Sumatra: Fate of Yandi
- May 14, 2019
- Cloak and Dagger Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Sumatra: Fate of Yandi" is a narrative-driven adventure game that follows the story of Yandi, a plantation worker in 1904 Sumatra. After a mysterious earthquake, Yandi's village is destroyed and he sets out on a journey to uncover the truth behind the disaster. Along the way, he will encounter dangerous wildlife, navigate treacherous environments and uncover a conspiracy that threatens the entire region. The game features a rich and immersive storyline, puzzles, and survival elements.
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics that create an immersive experience in the Indonesian jungle.
- Engaging story with a strong environmental message and well-designed puzzles.
- Accessible gameplay that balances challenge and enjoyment, making it suitable for both beginners and veterans of the genre.
- The game is relatively short, with some players wishing for a longer experience.
- Puzzles can be too easy for seasoned players, leading to a lack of challenge.
- The ending feels abrupt and some characters are underdeveloped, which may leave players wanting more depth.
- story80 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Sumatra: Fate of Yandi" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative, original setting, and strong environmental themes. While some players noted that the plot can feel abrupt or predictable, many appreciated the depth of character development and the balance of humor and drama throughout the game. Overall, the storytelling, combined with enjoyable puzzles and appealing visuals, makes for a compelling experience that resonates with players.
“From the beautifully illustrated characters and landscapes to the sweet, funny, and at times sombre dialogue of the characters, I think the team really portrayed the jungle and the importance of nature really well through a gripping story.”
“Thanks to a gripping story, an adorable cast of characters and puzzles with just the right amount of difficulty to keep you engaged but not frustrated, this is one of the best adventures I've played in a long time.”
“The story is great and well-thought-out, with a strong environmental (and also human-relations) message.”
“The story is pretty linear and on the short side, and the puzzle is easy enough to figure out without rocket science.”
“I appreciate the story's intention, but sadly I found it as blunt as the cover art suggests.”
“Yet, the last part of the game gets too easy with only few scattered puzzles while the story escalates too fast.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art with a retro aesthetic reminiscent of 90s adventure games, featuring a clean design that effectively conveys character and environment details. While some players noted a preference for a more vibrant color palette, the overall visuals are praised for their simplicity and ability to create an atmospheric experience, particularly in evoking the solitude of jungle settings. The combination of minimalist yet well-executed art style and a calming soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, making it a recommended choice for fans of classic point-and-click adventures.
“Cute pixel graphics with nice colors.”
“The art style is retro, but clean enough that you can get a feel for the different characters and the environment without everything becoming a mess of pixels.”
“There's a crazy amount of beautiful artwork in this game!”
“A fairly short point-and-click game with a very 90s feel to the artwork and music.”
“I would have preferred the graphics to be more vivid, since the color palette is rather dull, but it was not a deal-breaker.”
“The graphics in some spots could be sharper and some more humor would have been nice, but despite that, it's really a great adventure game when you are in the mood for something quieter.”
- music14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the retro aesthetic. While some found it charming and fitting for the game's setting, others felt it lacked immersion and could be repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack effectively supports the gameplay experience, contributing to the nostalgic feel of the adventure.
“Another thing I liked about this game, which Cloak and Dagger always do well, is choosing/creating a really cool set of music tracks that bring the whole game together.”
“Such a unique setting with great music and gorgeous pixel art of the wildlife.”
“The high point is how the game captures the feeling of exploring a jungle with excellent alternating use of music, silence, and nature sounds, and lovely pixel-art animated animal close-ups.”
“It's an ok play experience - the visuals, story, sound, objectives, and music - it's all ok (though the end feels a bit abrupt).”
“To be fair, a few charming details do remain in memory - the 'sun bear' and 'romantic' theme music, the scared orangutan, Kevin - but you can't miss those and there is no reward for exploration nor reason to replay.”
“Music/sound is not outstanding but doesn't detract from the game.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its well-designed world, which captures a genuine local feel within majestic jungle settings, creating a sense of solitude and adventure. The charming graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, and engaging puzzles contribute to a fable-like ambiance that appeals to both veterans and newcomers of the point-and-click genre. Overall, the immersive environment and thoughtful integration of story and gameplay enhance the overall experience.
“Its lovely world has a genuine local atmosphere, the design avoids pixel hunting, dialogues are decent, controls are responsive, and Yandi is an adorable protagonist.”
“There's very little bad to be said about the graphics, and the game does a good job of bringing a certain atmosphere of solitude in the jungle.”
“Great puzzles, integrated with the story; great pace, great atmospheric setting, gives you a real sense of adventure; not linear; not too verbose; not too easy; the amount of animation is impressive.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as decent, with a mix of old-school mechanics and a story that improves as the game progresses, particularly towards the end. However, players should be cautious with resolution settings to avoid crashes, as there is no auto-save feature, which can detract from the overall experience.
“Nevertheless, if you just don't try to mess with the resolution settings and therefore don't lose your progress because of a crash since there isn't any auto-save mechanic as far as I'm concerned, you ought to enjoy your perhaps a bit short time with the game, especially towards the latter end of it since once it picks up the pace, it reaches its very best.”
“Otherwise you would be constantly facing unreasonable gameplay design.”
“Mechanics are very old school.”
“It's a decent story with decent gameplay.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotionally impactful storyline, featuring heartbreaking events that resonate deeply with players. Set against the backdrop of Sumatra, it combines a well-researched narrative with a wholesome experience, fostering a strong connection to the characters and their struggles. Overall, players find it evokes emotions comparable to those experienced in a good movie.
“Great storyline and heartbreaking events... I'm not giving you spoilers; you will understand when you see it.”
“A tight and surprisingly emotional game about two underpaid, overworked forest loggers lost in the jungles of Sumatra.”
“I would say this had as much emotional impact as a good movie.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, requiring significant time investment for minimal interaction and progress. While some appreciate the sense of exploration, many feel that the repetitive mechanics, such as the rock-paper-scissors game, can be mentally exhausting and detract from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I pity them as they will have to go through a mind-numbingly tedious rock-paper-scissors game that will destroy their psyche like nothing else can.”
“While there are quite a few minimal objects to interact with, some might find it tedious to mill about with all the walking to be done getting from point A to point B; however, it does bring a genuine feel of exploration.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by sweet and occasionally somber dialogue that effectively captures the essence of the jungle and nature. While it may not be particularly clever or laugh-out-loud funny, the dialogue feels realistic and relatable, contributing to the charm of the main character, who is portrayed as a nice and resourceful individual.
“From the beautifully illustrated characters and landscapes to the sweet, funny, and at times somber dialogue of the characters, I think the team really portrayed the jungle and the importance of nature well through a gripping story.”
“It's not super clever or super funny, but I did not find lines that egregiously felt unrealistic for people to say, considering the limitations of a pick-your-dialogue adventure game versus realistic conversation. I like the main character - he's somewhat plain, but he's a nice and resourceful guy without being a hero or supernaturally capable in any sense.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its stability, with users reporting no bugs or glitches, leading to a strong recommendation.
