Gone is the era of the simple platform  game, in a genre which has only recently been making a comeback simplicity is looked down on. Emberwind tries to reclaim some of that simplicity, but does it sway too far or is it balanced out correctly with a sense of challenge? X

Gremlins are Attacking!

Emberwind follows the story of a Viking styled character named Kindle Elderwood who job is to be a  local watchman.  However when things start to take a turn for the worse, Kindle receives the task of saving areas around the Kingdom of Grendale from Gremlin invasions.

Emberwind tries to combine a simple platformer with elements of a basic RPG, a dangerous choice that could go wrong way too easily with a result of a confused game. However Emberwind manages to keep true enough to a platformer that it turns into a game that people will easily be able to jump straight into.

Emberwind retains a lot of the gameplay mechanics that gave titles such as Earthworm Jim and Mario success. Controls are simple, using the arrow keys to move around and then space and Ctrl for various extra movements you learn throughout the game. You won’t find yourself slugging along in the game, picking your brain to remember a mass of different controls.

Left, Right, Jump... Rocket?

Beyond the basics of walking and jumping you are also given some new abilities that involve pressing simple key combinations. For example to rush walk you double tap the arrow key in the direction to run, double tap the spacebar to curl into a ball sonic style or go hidden and fly up like a rocket.

It’s a hard thing for a platformer to be able to add anything new  it looking like a gimmick, however Emberwind brings just enough to the table to make the additions interesting, rather than confusing.

Along with the platform aspects of the game, there are minute elements of a role playing game contained within Emberwind. As you make your way through the levels you will get extras such as more health and new skills. This helps to keep the game fresh, however it does not add a great deal of gameplay enjoyment due to a very linier progression of skills.

Easy as your ABC

Emberwind claims to be aimed at fans of old platform classics as well as Children – but even as a relatively new comer to the genre, We found it extremely easy and throughout each level you’re given checkpoints to often, respawing literally footsteps away from where you died. I would of liked to of seen more of a challenge and I doubt those who grew up in the 8-bit era well be challenged at all, which could lead to them getting bored easily – however younger players and casual gamers will certainly find enough to keep them hooked till the end.

The level design goes a long way to improving the gameplay of Emberwind. Unlike platformers such as Sonic and Mario, Emberwind’s levels generally don’t have a single set path; there are various ways various ways to complete each one.  Each level feels like it has a lot of work put into it to give the player the feel on a non-linear path. Rarely for a platformer, you do get a real sense of exploration as you traverse through the range of different zones.

Simple 2D Graphics

Emberwind’s graphics follow a very traditional route a style which follows in the footsteps of games such as Earthworm Jim and Mario, using a 2D engine and motion background. Characters and the environment manage to tell a story within itself. The graphics are let down by the inability to change the resolution.

You are given the option of widescreen or not, but a lot of players are going to find there monitors don’t scale too well on lower resolutions , leading to those with larger monitors getting a real impact on the sharpness of the graphics.

Music is very well created, and it manages to feel unique and dramatic however the audio takes a dip when it comes to sound effects; they feel very plain against the impressive looks and music of Emberwind.

Buy This, Maybe, Or Maybe Don’t!

As far as platformers go, Emberwind stands out with some unique features and it generally feels very well made. However the game is extremely easy and  has no difficulty settings for advanced players. If you haven’t played many platformers then this is a perfect choice for you, Emberwind is the type of game you will have on your computer for many years to come.

Emberwind is a great game for younger players, with very little that would offend, and ultimately how much you enjoy Emberwind is fully dependant on the challenge you’ll get for it. I highly recommend you give the demo a try. Emberwind is available for the fair price of £7.82 via Digital download.

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Reviewed By: Daniel