Take to the skies and explore a beautiful world in this fun-filled action-platformer.
Owlboy
Developer: D-Pad Studio
Price: $24.99
Platform: PC
Set in a world made up of islands floating in the sky, Owlboy puts you in control of a young owl named Otus. Otus is mute, and his occasional mistakes earn him the undeserved wrath of his mentor, but he always tries to do the best for his community. When he and his friend Geddy go to investigate a mysterious troublemaker in the area, it leads to a sprawling adventure through the skies.
Alone, Otus can’t do much. He can fly, use a simple spin attack, and pick things up. Fortunately, the things he can pick up include his friends, who then expand his arsenal. For example, when you pick up Otus’s best friend Geddy, you can fire his weapon to shoot enemies.
Flight is also a key part of the gameplay. Unlike most platformers, Otus can fly to his heart’s content in most situations. This allows for large, open environments, although you still follow a linear progression through the world. The world is divided between large overworld areas and more linear dungeons, most of which include simple puzzles. Owlboy’s detailed, high-quality pixel art and orchestrated music create an excellent atmosphere for every location and scene.
As you explore, you’ll encounter many different types of enemies with their own weakness and behaviors, and also plenty of treasure. There are chests to open and rings to fly through, and only some are out in the open. Secret passages and false walls hide a lot of treasure, so you need to explore each area to its fullest.
Collecting treasure isn’t necessary to advance the game. However, it unlocks health upgrades for Otus, weapon upgrades for his companions, and a few hats. In addition to this basic treasure, there are also special coins that let you learn more about the world’s backstory.
Owlboy isn’t particularly difficult, so it should find a nice balance between challenge and fun for most players. Every boss battle has a trick, and part of the game’s enjoyment comes from gradually realizing what you should do in a given situation. Aside from a few stealth sections, which can be frustrating, Owlboy lets you advance through the story at a steady, exciting pace.
The story itself has ups and downs. Exciting moments and intriguing revelations are countered by an ending that raises questions and then leaves them half-answered. Owlboy’s conclusion might have been meant to be ambiguous, but feels incomplete instead. Nevertheless, the rest of the game makes up for it, with an endearing cast of characters.
Although Otus can’t speak, his posture and facial expressions convey his thoughts enough to make him lovable, and his companions are all entertaining in their own ways. Optional scenes flesh them out even more, and the only downside is that such a fantastic cast of characters deserves a more satisfactory ending to their story.
The Final Word
Owlboy fantastic, fun game filled with clever battles, collectibles, and plenty of secrets. While its ending is lackluster, the journey there is well worth it nevertheless.
– MonsterVine Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
