Host Recommendation

This journey as a lost soul is wholesome, delectable, and like life, more than it seems.

When the game first starts we’re greeted by our charming protagonist, who helpfully tests our headphones. Its menus are similarly voiced in full, including one of the only options screens submitted to the jam. Once in game the narration continues with friendly quips and hints that reveal the nature of its levels and tutorialize new sounds and mechanics. All of these touches give the game a friendly and approachable atmosphere.

Its five levels take us on a journey of increasing challenge and complexity. Collecting coins and navigating the obstacles in its first level is just a taste of the puzzles that come later. For example, when we encounter locked doors, we must find their keys. Other segments test our memory and our speed. And by putting together these components we might discover something deeper.

As we progress through its levels, their ambient sounds playfully evoke changes in scenery from forests to caves. To find their objectives, each object has a carefully assigned ambient tone that’s helpfully positioned in the stereo field. The audio feedback we receive for navigating space and completing objectives is all consistently delivered with nostalgic 8-bit sounds. And beneath it all is a chill beat that complements the overall soundscape.

The game has some minor issues that, if corrected, would improve the overall experience. At times its sound effects are inconsistently mixed, which can become painful or obscure important cues. This is most problematic on its menus, where they can render your voice overs inaudible. I understand that some of these issues were addressed in a later build; however, that build wasn’t available for download at the time of my review. Other improvements might include announcing the state of toggle buttons when focused on the options screen, and reading aloud the level numbers and titles when they’re presented visually.

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