Developer: Round2Games
Publisher: Round2Games
Platform: PS4, PS5, PC, Switch
Tested on: PS4
Guardian of Lore – Review
Released on Steam back in May of last year, it took a few months before Guardian of Lore made its way to PlayStation and other consoles. Now it’s here and we were happy to take a look at the passion project and the first release of indie studio Round2Games. This 2D action-platformer takes clear inspiration from many classic games and Latin American folklore; while adding its own unique touches to form an experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
Story
As with any good fantasy epic, the game begins with an opening cutscene that features painted pictures. We are told of an ancient, ruthless king who had taken over most of the land with his armies. His two sons grew weary of their father’s crimes and decided to usurp him. One son became the new king, much more merciful and liked by the people. The other son dedicated his life to building a library instead, writing down and protecting the lore of the civilizations his father had destroyed. Many years later, our main character, prince Sayri, does not think this story is more than a legend, until he finds himself in the possession of a magic locket that pulls him into this lore, literally.
The story is cleverly divided into ‘books’, representing the different tales Sayri travels through. This way, each level almost works as its own distinct adventure.
Graphics
Guardian of Lore has a unique 2D art style that is pleasing to the eye, with the exception of the UI. The character and enemy designs are great, the above-mentioned cutscene art is absolutely gorgeous, and the watercolored backgrounds of the setting are stunning. Sadly, it gets overshadowed by the clunky health bar, the inventory menu, and other UI elements that look as if they belong on a cheap mobile game. This is not a big issue, but still a rather distracting eyesore. What is very nice to note is how the art was clearly inspired by the original legends the story bases itself on.
Sound
We were treated to some great music in this game. The entire soundtrack is a mix of orchestral music and autochthonous instruments. Just like with the art, you can tell the devs were thinking within the theme of this game’s aesthetic, making it so the art, soundtrack, and plot all work together as one cohesive. There’s a bit of voice acting in the game’s cutscenes, but it’s neither egregiously bad nor exceptionally good.
Gameplay
Guardian of Lore is a 2D action platformer that sets itself apart from other games in this genre by adding some unexpected depth. All the normal basics of these games are present: playing as prince Sayri you will need to jump, run, and fight your way through various sections of lore inspired by legends. The fighting is done intuitively, by blocking and attacking depending on the enemy’s moves. The creatures you will face, the weapons you will find, the traps you parkour over, it all changes with the levels. At first, you’ll be using a normal sword and shield combo to push your way through the levels, but soon the game reveals it has more in store for the player.
First, there is the magic system. Casting spells will require you to get into a casting stance first, then push a unique sequence of buttons. Since forming the spell itself also takes time, you can’t just run around spamming fireballs, but actually have to fight cleverly so an enemy doesn’t attack you while you’re trying to use magic. The items in the game also come with an elemental system. For example, wood has a buff against electricity. Switching gear to deal with certain dangers is key. Small touches like these make the game more complex, instead of simply having you run around mashing buttons.
Defeating enemies – and later the special bosses who also have their own distinct mechanics – will earn you knowledge, which you can spend on new abilities and gear. You can change what you bring with you to a level, and the game gets an entirely different feel when you do, rewarding the player for discovering their own preferences. Another fun feature is how the legends you travel through are altered depending on how you play the level and what actions you take, even going so far as to unlock different endings. The controls were optimized for a controller in the first place, so the console version of the game works excellently. There’s a minor problem where the hitboxes of enemies seem to be a little off, but beyond that, this is an excellent port.
Conclusion
Guardian of Lore offers us an interesting journey into traditional Latin-American folklore, hitting the nail on the head with its great art style and soundtrack. While some minor complaints do pop up, the game still does enough to stand out from the crowd of similar games in its respective genre. When looking at the developer’s future plans, this might only be the beginning.
Guardian of Lore - Review,
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