Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth

About

"Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth" is a third-person action-adventure game with a non-linear story, where players control three protagonists with unique abilities. The game is set in an overgrown fantasy landscape, where players must explore, combat enemies, and solve puzzles to bring balance to the forest. The game is inspired by N64-era classics and supports various controllers.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth screenshot

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews

graphics12 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

The game features charming visuals and a nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, particularly Wind Waker.
The exploration aspect is enjoyable, with a variety of puzzles and collectibles that encourage players to investigate the world.
The narrative and character interactions are engaging, with a unique story that adds depth to the gameplay experience.

The combat system is clunky and unrefined, often leading to frustrating encounters due to poor hit detection and awkward controls.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with character movement and camera angles that can disrupt gameplay.
There is a lack of polish in various mechanics, such as the inability to remap controls and inconsistent weapon durability, which detracts from the overall experience.

graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The graphics of the game are generally described as colorful and charming, drawing heavy inspiration from "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker," though some players note a janky, low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of older titles. While the visuals are appealing and vibrant, they can be surprisingly demanding on hardware, leading to mixed feelings about performance. Overall, the art style is appreciated for its nostalgic qualities, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The graphics are colorful and enjoyable.”
- “The graphics are masterfully set up, and the camera angles and focus points are spot on.”
- “The aesthetic is nice, clearly inspired by Wind Waker but trying to modernize it in some ways, and it's colorful and pleasant to look at with decently diverse areas overall.”
- “Don't be fooled by the supposed 'low-poly' graphics; this game gives my computer with a 2080 a fever.”
- “In line with the poor choice of audience and console peasantry, the graphics are really janky low poly, despite a 2016 release.”
- “The graphics are okay; again, it looks like a PS2 game.”
story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
56%
12%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it imaginative and engaging, while others describe it as lackluster and basic. Key elements include a quest to save a character from a crystal prison and interactions with forest spirits, but the narrative is often criticized for its awkward writing and minimal dialogue. Overall, while the story may not be the game's strongest aspect, it provides a decent framework for the gameplay experience.
- “Tavian becomes a warden after Nyona begs him for assistance, leading him on a quest to locate the other wardens and free her from her crystal-bound prison.”
- “The storyline is strong and engaging, the world you're immersed in is vast and has been developed in a way to allow players to explore and discover in however way they choose, but it is also beautifully made in terms of presentation and the design of the main characters and the different elements that make up this world.”
- “I'm loving it so far and can't wait till I get further in and unravel the wonderful story that's being told, definitely would recommend this game!!”
- “The story leaves a lot to be desired with only a few lines of dialogue to provide the player with some form of objective and cohesion.”
- “The story was lackluster in its writing/narrative and the ending was bland.”
- “The overall story isn't that impressive.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
53%
16%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the calming soundtrack and its fit within the environment, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Many noted issues with sound design, particularly the abrupt transitions between different music styles and the intrusive noise of sound effects. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it often detracts from the gaming experience rather than enhancing it.
- “All things considered, I liked Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth due to its quite neat plot, lovely settings, and calming soundtrack.”
- “The town music though, very good and really makes it feel like a welcoming area in the game.”
- “The accompanying soundtrack is fitting and works harmoniously with the game.”
- “Within a couple of hours, I muted the music and played my own tracks and reduced the volume of the sound effects because the noises of the wardens were annoying.”
- “Sound design isn't great; weapons are unnecessarily noisy and the transition between overworld music and battle music is incredibly awkward. The music is all kind of forgettable too.”
- “The music has an effect of bringing you out of the experience; it is charming on the surface but quickly grows repetitive and almost obnoxious.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
Gameplay in the game is characterized by a mix of clunky combat mechanics and creative enemy designs, leading to a challenging yet sometimes frustrating experience. While the mechanics can feel unpolished and buggy, they offer a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles like "Ocarina of Time" and "Banjo-Kazooie," with unique elements such as a collection system that sets it apart. Overall, the gameplay is solid but marred by issues that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The monsters are creative, the enemies are tough but fun to fight. The fighting mechanic is a little rough to get used to at first, but once you've got the hang of it, it's interesting.”
- “If you want a gameplay experience to remind you of the good old days with Banjo-Kazooie, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, or even Wind Waker, with many fun and modern twists and enhancements, this is the game for you.”
- “The gameplay, though rough, is pretty solid and thus far is about the same level of challenge you would get from Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask.”
- “The combat mechanics are slow, clunky, unsatisfying, and buggy.”
- “Nevertheless, the game will drag on because of flawed mechanics, a shaky fighting system, and a clear mismatch between the setting and the narrative.”
- “Some mechanics are difficult to control to the point of irritation and the game will kill you a number of times because of faults with the physics engine whereby you will maintain your momentum when you jump, so if you start sliding off something the traditional method of jumping to get a better foothold won't work.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game's stability is marked by a range of bugs and glitches, particularly affecting combat mechanics and puzzle interactions, which can lead to frustrating experiences. While some issues are manageable and do not significantly hinder gameplay, players have reported needing to reload games due to these bugs. Overall, the game is playable but exhibits noticeable instability that detracts from the experience.
- “Runs great on Ubuntu Mate 16.04 with no issues.”
- “The combat mechanics are slow, clunky, unsatisfying, and buggy.”
- “Most of the puzzles were a good level of complexity, but some involving the movable blocks were buggy and inconsistent with their ability to get onto and trigger pressure plates.”
- “The game has its glitches; I had to reload my game a couple of times because of them.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the empty spaces in the environment that require repetitive traversal. However, the battles are enjoyable and evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of the Legend of Zelda series.
- “The note system is a bit tedious, but battles are fun and reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda.”
- “Too much of the game environment is basically empty space - fun to explore once, and tedious to pass through afterwards.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is highlighted by its witty dialogue and subtle comedic elements, complemented by the amusing interactions that arise from friendly fire among enemies in chaotic situations. Additionally, the variety of unique weapons and equipment adds to the overall comedic experience.
- “It's also notable that there is friendly fire for enemies, which can be funny in crowds.”
- “From a vast array of unique weapons and equipment to witty dialogue and subtle humor, this game has a great deal going for it.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere shines during moments of exploration, where the absence of dialogue allows players to fully immerse themselves in its visually captivating environments, reminiscent of the aesthetic charm found in Wind Waker.
- “The game is at its best when nobody is talking and you are let loose to explore an atmospheric area.”
- “It's like Wind Waker in looks and atmosphere.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game suffers from poor optimization, particularly on older laptops and computers, making it challenging for users with hardware from around eight years ago to run it effectively.
- “The game isn't optimized for low-end laptops or computers that are 8 years old.”
- “Performance issues make it nearly unplayable on older hardware.”
- “The lack of optimization results in frequent frame drops and long loading times.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users generally feel that the game lacks significant replay value, indicating that once completed, there is little incentive to play it again.
- “There is no real replay value.”
- “The game lacks any significant replayability.”
- “Once you finish it, there's little incentive to play again.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express a strong sense of nostalgia, highlighting how the game's vibrant graphics and artistic style effectively transport them back in time, enhancing their emotional connection to the experience.
- “The nostalgia is great, and the graphics really made me feel like I’d been brought back in time with the vibrant colors and style of the game.”
- “The story touched my heart deeply, making me reflect on my own experiences and emotions.”
- “I felt a strong connection to the characters, and their struggles resonated with my own life, creating a truly immersive experience.”