Imp of the Sun

54%
Game Brain Score Based on 36 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Imp of the Sun Game Cover
Not the most original game to come out of the genre, Imp of the Sun is still a fun time that presents a setting not often seen in games, and the hand-drawn art style is definitely in need of appreciation.
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In Imp of the Sun, play as Nin, an Imp created from the Sun's final spark, on a mission to defeat the Four Keepers and restore the Sun's power, ending the Eternal Eclipse. Explore a stunning Peruvian-inspired world, and use your Inner Fire, the power of the Sun, to bring back light and balance to the Empire. This non-linear 2D Action-platformer offers fast-paced combat and exploration.

  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

54%
Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews
graphics8 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and a compelling soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
  • It offers a fair progression in difficulty, with plenty of secrets and enjoyable boss battles that provide a sense of achievement.
  • The setting is unique, drawing from Peruvian mythology, which adds cultural depth and richness to the story.
  • The controls are often described as terrible, with issues like fixed jump height and awkward movement mechanics that detract from gameplay.
  • Steam achievements are broken and not syncing, leading to frustration for players who enjoy completing challenges.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players finishing it in around 5-7 hours, which may not justify its price for some.
  • graphics15 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and appealing hand-drawn art style that many players appreciate, though it lacks the polish of titles like Hollow Knight or Ori. While the visuals are generally solid, some users noted limitations such as minimal frame animations and a lack of graphic options, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the art style and music contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, making it enjoyable for some players.

    • “I love the art style; the music is great and the combat is okay at least.”
    • “The art style is cute and nice.”
    • “The art style is quite unique, and I like the hand-drawn style very much.”
    • “The animated sprites look like they have very little frames, and the cutscenes are mostly static artworks with some animated zoom and distortion.”
    • “However, there are literally no graphic options, and the game seems to be locked at 60 fps, which appears to be a solid 59-60 on my display. However, I get some little stutter effects, which seems odd; I don't notice any drop in frame rates (except during loading screens).”
    • “Missing most basic graphic options like resolution, framerate, and vsync.”
  • gameplay9 mentions

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the fast-paced controls and open exploration typical of metroidvania titles, while others find issues with unskippable dialogue and frustrating boss mechanics. While the platforming and combat are generally fun, the lack of depth and some technical hiccups, like the dash mechanic, detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game has potential, and with improvements, future titles from the developers could be more successful.

    • “Short but sweet little metroidvania. After the tutorial segment, the entire game map immediately opens up and lets you go off in one of four directions. The controls are fast and fairly solid (the dash mechanic doesn't like going diagonal, but that was the biggest issue I had), and the platforming and combat, while never super deep, are pretty fun.”
    • “A solid game, with solid visuals, and solid gameplay.”
    • “Great mechanics and storyline, all around 5/5.”
    • “Aside from that, the character dialogue can't be skipped as far as I can tell, and that's not a problem until you need to chat with the character that's both the level-up and warp mechanic. I'm no stranger to 'bearer seek seek lest,' but that got old really fast. Maybe there was a skip button?”
    • “Also, the achievements don't seem to work as of writing this review. I found this out after a frustrating boss fight that used a lot of the mechanics I described above. It's not a big deal if I were having oodles of fun, but I just wasn't.”
    • “I don't want to spoil any mechanics, but the bosses range from 'easy, but high HP and infinite heals for the player' to 'annoying but two good combos will kill it rather quickly' to 'undodgeable attacks without any chance of healing.'”
  • story8 mentions

    The story is praised for its intriguing narrative and cultural depth, effectively utilizing unique storytelling devices like quipus. Players appreciate the compelling characters, beautiful visuals, and emotional resonance, all of which enhance the overall gameplay experience. The combination of engaging mechanics and a well-crafted storyline contributes to a highly rated experience.

    • “Great mechanics and storyline, all around 5/5.”
    • “I got what I was hoping for, but I also got a story from a culture I know next to nothing about that was told to me in a compelling manner on top of some quality gameplay.”
    • “From the colorful characters, to the beautiful backgrounds, and from the whimsical music to the heartfelt story.”
    • “I especially liked using the quipus as a storytelling device because they recorded information in real life as well!”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its whimsical and heartfelt qualities, enhancing the overall experience alongside the vibrant art style and engaging story. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, making it a compelling reason to try the game.

    • “From the colorful characters to the beautiful backgrounds, and from the whimsical music to the heartfelt story.”
    • “If you're interested in a game that has a good story and an amazing soundtrack, then you should definitely try this game.”
    • “I love the art style, the music is great, and the combat is okay at least.”
    • “The whimsical music feels out of place and doesn't match the game's tone.”
    • “The soundtrack lacks variety and quickly becomes repetitive.”
    • “While the visuals are stunning, the music fails to leave a lasting impression.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt story and vibrant presentation, including colorful characters and beautiful backgrounds, which together create a whimsical and engaging experience. However, some users express frustration, indicating that technical issues detract from their emotional connection to the game.

    • “From the colorful characters, to the beautiful backgrounds, and from the whimsical music to the heartfelt story.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players have noted that while grinding for achievements, particularly the "no leveling" one, there are frustrating oversights in the game's design that detract from the experience.

    • “When grinding for the 'No Leveling' achievement, I started to notice some annoying oversights.”
    • “The grinding feels repetitive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I spent hours grinding for resources, only to realize it was all for a lackluster reward.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers generally find the game's replayability to be high, citing diverse gameplay options, multiple endings, and varying character paths that encourage players to experience the game multiple times. Additionally, the inclusion of unlockable content and challenges further enhances the incentive to replay. Overall, players appreciate the depth and variety that keep the game fresh with each playthrough.

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Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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