Beyond The Edge Of Owlsgard
- September 6, 2021
- WatchDaToast
Beyond The Edge Of Owlsgard is a 2D pixel art metroidvania game. You play as a young adventurer exploring a mysterious forest, solving puzzles, and battling creatures to uncover the truth about your past. With upgrades to your abilities and equipment, delve deeper into the sprawling world and discover its many secrets.
Reviews
- Charming and engaging story with well-developed characters and excellent voice acting.
- Puzzles are mostly fair and enjoyable, striking a good balance between challenge and accessibility.
- Beautiful pixel art and animations that evoke nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventure games.
- Some puzzles can be obscure or rely on 'moon logic', leading to frustration for players.
- The pacing and coherence of the story decline in the later chapters, with some plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped.
- Minor bugs and translation issues detract from the overall experience, including occasional graphical glitches and awkward dialogue.
- story60 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in this point-and-click adventure game is generally praised for its engaging narrative, charming characters, and a blend of humor and fantasy elements. While some reviewers noted pacing issues and occasional exposition dumps, the overall plot is described as captivating and well-written, with a satisfying mix of puzzles that enhance the storytelling experience. The game's art direction and voice acting also received positive mentions, contributing to a nostalgic yet fresh adventure that resonates with fans of the genre.
“A wonderful little point and click adventure with a very engrossing story.”
“The story is captivating.”
“The story is awesome and unique, the music score is very well done, and the voice-overs worked great for the cast of characters.”
“There is almost no reason to open up with a prologue scene of the owl library being burned down when Finn's story happens 500 years after that fact.”
“The story could kind of drag on in places with too much exposition dump, and the voice acting (especially of the main character) was subpar.”
“A game like Beyond the Edge of Owlsgard misses the mark for me, as the presentation, no matter how pretty, does not cover for its lackluster story and game-breaking bugs.”
- music18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchiness and thematic depth, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a range of emotions from whimsical to spooky. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the game's aesthetics and narrative, with well-executed voice acting that further enriches the atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and polish.
“The soundtrack really did a lot to complement the aesthetics of the game, and the voice acting was well done.”
“Every feeling from whimsical, to morose, to spooky, to grim is captured excellently in the music!”
“The music absolutely completes every location.”
“However, while some games may be cheaper and offer an equivalent length of content, Owlsgard is a well-polished title where you can tell a lot of care and love went into every part: the animations, voice acting, music, visuals, characters, puzzles, and story.”
“The music, sound effects, and full voice acting are also amazing, with only one or two voices in the German version feeling a little 'flat' compared to what the expressive art style and cartoony animations demand of them – the English voice cast is better in this regard.”
“It reminded me of Legend of Kyrandia 2, which has this dark vibe (and there are similarities in art style, music, etc).”
- graphics18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many praising the charming pixel art and fluid animations that evoke nostalgia for classic point-and-click titles. However, some users noted technical issues, such as character models failing to load properly, and expressed frustration with the sometimes unclear visual cues that hinder puzzle-solving. Overall, while the art style is appreciated for its detail and homage to retro games, it also faces criticism for its blockiness and occasional lack of clarity.
“Art style is pleasant.”
“Wonderfully done point and click game, with great pixel art, fluid animations, and good graphics, writing and voice acting.”
“This is a beautiful homage to point-and-click adventure games of old, with wonderfully detailed pixel graphics and a slew of puzzles with weird, roundabout solutions that only make sense in the game.”
“And there were points where the graphics failed to load, where Finn's whole body from the neck down disappeared or when his sprite was replaced by the magpie guard.”
“Imo, this all could have been better without the blocky pixelated art style that's been used by a lot of indie games, but to me, the novelty has worn off.”
“The graphics really feel like they were made in the 90's.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, featuring snarky dialogue and whimsical interactions that evoke nostalgia for classic adventure titles. Players appreciate the blend of lightheartedness with darker themes, as well as the unique responses from characters that enhance the overall experience. The writing, combined with engaging storytelling and delightful pixel art, creates a memorable and entertaining atmosphere throughout the game.
“The snarky remarks that Finn makes made me laugh, such as making fun of the 'main villain.'”
“Wonderful retro point-and-click adventure with awesome pixel art, animations, humor, and puzzles!”
“The humor is top-notch.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as classic and adheres closely to established point-and-click mechanics without significant innovation. While the flow is generally good and the character design and voice acting are praised, the gameplay lacks variety, with only a few moments of unique interaction. Overall, it offers a simple yet engaging experience that keeps players curious about the story.
“Nice classic gameplay.”
“The locales are nice and the flow of gameplay is good, for the most part.”
“Its story, while simple, still kept me asking questions; its gameplay doesn't innovate on the point-and-click genre but instead sticks to what was established.”
“There's the cover boy and girl (owl and the wolf), and while the owl hangs around with you for a big chunk of the game, there's no Gobliiins-style gameplay here apart from very few select points.”
“I love the characters' design and voice acting, lore, and gameplay mechanics.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its nostalgic sound design reminiscent of old PC adventure games, complemented by brilliant art direction and animated backgrounds that enhance immersion. The combination of catchy melodies, good voice acting, and a compelling story further enriches the overall experience, making it a standout in its genre.
“The atmosphere is top-notch and very lovely.”
“It emulates the sound of old PC adventure game soundtracks with a heavy atmosphere and features lots of catchy melodies.”
“Great art direction and atmosphere; the backgrounds are especially brilliant and full of animation that brings the world to life.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of intrigue and frustration regarding grinding in the game. While the desire to explore the narrative and uncover the mysteries of the wasteland is strong, the grinding elements, particularly in puzzle-solving, can feel tedious and overly obscure, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
“The puzzles start becoming even more obscure for the sake of obscurity: having to interact with out-of-focus elements on the edge of the screen, things on the screen being mislabeled, etc. It just started feeling tedious and not enjoyable.”
“I didn't actually find the 'classic' mode all that difficult, just a bit tedious at times.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming story, lovable characters, and a blend of humor and whimsy that keeps players engaged. The retro aesthetic and satisfying puzzles complement the touching interactions and memorable moments, creating a deeply immersive experience. Overall, players find themselves emotionally invested in the narrative and its charming elements.
“The story is heartwarming, it's funny, the characters are lovable, the music is great, and the puzzles are satisfying.”
“With Beyond the Edge of Owlsgard, I recall every funny moment, touching interaction, clue I figured out, and character name. I'm finding myself totally engrossed in this brilliant game; it tells a story so flawlessly interjected with moments of whimsy, fear, spookiness, and some lore!”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Despite being released nearly two years ago, the game still suffers from bugs and lacks the polish expected from a mature title, leading to a perception of instability among users.
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, noting the availability of modern and classic modes, as well as achievements, which provide opportunities for extended enjoyment even after completing the main storyline.
“The game offers a fantastic replayability factor with multiple endings and character choices that make each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With various difficulty levels and unlockable content, I find myself coming back to this game time and time again, discovering new strategies and experiences.”
“I got a little bummed out because it ended, but luckily there's some replay value to be had with its modern/classic modes and the achievements. Here's to a few more hours of joy!”
“After finishing the game, I felt like there wasn't much incentive to play again. The story doesn't change, and the side quests feel repetitive.”
“While the game was enjoyable, I found that once I completed it, there wasn't enough variety to draw me back for a second playthrough.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's English voice acting is highly praised, with users noting that the performances are vibrant and dramatic, contributing positively to the overall experience.