It does feel a little uncomfortable exploring, given that thereвЂ™s no map function, but the levels are constructed that the way forward is usually clear, even when you need to double back to previously explored sections of the dungeons.

You can go pretty much anywhere in the world given, gaining more areas to explore as you gain new abilities.

Puzzles are usually traded out for big set-piece moments, like having to pilot a defeated boss through a storm of ruble or helping a wounded soldier bash through an enemy line. ThereвЂ™s a ton of focus on spectacle, which plays well with the platforming elements. Said puzzles arenвЂ™t the usual Zelda-style headscratchers based around a central item, though, as later dungeons become more focused on stealth and survival challenges, but this change gives the game its own flavor. There are multiple dungeons to explore, each with their own gimmicks and styles, combining combat challenges and puzzles. It also plays with a few familiar tropes from that franchise, mainly a seemingly normal, mute kid becoming the worldвЂ™s great hero, and has a similar sense of progression. Its style is heavily Zelda-like, down to the character designs and technology on display. OwlboyВ is sort of a side-scrolling Zelda, with a few of its own twists. ItвЂ™s a good thing the game that came with the beautiful sprite work is pretty good too. OwlboyвЂs presentation alone makes it incredible art, the end result of craftsmen working their hearts out for something they truly believed in. Every background is layered and filled with unnecessary detail only there for the sake of atmosphere.

Every action is a delight to see in motion. Every character explodes with life and color. OwlboyВ pretty much puts nearly every single other indie sprite art project to shame through sheer determination and effort. ItвЂ™s nearly on the level of SNKвЂ™s heyday works like Metal Slug, but even more impressive by the virtue of being made on a shockingly low budget and with only a small handful of staff members. Everything else was completely hand done by the staff, painstakingly detailed and animated for years. OwlboyВ is an artistic marvel by just the sprite work alone, only having to take a single shortcut with the inclusion of rotations for models. Real, incredibly detailed, effects devoid sprite art.

ThereвЂ™s a lot going on with Owlboy, but the goal the team was most vocal with was making a game that proved sprite games were still viable. They even forced themselves to save money by communicating over Skype in their own homes instead of having a proper building for the studio, sacrificing their personal lives for this vision. After a lot of behind the scenes legal problems, engine headaches, a main designer leaving in 2009, and breaking to make an entirely different game for one Summer (Savant вЂ“ Ascent), the game eventually started to form and finally got a release. Director Simon Andersen was inspired by the release of the Nintendo Wii, creating a five man team from around the world and gathering awards with early build showings at various conventions. As a result of the developersвЂ™ efforts, they created the game with the goal of never having to cut corners. It started development in 2007 and finally got released in 2016. OwlboyВ was a game that took nine years to make.

Owlboy endings