Set to drop in July 2019, Lost Ember has been teased for a number of years with early praise setting expectations high for this unusual video game. First appearances should earn it a stop on your most anticipated games of the summer.
Here’s a bit more from the creators:
“Your spirit companion – once part of an ancient civilization – now guides you through a world that nature has reclaimed. Together you will find memories scattered throughout the land that will help you understand what happened to the old world and to your companion.”
The trailer really offers a lot to be excited about for experienced gamers and newcomers of all ages.
Here are some of standout pieces.
Concept
The past year has seen a lot of releases in the way of guns and monsters. Lost Ember depicts an atmospheric unraveling of lore, myth and magic.
While playing as an animal isn’t a new concept, a mysterious plot seems to be the promised difference. Nothing against puzzle games or cartoon-y action (I’m ride or die for Crash Bandicoot), but Mooneye sees the potential in animal protagonists. I get the feeling that we’ll learn more about the human civilization in this game playing as a wolf spirit, than a person. (If there isn’t an allegory about mankind and destruction then I’ll need to see another trailer as proof).
There’s something that’s vaguely triggering memories of Myst. I’m not sure if it’s the art, mysteriously abandoned world or the music but I’m 100% here for it.
Gameplay
The multitude of playable creatures is a strong check in the pros column. I love a good FPS but after you’ve played Call of Duty for 20,000 hours, there isn’t much of a difference playing on the Xbox or PS4. Frankly, there’s not much of a learning curve jumping between military games in general…..
The capability to change between animals, acquire new abilities and thus reveal new information about the world is a refreshing use of game mechanics. While it presents the potential to bog down players with too many moves and abilities, I don’t foresee Lost Ember suffering from that. Unless we’re needing to memorize different attack combos to punch a bison, changes will hopefully be minimal yet novel.
Mooneye Studios says it’ll take five to six hours to complete Lost Ember. For a primarily exploration based game that seems like a fair amount of time. For kids and adults, it’s long enough to immerse yourself in the world without getting bored.
Breathtaking Art
I’m most excited to experience this game due to the art. While obviously not based in the realism we’re seeing from many modern games, artist Maximilian Jasionowski has created an beautiful ethos for Lost Ember.
It reminds me of games from the 2000s or early 2010s, yet more refined.
Jasionowski’s style is perfect for exploring a natural albeit magical world. His creations are detailed and expressive with unique touches to character design. Based on the materials currently released, this is best achieved in his folklore-inspired wolf.
Mooneye Stuidios also promises lush and varied locations. Prepare to explore densely wooded forests, barren deserts archaic temples and vibrant coral reefs to name a few. In combination with the music, the team has crafted a believable world.
I love absolutely love that indie studios take more artistic risks. Even though the technology is there to built a visually realistic game, this unique art style feels more immersive. It has the potential to be just as engaging as the plot.
Coming to a Screen Near You
The gorgeous adventure game is the German studio’s first. The team of five partially funded Lost Ember on Kickstarter beginning in 2016 where they raised over $364,000. Dropping July 19, the game will be available for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A Switch release is promised later this year.
