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1 Set to release on June 20th, Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom is indie developer Shatterproof‘s first release.
New perspectives on old favourites…
As the perfect addition to the library of fans of Evo Explores and Monument Valley, the game combines simple yet beautiful graphics and perspective puzzles to build a mystic world and story filled with intrigue perfect for puzzle fans.
Gameplay
The demo of Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom is short yet packs a punch. With an introduction to Aarik, as well as his father, old pet and mother, the mystery of the story is present from the get go. The kingdom is already in ruin but there is not explanation for why it’s so quiet, why Derek (Aarik’s old pet) is dead and why his father refuses to wake up and get out of bed.
The controls for the game are simple, you can your keyboard or mouse to navigate your way through the hand-crafted levels of the game with ‘Q’ and ‘E’ being your way to manipulate the game perspective.
During the demo, you are introduced for a short while to the Ruby of Reconstitution, one of the magic stones you collect in the game. This allows you to move broken parts of the map to form new paths that will help you reach your goal.
Crown Collectibles
As you play through the levels, there are small golden crowns hiding on different platforms. Right now it’s unclear whether collecting everything will actually change anything in terms of story or whether it’s just another challenge for the player to deal with.
The demo was very short. Despite its length, it was easy to become immersed in the game as you make your way through the levels. The small glimpse into the story and the switch of the player character towards the end of the demo has left a lot of questions behind making me even more excited for the full release.
Graphics & Audio
Throughout the demo I was waiting for more than the plain blue background. For a while, it didn’t seem like anything was going to change. The final level that closes out the demo gives you a stunning glimpse into just how beautiful the game is going to be as you progress through the story.
There’s definitely more than meets the eye with the graphics and I’m very excited to see what other areas are waiting in the full release.
The audio is a simple music track that plays in the background. It definitely adds a layer of ambiance to the game that makes it even more captivating.
It would have been nice to see the music change as the scene moved from the castle to the garden. Whilst the background noises do help build up the atmosphere, the music feels a little out of place based on how calm the area seems to be.
Final Thoughts
The short glimpse into the world of Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom has me excited for the full release. The demo gave enough glimpses into the story that I need to find out how it ends. I’ve replayed the demo a few times now. It’s easy to sit back and relax whilst enjoying the seven levels that Shatterproof have given us.
There are more powers to uncover and the puzzles are only going to get harder. I’m excited to help Aarik find his mother and pull the family back together to save the kingdom from ruin.
You can download the demo for Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom here. Check out the full trailer below!
Looking for new games to add to your collection? Check out our entire catalogue of PC reviews here, or find my other reviews on my page!
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