‘Seasons After Fall’ Review (PS4)
To keep platform games fresh, many focus more on the puzzle element rather than killing the character with endless monsters looking for blood. Seasons After Fall is one of those games that uses the puzzle element more, and provides a nice relaxing walk through the seasons.
The best way to go into the game is with no knowledge of what to expect, so I’m not going to give away any elements of the story, other than of course you control a fox. This fox gains control over the seasons within the levels allowing it for more and more interactivity as the game progresses. With these different seasons bring different hues to the colours of what were already impressive scenes. It is easy to fall in love with Seasons After Fall, even without playing the game. The hand-painted graphics are beautiful and the cute little fox in which you inhabit is cute enough to make you easily fall in love with it. The animations are beautiful, especially with the fox who has plenty of character.
The mechanics of the game make it easy to switch through the seasons, with the different weather it brings creating new ways to progress through each level. It almost becomes second sense to drift through each season needed so that progress can be made. With a lack of death, it makes for a peaceful game without much stress. There is no hand holding in the game, so there are times that the puzzles can confuse, but with a little exploration it isn’t long before you find the little element of the puzzles that was hiding, and progress can be made.
It may seem strange at a time when bloody first person shooters, and violent role-playing games dominate the gaming landscape that a game like this deserves attention, but the thing is, we need games that are a little different. That is why there is so much variety, especially in the indie game side where things can be a little more innovative when it comes to game design. Seasons After Fall wants to tell a story, and wants to wow you with beautiful graphics, and it does its job well. It would be nice if the game lasted longer, but in truth it doesn’t need to. The story it tells pushes the player to want to conclude the story of the little fox, and see the conclusion, and without spoiling it, it is a voyage that is well worth taking.
While we tend to think of vast 3D worlds when it comes to the PlayStation 4, the less graphically needy games like Seasons After Fall can utilise the power of the console to create some truly impressive graphics and not lose performance. This allows for the game to be fully immersive, and above all fun.
Games like Seasons After Fall offer some peace within all the chaos, and help us escape the stress of life. If you want to play a game that just lets you relax, and looks beautiful while doing it, then this is one you should take a look at.
****½ 4.5/5
Seasons After Fall is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC now.
