Posted August 17, 2009
This 3D platformer is a real gem I should've played earlier.
Like the very first POP, the gameplay focuses on acrobatics which mainly requires you observation and some timing (more flexible than in the first POP). It's rarely a matter of executing 3 very precise jumps in a row anymore. The execution is easier (something that I not really like) but at least, it is almost never frustrating.
Another part of the gameplay is the combats. At first I thought they completely suck but I believe they are decent ('could've been worse). My main problem with the combats is that they are overall long, repetitive, and the camera or the controls snap are annoying - often preventing you from doing what would you like to. The cameras are better the rest of the time, as you can control it or use preset camera angles, very useful as they'll often implicitely tell you were to go and how, and the same goes for the controls snap, which setting is perfect.
One of the novelty of this POP episode is the narration (a bit more developped than in POP 1 or 2) and the cooperation with the Princess. You will often have to leave here behind to open new paths she can take. Sometimes it is the other way around. The developers put some effort into making her a credible character, as she will talk to you, sometimes taunt you, occassionnally hit you by mistakes with her bow during combat, etc.
The other new feature is, of course, the control of time. It is an interesting feature and a better way of handling the "die and retry" parts of the game that just a "retry" button. But unlike Braid's time manipulation mechanisms for instance, it is not at all the main pillar in the game. It plays a big role in the scenario, though.
A great quality of this game is the atmosphere. SOT might have got some inspiration from ICO (Playstation 2), as the constant bloom effect and some other elements suggest.
The palace is big and is a nice piece of architecture. Not only you'll get to visit many parts of it but you'll very rarely visit 2 places with the same architecture or textures.
As in ICO, there's soom room for contemplation in SOT, since the combats and the platform / puzzles are separated. This leaves you free to look a bit at the landscape (or whatever) while you're running or doing acrobatics.
I don't know how to conclude...so I'll just say : if you're not allergic to 3D platformers, this is a must play.
Like the very first POP, the gameplay focuses on acrobatics which mainly requires you observation and some timing (more flexible than in the first POP). It's rarely a matter of executing 3 very precise jumps in a row anymore. The execution is easier (something that I not really like) but at least, it is almost never frustrating.
Another part of the gameplay is the combats. At first I thought they completely suck but I believe they are decent ('could've been worse). My main problem with the combats is that they are overall long, repetitive, and the camera or the controls snap are annoying - often preventing you from doing what would you like to. The cameras are better the rest of the time, as you can control it or use preset camera angles, very useful as they'll often implicitely tell you were to go and how, and the same goes for the controls snap, which setting is perfect.
One of the novelty of this POP episode is the narration (a bit more developped than in POP 1 or 2) and the cooperation with the Princess. You will often have to leave here behind to open new paths she can take. Sometimes it is the other way around. The developers put some effort into making her a credible character, as she will talk to you, sometimes taunt you, occassionnally hit you by mistakes with her bow during combat, etc.
The other new feature is, of course, the control of time. It is an interesting feature and a better way of handling the "die and retry" parts of the game that just a "retry" button. But unlike Braid's time manipulation mechanisms for instance, it is not at all the main pillar in the game. It plays a big role in the scenario, though.
A great quality of this game is the atmosphere. SOT might have got some inspiration from ICO (Playstation 2), as the constant bloom effect and some other elements suggest.
The palace is big and is a nice piece of architecture. Not only you'll get to visit many parts of it but you'll very rarely visit 2 places with the same architecture or textures.
As in ICO, there's soom room for contemplation in SOT, since the combats and the platform / puzzles are separated. This leaves you free to look a bit at the landscape (or whatever) while you're running or doing acrobatics.
I don't know how to conclude...so I'll just say : if you're not allergic to 3D platformers, this is a must play.