Written past times Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: The Journey Down Trilogy (1, 2, 3)
Developer: SkyGoblin
Publisher: BlitWorks
Price: $49.97 (Ch 1 $9.99 / Ch 2 $19.99 / Ch 3 $19.99)
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
Also Available On: PS4, Steam, XB1
It would live an understatement to depict Sweden-based SkyGoblin equally a small-scale independent videogame developer. Composed of a handful wearing a multifariousness of hats, the fellowship outburst into the mainstream next the release of freeware take away chances game The Journey Down: Over The Edge at the plow of the decade. Smartly, it leveraged the success to come upwards up amongst a much-improved in addition to highly expanded version that serves equally the starting betoken for a point-and-click serial of the same name. Given the express resources it has had at its disposal throughout production, the commercially released Trilogy is nil brusk of remarkable.
As amongst most other titles inwards the genre, The Journey Down: Chapter One is premised precisely in addition to succinctly. Main protagonist Bwana in addition to sidekick Kito piece of job Gas ‘n’ Charter inwards a trivial corner of picturesque Kingsport Bay. They’re perfectly fine going through their otherwise-mundane existence, salve for 2 concerns: their gas station is nearly to lose ability due to unpaid bills in addition to their charter service is literally grounded, relying on a unmarried bird that hasn’t flown inwards 2 decades.
Enter academy researcher Lina. Her search for the titular mass which she believes contains information regarding the mythical Underland leads her to Gas ‘n’ Charter. The tome is constitute in addition to prompts plans for a journeying to the mysterious destination. However, Bwana in addition to Kito must commencement secure the parts required to teach their bird running earlier goons also interested inwards her uncovering teach to them, in addition to it’s where The Journey Down digs into its puzzle-based hurdles.
Chapter Two begins where the commencement ends, in addition to it delivers to a greater extent than of the same thrills, but meliorate in addition to inwards a to a greater extent than polished manner. The Pb characters’ mission takes them to Port Artue, whose depressing nation is perpetuated past times the atomic release 26 mitt of local authorities, in addition to to a greater extent than puzzles come upwards betwixt them in addition to the Underland. By this time, it’s clear that SkyGoblin has constitute its groove, eschewing rote obstacles for seamlessly intertwined ones in addition to delivering a tighter storyline through relevant exposition. Even equally it occasionally gets bogged downwardly inwards especial in addition to dialogue, it manages to propel the narrative forward.
Needless to say, Chapter Three is the best, boasting of superior gameplay that rewards those who cause got seen lucifer to tag along for SkyGoblin’s eight-year matter amongst The Journey Down. In the lastly release, the puzzles kicking the bucket truthful avenues to enlightenment, amongst the script’s lighthearted musical note conveying optimism fifty-fifty equally Lina splits upwards amongst Bwana in addition to Kito inwards society to thwart enemies on 2 fronts in addition to ultimately prevail. Solid production values — the audio mix in addition to vocalization acting included — contribute to a satisfying denouement.
Considering the lengths SkyGoblin has gone through (at i betoken fifty-fifty project a crowdfunding campaign) to drive The Journey Down from innovation to completion, the Trilogy is a hallmark of perseverance in addition to dedication. The character steadily improves amongst each novel chapter, culminating inwards vibrant graphical in addition to auditory offerings amongst a unique melding of African in addition to Caribbean Area influences. The gameplay itself is straightforward, amongst the controls location on in addition to the challenges slow plenty to overcome despite the absence of hints. Context clues that may live lacking inwards whatsoever given surface area are made irrelevant past times pointing, clicking, dragging, in addition to dropping, amongst seemingly obscure inventory items serving a role later on on.
In sum, The Journey Down Trilogy is a viscerally pleasing sense good worth the essay to play through. The 3 chapters are available on the Nintendo eShop equally separate in addition to distinct purchases, but SkyGoblin has prepare them upwards to live best enjoyed chronologically in addition to together. Featuring inviting pattern choices in addition to tests that don’t frustrate but, rather, encourage, they’re a collective will to the ability of ingenuity in addition to creativity.
THE GOOD
- Outstanding, if unusual, fine art direction in addition to audio design
- Involving storyline
- Intuitive controls
THE BAD
- Subsequent chapters comprise no preambles, negating the value of standalone purchases
- Puzzles are oft likewise slow fifty-fifty for casual gamers
- Quality is uneven, albeit steadily improving
RATING: 8/10
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