*The game was reviewed on Steam using a code provided by the developer (Cosmic Void)
Twilight Oracle is a 2D point-and-click adventure game, out today on Steam and Itch. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon, with several locations to explore and unique (and hilarious) characters to meet. And if you’re an achievement hunter on Steam, there are 20 achievements to add to your profile.
Leo is a most unlikely video game protagonist. He’d rather be on his surfboard and living the chill life, but he’s just learned that he’s failing his classes at school and must hunt down an enemy of said school with three others who are also failing.
Sounds pretty tame, right? It does until you learn that Leo and his friends have special abilities, and the enemy in question isn’t just some rival school’s mascot. Leo can breathe underwater, Jill can read minds, Olivia can summon a gust of wind, and Marcus can conjure fire. Also, you’re clearly not on Earth.
The beautifully crafted pixel art is what you notice first about the game. Each location in the game is distinctive and has secrets for you to find. (And you’ll want to go through the scenes with a fine-tooth comb because you never know what you’ll need later!)
Also, another plus for Twilight Oracle is the COLOR. Everywhere you go, the game is drenched in color, and it’s exciting to look at. Give me more games with ALL THE COLOR.
Evocative of the classics in the genre, you rely on the items you find to solve puzzles and progress on your quest, whether it’s just using one object or combining them. (Honestly, I did need a couple of hints towards the end, mainly because I didn’t realize I could use certain items in tandem. Remember that, and put on your Detective glasses!)
The game is fully voice-acted as well, which was a Kickstarter stretch goal. It’s admirably done, the core four sound great, and it helps to add to the humor of the game. Honestly, I’m not sure if I would have missed it if they had gone without though.
In a world where it seems like games compete to be the most complicated, there’s something so satisfying about games like this. It doesn’t take hours to master the gameplay, and there’s no new meta to have to worry about every week; it’s just you, your mouse, and of course, your wits. I enjoyed the time I spent with Twilight Oracle, and if you want an experience like this with a bit more horror to it, Cosmic Void is working on Devil’s Hideout which is coming out later this year.
Until February 6th, you can pick up Twilight Oracle for $7.99 on Steam and Itch, and then it goes up to its normal price of $9.99. Let us know if you pick it up!
