REVIEW : Shape of the World (PS5)
Journalists are frequently chastised for comparing games to one another. So buckle up because it’s difficult not to at times. The Shape of the World is a work of art, defined by its aesthetic and the experience you take while playing it. The basic mechanics and shifting colours allow you to dive into the lovely aesthetic style like a huge blue ocean. The only goal is to pass through three triangular gates that will bring you up a mountain. The colour scheme will change each time you travel through one, and the World may disclose new mysteries for you to engage with.
Most of the time, these hidden gems are obelisks that you can interact with to summon a staircase to assist you in reaching your next location. The simplicity of gameplay here and the sense of navigating through a shifting and strange landscape bring to mind titles like Journey and Innerspace. Of course, there are many games like this; in fact, most games may be classified as such; nevertheless, there are far fewer games where the experience is the game itself.
The payout often makes these games great, so while everything may be gorgeous, what is the point of progressing through it, and what prize awaits you for completing it? While the ultimate result does not define an experience, it is the journey that is most important. When it comes to games, however, this is mostly determined by the quality of the game. In non-narrative style games, the road must be enjoyable, but the destination must be gratifying. It’s one of the reasons why they’re usually shorter. Action games may cover a boring location with a backflip onto an enemy into a juggling combo, but narrative games require a captivating story.
The book Shape of the World has two flaws. The first problem is that movement is quite slow. This isn’t a deal-breaker; there are many games in which this works effectively and helps the player stay focused and comfortable. The problem emerges when you first create one of these magical stairwells. You know, after you get on it and start following it around, you see that you go far faster than you would on a normal walking speed, which makes the standard pace immensely frustrating. It’s like being shown that you can run on top of the custard before being told that you can only plod through it.
You can interact with some objects in addition to walking, which usually includes breaking a tree for a little speed increase. You can also throw seeds, which allows you to place speed boosters before you, but it’s not an exact science, so it’s usually best to ignore it.
The payout is the second issue, and it’s the one that finally ruins the game. This is when the comparisons to other games come into play, so be ready. You’ll be travelling planets and meeting other travellers along the way; sometimes they’ll show you the way, and sometimes they’ll help you discover a secret. They can be ineffective at times, but it is all part of the learning process.
Only at the very end do you see a list of names, the names of all the people you unknowingly played with; it’s a revelation that only adds to the already wonderful experience because it’s unlikely you had any idea. When compared to the surprise at the end of this one, well, I won’t give anything away, but it’s ultimately underwhelming, and the journey leading up to that point isn’t strong enough to compensate.
REVIEW : Action Arcade Wrestling (PS4)
