me on the game being a favorite of mine, but it goes beyond that. every character you talk to, every jump you make, every boss you battle, all tell a story about remembrance, celebration, living life to the fullest in the time you have.
maybe that sounds silly, don't get me wrong - it definitely is sometimes. I'm just amazed by how well Napple Tale is able to feed all of its elements back into each other in ways that compliment it. the vision of its messages are so clear and everything it's trying to say is so deeply important to me as a person that I guess I can't say I'm surprised that it resonated with me so much. instant favorite and an experience that I'll never forget.
2 Comments
the way I even managed to find this game in the first place was through the "favorite games" part of someone's profile on here so I'm extremely grateful for that. and also to give it the honor of being added to my own, lol.
HylianBran
1 year ago