*This article is compiled from IGN US and is not reproduced without authorization.
Don't be deceived by the cute style of "Tunic", but you don't need to be too nervous, you can start to feel its charm. This beautiful game has a colorful style and almost reproduces the art style of The Legend of Zelda. Accompanied by melodious and quiet music, the player transforms into a cute fox and wields a sword in his hand.
Cherish the serenity of the opening, because tunic, while it looks like a minimalist equidistant action-adventure game inspired by the early Zelda games, it actually has a hardcore gameplay experience that greatly tests the player's thinking and combat skills.
Contrary to the protagonist image of the cute little animal, this is not a "cute Zelda" game (but I still think Tunic should be launched immediately). Tunic's difficult battles and complex puzzles caught me off guard, but once I cleared my mind and regained control of the situation, I gradually realized that this design idea was actually quite good.
One of my favorite things about Tunic is that it's obviously inspired by old classic games, like those games that "don't say anything." In fact, the game really offers almost nothing to the player: the dialogue and in-game language are basically incomprehensible text, Tunic never speaks, the game does not do task markers, prompts or auxiliary elements, everything depends on the player's intuition, partly relying on exploration, but the main guide is the in-game instruction manual, you will find them scattered in all corners of the world.
Once you open the NES Era Game Chest, you'll find these game manuals with hand-drawn graffiti and annotations. The manual is also written in tunic's unique language, but you can find some clues and directions in the images, which don't look like IKEA manuals, but have a similar design philosophy.
Based on personal experience, I would say that it is necessary for players to pay close attention to the information in the manual. I was powerless in the early boss battles, but this was actually my own reason, because I didn't read the manual carefully and missed the battle points. This way of guiding players through the game is very clever, even if it prompts people to search the Internet from time to time (no shame at all!). ）。
Outside of the game manual, players will either be in the outside world or deep into the dungeons, defeating a variety of enemies in the game by slashing, blocking, sprinting, and tumbling. The point is that once you get the sword, you don't need to learn any new skills in the first place, on the contrary, you have to learn to change your tactics. This includes not only the use of basic operations in new ways, but also the use of props, which the game does not explain at all how to use props.
Game items range from bombs to magical items, which you'll find hidden in chests in all corners of the world, and you can buy items from a shopkeeper who looks scary but is actually harmless. Rather than rubbing the handles, figuring out the function of each item and developing a clever strategy to use them can increase your success rate. Sometimes, though, both are indispensable.
Of all the items, my favorite is the explosives just mentioned, which players can get early in the game, and their practical value runs through the entire game flow, especially in boss battles. Of course, bombs can usually be used to quickly clear hordes of enemies, but they may also be one of the most reliable ways to face a boss's thick blood bars, cutting off a portion of the boss's health bars each time.
The effects of bombs are somewhat unpredictable, i.e. how they work based on their own properties. For example, don't throw them at the enemy. Yes, Tunic has good arm strength, but the bomb doesn't explode when it comes into contact with an object. Instead, it hits your target, then bounces to the ground and rolls back before it explodes with burning damage. So enemies in the water or at the water's edge are not affected by the bomb, and if you think about it carefully, you can understand this, after all, when the bomb touches the water, the lead will immediately go out.
Regardless of the size of the enemy, they will not be easily defeated, even the most ordinary mobs, they can quickly cut your health bar. Enemy AI won't be too strong or too stupid, but they can all deal relatively large damage. Slightly larger monsters move more slowly, but also have higher output, so don't underestimate the attacks of those thick-blooded bosses.
All in all, good luck to all. If you're curious, I can tell you in advance that this game can only be saved in scattered temples, where there is a ball of fire. Saves restore your health bars and magic, but at the cost of resetting all enemies, which is clearly a nod to Dark Souls.
Let's talk about the boss battles of the game, they are quite numerous, impressive, although more tricky, but the experience is not bad. Tunic doesn't have a difficulty option, the only difficulty is "figure it out for yourself". You can figure it out on your own, or you can find simple tricks in the manual, which are crucial to your survival anyway.
However, more important than the attack skill, it is the dodge tumbling operation, which allows you to enter a short invincible frame, please learn this skill, in the final defeat of the boss, you will feel that this is the victory you deserve.
Like the classic Zelda game from a top-down perspective, Tunic ends up presenting a lot of elements of a Galaxyvania-like game, and that's part of what I love about it. When you see something that can't be reached, a door that can't be entered, or something that can't be activated, you will naturally know that you have to find a solution. When you go back to square one and finally figure out what has tormented you for so long, a huge sense of satisfaction ensues.
Overall, tunic's world is also a lovely world, with the outside world bright and colorful, and each dungeon has a unique look and feel, from the spider caves of the traditional fantasy world to the magical monasteries.
However, Tunic doesn't reveal its mystery early on, and it's only later in the game that you start your journey of "suffering". Puzzles come and go, but even if you're confused or stuck in a dead end, new clues will always be found. This design runs through the process, and at these stages, the knowledge you've accumulated will eventually turn into motivation, allowing you to discover a large number of puzzles and clues and find the secrets behind them when you revisit the same place. However, even after completing the level, Tunic still leaves a lot of puzzles that make people think about it.
Incidentally, if you piece together the elements, Tunic discriminates and tells a pretty interesting story, but the game's ending didn't particularly move or satisfy me. For this adventure of about 15 to 20 hours, I think the process is more important than the result, but it may feel different for you.
summary
When I was nine years old, I finished the original Zelda Legend game, but I probably wouldn't have been able to stay in Tunic for long. The protagonist of this game is a cute orange fox, and although the game looks friendly and easy to play, players will soon realize that they must hurry up and get ready for battle.
For contemporary Soul gamers, this is a stunning Zelda style game, where players need to carefully study the seemingly intuitive but unclear text of the game manual, combined with flexible operation to solve a variety of clever puzzles and difficult battles. Tunic will give players the rewards and satisfaction they deserve, and it will definitely make you reminisce.
merit
A wonderful and delicate painting style with childlike fun
Hardcore action and puzzle solving experience
shortcoming
The difficulty of the combat session is high
Some puzzle operations and prop usage lack clear instructions