The Legend of Zelda: I was seven years old when I first started playing Ocarina of Time. Being a Dutch kid, the desire to play this massive action-adventure game was exciting, but there were barriers that were hard to overcome. I had a hard time playing Ocarina of Time, unlike Mario and to some extent Pokémon games. Not because of its controls, but because of the sheer amount of text. Sure the monsters were scary, the Great Deku tree was confusing, and traversing the Hyrule Fields felt like a dangerous task, but it was the language that made it hard to understand what was really going on. With the help of an au pair who was able to translate the game’s online guide, I was able to figure out what Link’s quest was about. Did. I used to think about the world of hyrule all the time before going to bed, like the game keeps me away just because I never understood what the characters who live in this world were saying I have seen all the mysteries that can be seen. I felt like a stranger in a strange land, slowly but steadily discovering and understanding more and more about this one-of-a-kind game. . Even with something like Breath of the Wild that evokes so much of that emotion, my understanding of the English language and the language in general takes away many secrets that I felt were kept from me as a child. To say the least made me feel like a lost child. This game hides so many secrets behind layers of language, experience, and growth that I loved it, unlike any other game this year. Finally made it to the Switch. I am so excited to see others explore these distant shores with this little fox.
To call Tunic another “Zelda-like” is, in my opinion, too short of a game and its approach. Most action-adventure games are inspired by the series. You play as a little fox as you wake up on the shores of a strange land. This world is not only dangerous, but also has a mysterious power that is sealed away. You have found this power and set out to uncover the mysteries behind this world. What civilization lived here long ago and built fox statues? Who is the fallen hero with multiple shrines? And, most of all, what is the fox’s role in all this? We will slowly unravel the mystery. Find new items, learn new techniques, and face off against a wide variety of enemies as a fox. Dying is not always the end, as the game allows you to regain your soul and some of the money you lost.
What makes the tunic stand out is its gorgeous art style. Soft 3D art from a (mostly) fixed isometric perspective quickly gains its own flavor. The fox and most enemy character designs are immediately recognizable and easily distinguishable. The boss in particular has a formidable and impressive design that gives you a sense of intimidation when you meet him for the first time. The art style is complemented by a secret trick that Tunic has up its sleeve: a manual. You can always open the manual and turn the pages. The manual not only contains the backstory of the world, characters and items, but also explains the game’s core mechanics. This leads to a larger design of the tunic that gives access to most hidden items, techniques and locations at the start of the game. I kept yelling at it every time I found it, so I stopped counting the ‘oh my god’ moments I encountered. It feels like a true travel companion.
So what is the actual gameplay like? Guide the fox to find some keys to break the seal. You are free to go wherever you want and face bosses and obstacles in any order. At first, it might feel a little line-air teaching you the basics of the game, but you’ll soon be introduced to all the different regions of this world. You can use other items you collect to defeat them. You can throw magic bombs with fire or ice properties, or use other magic items to defeat them. But the game is not easy. This isn’t just true of bosses, which are arguably harder challenges, but even regular enemies can easily gate your progress and exploration. There are other ways to improve your little fox by collecting Tunics also spend a lot of time after games like Souls and have refillable potions to restore some health, as well as dodge and shield to block enemy attacks. Combat feels very fluid and nimble, but don’t expect it to be as laid-back as a Zelda game.
What makes Tunic so difficult to describe is that most of its progression is tied to understanding the game as a player. Advanced mechanics hit like a truck as you find and understand the experiments and helpful pages of the manual. Many times I found myself discovering new dungeons, locations, or items as new forms of interaction were revealed to me. . That’s because those revelations stick with the player, making this strange and hostile world a little more comprehensible. That’s before we get to the secrets and other elements of the options hidden inside.
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the incredible audio work that accompanies the tunic throughout, from the incredible sound design created by Power Up Audio to the incredible soundtrack by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan. The music evokes mystery on every track, balancing playful tracks, anxiety-inducing battle medleys, and peaceful, calming tunes. Simply put, I can’t wait to add this amazing soundtrack to my personal record collection.
Now let’s get into the details of the switch. I was very hesitant when the Tunic was first revealed in a Nintendo Direct earlier this month. The frame rate in that trailer looked very rough, and I wasn’t convinced that visually beautiful particle systems and lighting could be achieved on Nintendo’s old hardware. Thankfully I was very impressed. Comparing the Switch version’s graphics to my Xbox One S version of the game, the integration done in this version looks very minimal. Framerate is a consistent 30 fps in both handheld and docked modes. One downside is that loading screens are often a bit lengthy when traveling between regions or locations. Visually, the game is fairly well maintained compared to the Xbox One S version of the game. A notable difference is ambient occlusion, which significantly degrades sample quality. This means you’ll get a lot of flickering artifacts in the corners and shady pockets around the bushes of the Overworld. Fear not. Is it the best version of this game? Definitely not, but it works like a charm and you can enjoy it on the go without too much trouble.
Tunic has become a special game for me. Its approach to game design is unlike anything I’ve seen in years and harkens back to a time when games felt uncomfortable and mysterious. Luigi could have been hiding in Super Mario 64, an era when copy and paste became a reality.Tunic shows that the creators understand what makes these games so special, but others It has its own identity and utilizes so many clever techniques to draw the player into its world. It took me hours to perfect the tunic, but it’s a journey I’d recommend to most people.If you find it too difficult, the accessibility options are a godsend and it would be a shame to use them. It doesn’t matter. You may have to pull out an actual notepad to keep track of the hints, puzzles, and clues you find along the way, but following that journey to the end will reward you with a game unlike any other. is a modern masterpiece whose mysteries, secrets, and puzzles will haunt you long after the credits roll.
