

While I can’t begin to analyze what these elements could mean thematically, I know that this game has a look that makes me feel cozy. There are also more unique sights when you play the puzzles, such as an ancient Greek-like temple in the background of one area and cherry blossoms in another. The voxel pixel art is reminiscent of Minecraft, and the overworld’s forestland and caves look quaint. Not only is Bonfire Peaks an emotional experience, but it is also a pleasant experience visually. It’s a deeply personal experience to both speculate about the protagonist’s tragedy and to connect the mementos that represent the cherished and the painful memories to your own life.

For example, a hospital bed appears, as well as objects owned by people only named in the trophy list (IE, ‘Zach’s saxophone.’). Then there are hints of why the protagonist would want to burn everything away.
Bonfire peaks review tv#
An old TV set, a set of Sesame Street toys the small moments of life you take for granted will reappear at first in a flash and then with reflection. You’ll come across more things that will spark something nestled deep within your memory. Effectively then, what was once was ordinary and never given a second thought in our lives is presented with a spotlight in this game. Since the main character has no backstory, you can project your own personal experiences onto these mementos. There are specific yet quotidian objects, such as a piano and a car. As you climb the summit, you will come across mementos of the protagonist’s past. Each locale requires only 2-3 stages to finish, which is ideal for people whose interest lies solely in the story, such as me. You can use this familiar object to reach a new height, where more levels await. Ugh, can’t I chop these sticks down? Keep a Little Fire Burning However Small, However HiddenĮach time you complete a level, you will be back in the overworld with a reward: a new crate. All you’re doing is just moving a bunch of generic crates around, which is bland for a game so conceptually interesting. However, there are often things in your way, and the game’s grid format can make things feel somewhat obtuse (you can’t rotate the screen 360 degrees.) I appreciate the more complex mechanics like burning crates to make fragile platforms and sticking into wall spikes to build a tower, but it can get quite samey. It is a necessity to move backward and sideways with a box in hand. A significant factor in the frustration is the game’s reliance on rotation.

Is it fun? Not particularly, because the puzzles can be infuriating.

You can also restart a level at any point. There is also a handy undo system that reverses a single tile movement or interaction at a whim. As the game progresses, there are different hindrances thrown in, such as arrows and spikes too. The game is grid-based and doesn’t implement much physics-based puzzling, which means you will need to precisely put yourself and the objects in specific tiles. Besides the main compartment, there will also be crates you can pick up and build platforms with, alongside many other permutations. You do this by grabbing, maneuvering, and placing stuff in certain spots. The end goal for every level is to reach a fire pit and burn a box of belongings. It’s a clever type of presentation because it feels like you are exploring the character’s mind, but more on that later… There is an equally understated but present sense of progression, as you start out in an overworld (or hub, if you will.) From here, you access levels by interacting with bonfires. Everything is conveyed silently, meaning you won’t read or hear a single piece of dialogue. What’s your goal? To burn your belongings of the past and reach the summit of the mountain. This style extends less in its presentation, as the game is played isometrically, although you can still act as a cameraman by zooming in and out. The game establishes its cinematic flair from the get-go, boasting black bars like a film and using a shaky zoom-in as if there were a cinematographer filming. He is on a swan pedal boat, eventually stepping foot on a secluded, mountainous area. Although the actual puzzling can be routine, strong imagery and a blissful soundtrack help elevate the game to be a genuinely great indie.īonfire Peaks opens with a shot of a nameless man. Yet, here we have a level-based, isometric puzzler that presents the act of a man’s closure, the embrace & abandonment of an unpleasant past. It can be tough to tackle themes in something as gamey as the puzzle genre. Bonfire Peaks Review OctoLorenzo Lombardi - No Comments
