Sometimes simplicity can make for a beautiful spectacle in the world of pixels, and video games. I think the layered 1-bit nature, and scale of black to white within Grizzland achieves something both impressive to look at, and fun to play. It is a well thought out, and well constructed Metroidvania that doesn't hand hold, but gives the gamer just enough comprehension to move forward, explore, and uncover the many secrets hidden within. With basic combat and platforming tools at your disposal you, as the main character, must try to bring back to life the thirsty plant life while finding out exactly why it is you are on this adventure. You'll face alien threats along the way as well as some puzzle solving situations. There's plenty of backtracking to be done, and hidden areas to find. You'll even find scattered notes that get tucked away in your journal disclosing the details of the world around you, and your role therein.
The gameplay loop in Grizzland isn't an overtly difficult undertaking, but it will involve progress through the gathering of abilities that will open up previously inaccessible areas. It's your standard Metroidvania thoroughfare complete with RPG elements, and a map that will show off key points of interest as well as the locations you have visited. In each numbered, and named area encountered you will be tasked with collecting water to water an out of bloom tree with. These sentient trees will then grant you access to the next area. Along the way you'll face off against lesser respawning enemies as well as life metered bosses that require pattern learning to defeat. There are also sparkly portals to hidden areas that are just as cryptic as some of the game's other interesting in-game features.
As far as abilities to go you will unlock in order things like the basic jump, the sword slash, the double jump, the bow and arrow, platform descent, as well as the ability to shrink and crawl under tight spaces. Utilizing these tools you will have to traverse the various maze-like environments while avoiding the enemy threats that arise frequently. Should you find yourself stuck you can self-destruct once the ability is learned, and start back over at the latest water save. It is the water jars you collect that double as save points, and that refill your life heart. Dying by enemies or other environmental hazards will also respawn you at the last save point. Making saving often an important part of gameplay. As far as NPC interactions go they too will open up the world through hints, and gifted abilities. To interact with the friendly NPCs you must press "UP" in front of them. The same goes for the trees that require water, and other static features of interest.
Pressing the OPTIONS button as you play will give you access to your item, and ability listings as well as a mini-map, and a journal that houses any found notes with a textual display of what is found on said notes. Something that adds substance to the lore, and insight into the reason behind your trek through the alien landscape. For those of you looking for extra options there is only sound and limited language options available. That, and credits. You'll find Korean, Russian, French, English, and a couple of other language options that change the subtitle language as well as the menu language.
The Verdict ...
Grizzland, with it's cryptic simplicity, is quite the intriguing experience. The level design, and the boss fights are all noteworthy additions to a consumer friendly deal that is both affordable, rewarding, and fun to experience. While it is a budget indie with a shorter length it is done in such a way as to have the player looking deeper at everything that is featured. It is the kind of experience that has you fighting to find out what is going on, and rewards you for the efforts applied with both lore, and PSN trophies. The presentation, while 1-bit in design, is layered, and scaled in such a way as to be more than just a flat slightly animated palette of lifeforms, and environments. I think the design is well crafted overall, and the pacing of the trek through it well thought out. It is obvious the developer cared about the game, and it shows. For what it's worth Grizzland gets the Inferno's blazing seal of approval! I believe it's an indie worth buying, and playing through.
The gameplay loop in Grizzland isn't an overtly difficult undertaking, but it will involve progress through the gathering of abilities that will open up previously inaccessible areas. It's your standard Metroidvania thoroughfare complete with RPG elements, and a map that will show off key points of interest as well as the locations you have visited. In each numbered, and named area encountered you will be tasked with collecting water to water an out of bloom tree with. These sentient trees will then grant you access to the next area. Along the way you'll face off against lesser respawning enemies as well as life metered bosses that require pattern learning to defeat. There are also sparkly portals to hidden areas that are just as cryptic as some of the game's other interesting in-game features.
As far as abilities to go you will unlock in order things like the basic jump, the sword slash, the double jump, the bow and arrow, platform descent, as well as the ability to shrink and crawl under tight spaces. Utilizing these tools you will have to traverse the various maze-like environments while avoiding the enemy threats that arise frequently. Should you find yourself stuck you can self-destruct once the ability is learned, and start back over at the latest water save. It is the water jars you collect that double as save points, and that refill your life heart. Dying by enemies or other environmental hazards will also respawn you at the last save point. Making saving often an important part of gameplay. As far as NPC interactions go they too will open up the world through hints, and gifted abilities. To interact with the friendly NPCs you must press "UP" in front of them. The same goes for the trees that require water, and other static features of interest.
Pressing the OPTIONS button as you play will give you access to your item, and ability listings as well as a mini-map, and a journal that houses any found notes with a textual display of what is found on said notes. Something that adds substance to the lore, and insight into the reason behind your trek through the alien landscape. For those of you looking for extra options there is only sound and limited language options available. That, and credits. You'll find Korean, Russian, French, English, and a couple of other language options that change the subtitle language as well as the menu language.
The Verdict ...
Grizzland, with it's cryptic simplicity, is quite the intriguing experience. The level design, and the boss fights are all noteworthy additions to a consumer friendly deal that is both affordable, rewarding, and fun to experience. While it is a budget indie with a shorter length it is done in such a way as to have the player looking deeper at everything that is featured. It is the kind of experience that has you fighting to find out what is going on, and rewards you for the efforts applied with both lore, and PSN trophies. The presentation, while 1-bit in design, is layered, and scaled in such a way as to be more than just a flat slightly animated palette of lifeforms, and environments. I think the design is well crafted overall, and the pacing of the trek through it well thought out. It is obvious the developer cared about the game, and it shows. For what it's worth Grizzland gets the Inferno's blazing seal of approval! I believe it's an indie worth buying, and playing through.
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