Review for indivisible. Game for Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the video game was released on 08/10/2019
Many times we are convinced that beauty resides in the complex, in the articulation, in the meticulous detail that, placed in the great work of art, forms a sort of great puzzle to be admired with open mouth. Often this is the case but it cannot be denied that beauty can also dwell in the simplest, most elementary things that are often neglected, passing into the background and ending up being taken for granted.
Indivisible wants to bring back the concept that even with something simple but well done you can have a lot of fun. Lab Zero Games, assisted by 505 Games, gave life to this action RPG inspired by Valkyrie Profile, making us take a dip in the past, although well mixed to today's standards.
One, ten, a thousand friends who move
Everything is quiet in Ashwat village and Ajna is ready for a new day. The girl goes, like every morning, to the training camp of Indr, her old, meticulous, strict parent and mentor of her training. Precisely as Ajna's father, Indr wants not only to teach her the martial arts master but also to instill in her the values that he believes are important, as well as trying to appease her fiery character and push her to be more reflective both in life and in fighting. According to Indr, Ajna looks a lot like her mother, of whom however the little girl knows practically nothing.
It is precisely this lack of explanations, together with some differences of views with the father that lead the two to heated discussions, prompting Indr to return to the village to let Ajna cool off. But the girl realizes that not everything is going as it should in the village: disturbing columns of smoke rise from the houses. Ajna finds Ravannavar's army intent on burning down the houses and killing the innocent: Indr, having defended his homeland, has the worst against Dhar, one of Ravannavar's generals.
Ajna, moved by the sacred fire of vengeance, lashes out against Dhar to avenge her parent and, just when it seems that she is about to win, she finds herself unable to fight against the evil general anymore, as this is trapped right in the mind the girl (which among other things we can also explore). Thus begins Ajna's vindictive journey towards Lord Ravannavar. Many other warriors will end up in the same way as Dhar, although unlike the latter, they will join Ajna spontaneously and for the most varied reasons. Many of them, like the girl, seek revenge against Ravannavar, while others will follow Indr's daughter out of boredom, still others out of simple curiosity and so on.
Indivisible's narrative incipit has a very 90s flavor and also seems to be full of clichés: these, although they are present, are revisited and revised in such a way that they no longer seem stereotypes but rather caricatures of the same. Some narrative expedients are not new in short, as well as some "bases" for the characterization of some characters but they have been lowered into the atmosphere of the game in a particular way, so as not to arouse that strong feeling of "already seen", when instead feeding the curiosity, the thirst for knowledge, the will to know what will happen next. All this takes the form of a skilful mix that tastes both old and new.
Buddha Bar or Iddhi pub?
As anticipated, Indivisible harks back a lot to Valkyrie Profile, especially in terms of gameplay. Entitled Enix's Tri-Ace, Lab Zero has taken over both the combat system and exploration. The game experience of Indivisible is a swing between these two elements: discovering through exploration and reaching out when needed, all interspersed with dialogues and cutscenes in an anime version of exquisite workmanship. The exploration is based on a few actions which, combined with each other, contain the solution to puzzles that are sometimes not so obvious.
In addition to the inevitable jump, slide and double jump on the wall, Ajna will be able to use his tools to face the most inaccessible dungeons: by sticking the ax to the walls it will be possible to climb not indifferent heights while the arch will help us to eliminate the armor of otherwise unassailable enemies. As we progress we will obviously make our other weapons that will help us in the exploration phase, making the dungeons real puzzles to be solved using both the brain and the alertness, managing to entertain without ever becoming too frustrating. The only flaw: the dungeons will sometimes be a bit too linear, with little backtracking.
Indivisible's combat system is as simple and intuitive as it is fun. For each fight we will be able to count on a party composed of a maximum of four characters and, to each of these, a key will be associated according to its positioning. The keys will serve both to attack and to defend, making us stay glued to the screen ready to react at the right moment, both to make the juggle (hitting enemies in the air) and to parry enemy attacks. By pressing the button a moment before the enemy touches one or more of our characters, we will minimize the damage, as well as significantly load the Iddhi bar, which will also be powered thanks to the attacks made. This power will serve to use the special techniques of the characters deployed on the field, becoming essential for the management of the clash.
Obviously every fighter will be brought to the attack or support of the team, so party composition will be a key moment to build a solid strategy. It would have been very interesting to be able to replace team members during battles, like in Final Fantasy X in short, adding a bit of elasticity to the system. However, strategic depth is not lacking, as each character has, in addition to the special technique, different fighting styles: there will in fact be other techniques that can be used through the directional keys, aimed at enhancing attacks, inflicting negative status on opponents, treating the party and even more. Each character will also be given an affinity index that will affect his performance: the values will change both with the events of the plot and depending on the progress of the clashes.
Expand the chakra
Indivisible is an ode to Hindu culture and beyond. The very name of Ajna is a clear reference to the sixth chakra, which would reside in the center of the two eyebrows, a clear reference to the third eye and the transformation of the girl. This is just one of the many, many references hidden within the game, passing from the stories of the characters, to their style, from the settings to the names of the locations.
Starting Indivisible means taking a real dip in one of the most interesting cultures in the Eastern Hemisphere, with references and goodies that fans will not struggle to grasp. However, this does not mean that it will be any less captivating or boring for those who do not fully know Indian culture, indeed the title can represent a first point of contact towards this fascinating world.
The cartoonish style of the title is certainly one of its distinctive features: Lab Zero has put a lot of effort into creating something original and attractive, focusing a lot on a simple but never banal style. Likewise, the cutscenes are all to be admired, including the opening. For the latter, Lab Zero even involved Studio Trigger, creator of anime such as Kill la Kill, to make it happen.
The OST fits perfectly with the setting and the concept of the title: evocative and catchy, it will not struggle to whisk in your head after a few hours of play. Also excellent is the interpretation of the voice actors, which we remember being entirely in English.
Without too many words, Indivisible is a gem that you absolutely shouldn't miss. A cartoon-style ode to Hindu culture, created with obsessive care by Lab Zero. Exploring the dungeons of the continent of Navar and playing with a simple but well-established and captivating combat system has really enjoyed us a lot. Indivisible brings us back, in some ways, to the 90's style of play but also winks at the modern, rewarding the reflexes and the reactivity of the player, without being punitive. It is a winning mix of Platform, Action and RPG intended to entertain anyone who starts it. The wait has paid off: don't miss it.
► Indivisible is an RPG type game developed by Lab Zero and published by 505 Games for Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game was released on 08/10/2019
