Review for Child of Light. Game for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation Network, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game was released on 29/04/2014 The version for PC came out on 30/04/2014 The version for PlayStation 4 came out on 30/04/2014 The version for Xbox One came out on 30/04/2014
Since it officially came out in April 2014, Child of Light has been talked and talked and talked about, with a strong tendency to extremely positive and enthusiastic ratings from both critics and audiences. Considering, then, that over time it has been ported to practically every platform (PC, PS4, PS3, PS Vita, Wii U, Xbox One and Xbox 360 ...), there has been time and way to discuss it, and how . This time, however, let's talk about Child of Light Ultimate Edition.
Arrived on Switch on October 11, the new version of the title developed by Ubisoft Montreal arrives in style on the hybrid of the great N, returning to delight us with its peculiar aesthetic that emanates poetry and sweetness at every step. Along with some additional content, that doesn't hurt.
Where the fairy tales end
We are in Austria, year 1895. Little princess Aurora falls into a deep sleep, very similar to death, and finds herself catapulted into a fairy world, Lemuria, inhabited by enchanted creatures, some graceful, others decidedly less. Frightened and bewildered, Aurora will receive the canonical help from RPGs: a sword to fight with and a friend to travel with, Igniculus, a very tender magical firefly. From here he will start his journey to save the kingdom from Queen Umbra, who stole the sun, the moon and the stars, condemning the world to darkness.
A fairytale, as we have already said, with a simple and linear development, devoid of exciting twists, but which does its job very well, remaining coherent and sweet at the right point. The constant use of rhyming dialogues, excellently adapted in Spanish, further increases that feeling of poetry that can be tasted from the beginning, a magic that permeates the entire title not only in its aesthetics.
In fact, the pure aesthetic of Child of Light has been talked ad nauseam: watercolor colors on backgrounds that look like real paintings, Aurora and Igniculus that stand out for their light on the surrounding environment, a variety of microclimates and incredible settings, enemies always different and much more make it the world of Lemuria artistically impressive. All associated with a surprisingly appropriate soundtrack, able to enhance every moment and sensation, with faster and more marked notes during the fights and other sweet and sad ones in the moments of plot advancement.
Accompanying this "poem" there will be, only in the first hour of the game, a feeling of slowness dictated by the uncertain and cautious walk of Aurora. In the first hour of the game or so, we assure you that exploring Lemuria will be practically impossible, both because the map will not, for obvious reasons, still be open, and because taking ten steps will take you an incredibly long amount of time.. Everything will be resolved once the ability to fly is obtained, by plot, and from here the real Child of Light begins.
The map of Lemuria develops both horizontally and vertically and exploring it gives a feeling of incredible freedom considering that the title is developed on two dimensions. Chests, ravines, secret and collectible streets await you in hidden corners of the kingdom and you can only appropriate them by using patience and curiosity, characteristics necessary for every role-playing player.
Like toy soldiers
Child of Light is a classic turn-based JRPG (only it's not Japanese !, Editor's note). At each fight we will control Aurora and another companion, which can be changed in real time, and the actions will be marked by the classic ATB bar. Each of our allies will have their own abilities, all unlockable from a classic tree on which to spend the characteristic points that we will get by leveling up. All classic, in short.
Igniculus will have special abilities on his side: it will be able, during the fighting, to shine more intensely to blind the enemies and therefore slow down the ATB bar, or to move the twigs on the screen to recover HP and MP to our fighters. In exploration, however, it will be able to open particular chests otherwise not reachable and it will be indispensable in solving various puzzles, based on plays of light and projections of shadows.
A rather basic gameplay then, which however, combined with the fantastic exploration of the world of Lemuria can give great satisfaction. Igniculus can also be controlled by a second player, who in the case of Switch can easily use a Joy-con.
Finally, finally speaking of the features of the Nintendo Switch version, Child of Light Ultimate Edition contains an additional mission, "The Golem Problem" (also available on other platforms for € 2,99), two pure aesthetic skins for Aurora and a plethora of objects and oculi to increase the characteristics of our characters. Certainly nothing exceptional, but still appreciable.
Technically, the Ubisoft title runs stably at 1080p and 60fps with the console docked, while struggling to maintain a stable frame rate when kept in laptop. Nothing disabling, especially being the only technical flaw we encountered, but we cannot ignore it in the review.
Child of Light Ultimate Edition for Nintendo Switch is yet another great way you have to recover a little pearl of the JRPG if, despite the dozens of previous versions, you have not yet done so. Exciting, magical and poetic, Aurora's journey cannot fail to touch your heart with its masterfully curated aesthetics and incredibly pleasant sweetness. Despite some technical problems with the portable console, the purchase is highly recommended. Word of Igniculus.
► Child of Light is an Adventure-Turn Based-Platform-RPG-type game developed and published by Ubisoft for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation Network, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game is released on 29/04/2014 The version for PC came out on 30/04/2014 The version for PlayStation 4 came out on 30/04/2014 The version for Xbox One came out on 30/04/2014
