Burden of the Blue

Some classic dungeon exploration with enemies and puzzles is held back by backtracking issues and frustrating, poorly balanced combat mechanics. You’re a freshly hatched bird on a secluded island, joined by two feathered companions. The early moments of your life are filled with lighthearted play and combat training, preparing you for a rite of passage: taking flight into the larger world. But when the day finally arrives, your attempt is halted by a shadowy sea serpent coiled in dark clouds. From a gameplay perspective, this top-down action-adventure opts for a minimalist control scheme. Your feathered fighter is equipped with a simple sword combo and a pistol. The sword delivers a three-hit combo and is your main method of dishing out damage. The gun, on the other hand, is more tactical. It only fires when you aim, can only shoot in the four cardinal directions, and is best used for stunning enemies rather than causing meaningful damage. Reloading is possible in two ways: you either pick up your spent bullets if they get stopped by walls or simply reload by switching screens. Exploration begins on your modest island, which cleverly expands through a central elevator that co…

Wow, surprised I'm the first review for this one. I've only been playing this for an hour so it's more first impressions, but it's very cool and enjoyable so far. I found a link to this on Twitter/X, and glad I did. It basically plays like 2-D Zelda with a bit of a creepy vibe. Music is good. Fighting monsters is a challenge and feels good when you clear them out, and the puzzles are enjoyable. At least based on what I've played so far, I can definitely recommend this to someone who enjoys the gameplay of Zelda games like Link To The Past, except you're basically just thrown into the dungeon and there isn't going around talking to characters, which I find nice, I like just getting thrown into the action. I might update this once I'm finished with it but it looks like it needs reviews. Oh and it works great on Steam Deck, that's where I'm playing it from.