The video game industry is around 40 years old now. Many people have stated innovation is longer present in video games today. Child of Light comes out of nowhere to prove that unique gaming experiences can still be made. It’s quite possibly one of the best RPGs you will play all year.
The main thing that separates Child of Light from other RPGs is because it’s a hybrid of two different gaming genres. It blends the very best from your traditional action RPG and molds this together into a 2D platformer. As a result of these two genres, you get an experience like no other.
One thing most people will notice off the bat is the gorgeous presentation that Child of Light conveys. It has a distinct look that reminds me of the cute picture storybooks I used to read when I was only five years old. Whereas most 2D style games opt for the cel-shaded look, this game uses a water colored paint look that painter Vincent Van Gogh would have been proud of. Playing this game seems like you’re almost playing inside of a real-life painting.
Before I talk about anything else, it’s best to delve into the game’s story first. Child of Light centers around the character of Princess Aurora. Her parents ruled over the Kingdom much like other royals usually do. Aurora’s mother dies which leads to her father raising her by himself. When Aurora goes to sleep one night, she never awakens in the real world. Her father thinks she is dead. However, Aurora herself wakes up in another world. Dazed and confused, she must now find a way back to the real world and reunite herself with her father. There is more to the plot with more secrets to follow, but I’m not going to spoil it all for you here.
Upon starting on her journey, Aurora is joined by a cute little firefly named Igniculus. Igniculus is best described like Navi from Ocarina of Time, but is much more helpful and less annoying. He follows Aurora wherever she goes and the player themselves are able to control Igniculus since he has special abilities of his own.
Igniculus can be controlled via moving the right stick around. Alternatively, a second player can join and and control Igniculus as well if you want to have some co-op action. Since the world that Aurora is somewhat shrouded in darkness, Igniculus can be used to open chests or even slow down enemies. He can also be used to open doors to new areas and solve puzzles too. Without him, this game would have been hard as he’s one of the reasons that makes his game very unique.
Child of Light Review,