the picture of the game look epic
Reviews for "The Guardian"
atmosphere alone a game makes not
pressing right on the keyboard for an eternity is not something i would call "gameplay"
I like the atmosphere and the nice, albeit simple, narrative. However, this falls into the common trappings of experimental flash games were there's an over reliance on these aspects leaving the gameplay completely neglected. I thought at first it was interesting negotiating the terrain as a single pixel (I don't think I've seen that in a game before) as it shows that even the most simplest of design can convey a setting, but when it comes to it, the gameplay is bare bones platforming, except at the end which SPOILER when you play as the guardian (which I saw coming a mile a way) where it's reduced to walking aggravatingly slowly in one direction. I can't tell you how many experimental games have done this before, particulalry flash games on this site but this kinda thing loses all impact when it's already been done to death and is not a very good idea in the first place. IT'S BORING. At least it didn't end in suicide as game employing this gameplay often resort to in a vain attempt at being deep! And yes, I did take it through to the end despite this but I got little satisfaction from it as the outcome was completely unrewarding, but I honestly wasn't expecting it to be. Also, need I mention Shadow of Colossus here?
It's not a bad game, but it's not very good either.
The story's flat, cliched, but the execution gave it some life. Retro graphics or no, controlling the single-pixel boy is difficult, especially since he moves quite fast, which makes it very easy to miss jumps. The giant moves like molasses, which is understandable, given the size, but still annoying. Finding out how to end it was counter-intuitive (even though I won't spoil it for others). And if you're not Japanese, why bother giving the instructions in kanji? I know Japanese, so I could understand, but why not stick to English like the monologues?
The atmosphere was good, and so was the music, but those are just about the only things saving the game from a 1.0 score from me. Oh, and it didn't lock up upon reaching the village, so either you fixed that bug, or my instance didn't run into it...
Oh Look - Another Art Game
I wouldn't necessarily call this a game, and that's what I hate about most art games. If you want a game to tell a message or have a meaning, then fine, but at least have some gameplay behind it. The gameplay speaking of which was dismal. Just boring and bland way to progress the story. A game is supposed to be interactive entertainment, you could have found more creative ways to expand the story in this game rather than just having short platforming parts and lackluster fetch quest missions. The controls are fluent enough, I did have trouble at two points.
The music was great, but it just stops at times instead of appropriate loops. Which I understand if a game needs a quiet moment, but when I got to play as the giant, I heard this awesome track... then silence before I even get to the village. It just baffles me. Also, why are there no sound effects? You think that would be perfect in a game like this, but alas none.
The presentation is beautiful not only on the giant, but on the village and mountains as well. However I hated that I had to play as this small pixel and the villagers were all just pixels as well. I get what you were going for though, to the giant we look like ants, but I think you missed some opportunities and fleshing out not only the villagers, but making a really cool giant in the process.
Speaking of which I got to the point of where I was playing as the giant and coming across the village and as I destroyed it, I was just walking. The what I assume credits came up and I just kept walking, I didn't unlock any medals, I was just walking. I have enough patience, but it was already dwindling due to the gameplay.
The story I must say is a good one, but it is also one we have heard time and time again and you have not brought anything new to the table in terms of telling it. This is just another pretentious art game and nothing more.
When I saw this up on the front page, I thought I might get to play as a giant throughout the whole thing and be a guardian. If you decide to make another game like this, I insist you make a prequel to tell the story of The Guardian, because other than the title we know nothing about this giant. Why was he chained up? Why do you call him The Guardian, but the boy nor the villagers call him a guardian? There are so many holes in this story, that all we're left with is a cliche, some dismal gameplay, and a beautiful backdrop.
|| Cheers ||
*Superb Presentation
*Superb Music
*Great Controls
*Good Story
*Good Controls
|| Jeers ||
*Bad Gameplay
*Bad Concept
*No Sound