by ted2112, HSM team writer

Ubisoft Montreal’s new game, Child of Light, can be summed up in one word: enchanting.

Child of Light is one part RPG, one part indie artistic masterpiece. Child of Light is a slick digital fairytale with a refreshing storyline that supports fun and intuitive game play.

Ubisoft has wonderfully balanced an intimate tale within the parameters of an RPG. Unlike most role-playing games, where the fate of the universe and everything in it depends on a desperate and dark struggle, Child of Light show us a world of vibrant watercolor where our hero, Aurora, traverses an enchanting landscape of wonder.

The Story: Child of Light, at its heart, is a coming-of-age tale. Aurora awakens to a world where the sun, moon and stars have been stolen by an evil queen. Aurora must find the missing bodies of light with the help of companions she meets and befriends along the way. The story is told via prose that rhymes in the manner of a children’s book, which makes Child of Light almost leap out of a fairytale.

Game Mechanics: Child of Light is a 2D side-scroller, however you can maneuver in any direction. The battle system works on the classic RPG hit point/magic point system; leveling up and assigning skill points are vital to the game. Child of Light takes this seemingly complicated game management and makes it simple with a refreshing system that never gets in the way of the story.

Engine: Child of light was done on the in-house UbiArt Framework engine, and it dazzles. The look of the game radiates light in soft pastels. Unlike some game development software like the Unreal Engine that can give everything a wet look, the UbiArt engine give a warm vibrant feel that is perfect for Child of Light.

Child of Light represents everything that is great about indie gaming. Instead of going for extreme realism, it instead follows it own artistic vision, keeping the game in a dreamlike state that flows from beginning to end. I found it a delight not only on the eyes, but the ears with an amazing original score by Beatrice Martin, better know by her stage handle Coeur De Pirate (Pirate Heart). The score of Child of Light is an interwoven piano tapestry that supports and conveys  the emotional  mood of the game using classical instrumentation as well as modern themes.   The soundtrack is amazing in itself and is available on most music download sites like iTunes and Google Play.

Not since Giant Sparrow’s Unfinished Swan have I been so swept up in such a delightfully immersive playable tale. Child of Light is an affordable adventure priced at $15.00 USD and is available for both the PS3 and PS4 in the PlayStation Store.

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