Ayo: A Rain Tale
- November 9, 2017
- Inkline Ltd.
Get on SteamEmbark on a perilous journey to help Ayo fetch water for her family. Overcome challenges as you explore Sub-Saharan Africa in a daily daunting chore, gaining skills and wisdom along the way. Experience Ayo's harsh environment as she braves the unforgiving drought in this adventure platformer.
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Mac OS
PC
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Reviews
- Ayo: A Rain Tale features stunning visuals and a beautifully crafted world that enhances the emotional weight of the story.
- The game effectively raises awareness about the struggles faced by women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa in their quest for clean water.
- The narrative is poignant and thought-provoking, encouraging players to reflect on real-world issues while navigating Ayo's journey.
- The platforming mechanics are frustrating, with overly precise jumps and sluggish controls that can lead to frequent, tedious deaths.
- The gameplay often feels punishing rather than challenging, detracting from the overall enjoyment and emotional impact of the story.
- The camera and movement mechanics can be disorienting, making it difficult to navigate levels and leading to unnecessary frustration.
- gameplay19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the mechanics frustrating and tedious, particularly due to challenging platforming elements that can overshadow the narrative. While some appreciate the artistic design and the introduction of unique mechanics, the overall experience often shifts from enjoyment to frustration, making it feel more like a chore than a rewarding journey. Despite its potential, the gameplay struggles to effectively convey its intended message, leaving players feeling exhausted rather than engaged.
“There are more special mechanics for Ayo to learn later, all of which are introduced one at a time.”
“The cling mechanic is great for the most part – this enables Ayo to reach platforms that seem unreachable.”
“Its art style complements each area perfectly – it’s easy on the eyes but never gets in the way of gameplay.”
“But the gameplay grows tiresome; the challenge tires.”
“However, the gameplay's design is marred by frustrating platforming mechanics.”
“The poetic narrative of Ayo’s struggle is overshadowed by the repetitiveness of its gameplay, turning what could be a heartfelt journey into a test of patience.”
- story12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story of "ayo: a rain tale" centers on a girl's quest to bring water to her drought-stricken land, serving as a poignant metaphor for real-world struggles faced by many. While the narrative is compelling and beautifully crafted, some players find the gameplay mechanics challenging and the overall experience can feel exhausting, potentially overshadowing the story's impact. The game is particularly appealing to younger audiences, though older players may find it less engaging after the initial experience.
“A story of survival, daring and bold.”
“The story that sets this world apart.”
“This is a story of one girl’s struggle, and a metaphor for the real struggle that millions of real girls go through on a daily basis.”
“Just don’t expect a difficult game or a story-centric one.”
“This isn’t a fun, lighthearted platformer even though it plays similarly; this is a story of one girl’s struggle, and a metaphor for the real struggle that millions of real girls go through on a daily basis.”
“Not much once the story is done and small blue things are collected; I don't think I’d play through more than three to four times.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their striking beauty and painterly art style, which enhances the overall aesthetic and complements the various environments. While some users noted that the character design could be improved to better fit the art style, the visuals are generally considered easy on the eyes and effectively support the gameplay experience. However, there are mixed feelings about the level design, with some finding it flat and less engaging despite the stunning artwork and music.
“The visuals are striking, a world so divine.”
“You don’t have to struggle with the camera to realize that 'Ayo: A Rain Tale' has a beautiful aesthetic.”
“Its art style complements each area perfectly – it’s easy on the eyes but never gets in the way of gameplay.”
“The character you play could also use some work; she doesn't fit in with the art style around her.”
“Despite a painterly art style, the first level is entrenched in realism: you can jump only so far, and sun-baked rocks and trees form simple platforming puzzles, set against a backdrop that looks like a still-life painting of an African landscape.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game features an African beat that intensifies during boss fights, creating a notable atmosphere, especially at the title screen. However, players have pointed out inconsistencies, with music often absent during gameplay and only returning at specific moments, leading to a lack of engagement. When present, the music is charming and complements the artwork, enhancing the overall experience despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“The music has an African beat to it and rises in a threatening tone during the boss fights.”
“The background music plays softly in the background, peacefully existing there until you decide to notice it.”
“When the music is present, it does have charm.”
“The game is slow, there is no music; sometimes the zoom is too close and you can't see where you are supposed to land.”
“One of the most puzzling things about this game is the music, or the lack thereof.”
“Music is present on the menu, but it stops once you get control and only returns for certain parts of the game.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong emotional themes and beautiful art, effectively conveying a powerful message. However, the repetitive nature of gameplay and the frequent animations of the protagonist's death can diminish the emotional impact, making the experience feel more tedious than heartfelt. The final level is noted as particularly poignant, offering a deeply moving conclusion when viewed beyond mere gameplay achievements.
“The emotional weight, the theme so strong.”
“The game beautifully portrays a world filled with colorful art and a powerful emotional message.”
“With the last level absolutely heartbreaking if you think about it in a light that isn’t to get an achievement.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while some describe it as tedious and lethargic, they also acknowledge that this deliberate pacing serves a thematic purpose, enhancing the overall message of the game.
“For when gameplay becomes a tedious chore.”
“The last level is a lethargic, tedious trek from one piece of life-giving shadow to the next, and I say that with the highest praise.”
“It’s lethargic and tedious (though not difficult or frustrating) because it needs to be to really drive home the point that the game is making.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking, others rate it quite high, suggesting that it offers enough content or variation to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“The replay value is outstanding, with multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel fresh.”
“I love how every decision I make leads to different outcomes, encouraging me to replay the game to explore all the possibilities.”
“The variety of character builds and strategies keeps me coming back for more, making each session feel unique.”
“Not much replayability.”
“Replay value = 8.”
