A rough night’s sleep.
Aaru’s Awakening is a beautiful game. The developers used hand-drawn visuals to create a stunning experience. Unfortunately, the gameplay doesn’t meet the high standards set by the impressive imagery. It’s a very challenging game rendered nearly impossible by a control scheme that never feels quite right. I love the concept behind the teleport ability, and it makes for some very creative level design. As the game progresses, it demands such precise aim and movement that the controls become a hindrance. Perhaps it’s the way I’ve been trained to play games for the past 28 years, but the left shoulder button is not the ideal input for jumping.
The weak-willed need not apply.
If you have PS Plus, you can get this game for free until the end of April. If you don’t, this one is worth a look if you see it for a discounted price. Keep in mind: the difficulty is real. I was reminded of games like OlliOlli and Trials when I played this game. For those who are up for a challenging puzzle-platformer, this might be for you. For the rest of you… Just look at the pretty screen shots and then move on.
Head over to Bruised Thumbs for my full review of Aaru’s Awakening.