Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 37 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth Game Cover
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"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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews
graphics7 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic N64 and GameCube adventure-platformers, particularly appealing to fans of the Zelda series.
  • The game features vibrant graphics and a charming art style that successfully evokes the feel of older titles, alongside a decent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Despite its flaws, the game provides a fun mix of exploration, collecting, and puzzle-solving, with some enjoyable boss fights and a variety of weapons to use.
  • The combat system is clunky and often frustrating, with issues such as poor lock-on mechanics, awkward weapon animations, and a lack of invincibility frames during rolls, making battles feel unbalanced.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including soft-locks, inconsistent fall damage, and awkward physics that can disrupt gameplay and immersion.
  • Overall polish is lacking, with awkward controls, poor sound design, and a simplistic story that fails to engage players, leading to a mixed reception despite its potential.
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant colors and charming art style, heavily inspired by "The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker." While the aesthetic is appealing and diverse, some areas lack imagination, and occasional glitches are noted. Overall, the visuals effectively enhance the nostalgic experience, making it a visually enjoyable title despite its limitations as a smaller development project.

    • “The graphics are masterfully set up, and the camera angles and focus points are spot on.”
    • “The aesthetic is nice, clearly aping Wind Waker but trying to modernize it in some ways. It's colorful and pleasant to look at with decently diverse areas overall.”
    • “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.”
    • “Reminds me of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker graphics, except less bright and doesn't have random unnatural lines in the ground.”
    • “The graphics more or less speak for themselves.”
    • “Everything about the art style is blatantly inspired by Wind Waker, and it mostly pulls off the look.”
  • story12 mentions

    The story of the game is generally seen as basic and somewhat awkward, with mixed reviews on its execution; while some players appreciate the worldbuilding and character interactions, others find it unremarkable. Despite its simplicity, the narrative serves its purpose in the context of the gameplay, providing a fun backdrop for the action-adventure experience. Overall, the story is engaging enough to support exploration and character development, though it may not leave a lasting impression.

    • “As you progress through the story, you meet Bitt and Merdeira - two forest spirits who will aid you in your quest to save the forest.”
    • “The storyline is strong and engaging, the world you're immersed in is vast and has been developed in a way that allows players to explore and discover however they choose. 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.”
    • “Warden delivers in all the areas where it matters, from having stunning environments and unique enemies to a compelling story; this game isn't pulling any punches.”
    • “There's an attempt at a story and worldbuilding, but it all feels a bit awkward; it's appreciated nonetheless.”
    • “Combat is clunky and the story is as basic as stories can get, but it's a fun action-adventure-platformer with Zelda-like charm.”
    • “The story does its job, but no more than that.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of challenging mechanics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles like "Ocarina of Time" and "Banjo Kazooie," though it suffers from some unpolished elements and control issues, particularly with the physics engine. Players appreciate the unique search and collect mechanics, but some find the game lacking in depth and polish, suggesting that additional non-essential gameplay moments could enhance the experience. Overall, while the gameplay is solid and engaging, it has room for improvement in terms of control and presentation.

    • “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.”
    • “If you want a gameplay experience to remind you of the good old days with Banjo Kazooie, Ocarina of Time, or even Wind Waker with many fun and modern twists and enhancements, this is the game for you.”
    • “The glitches are manageable and a little goofy, the gameplay is solid, and the graphics are bewitching.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game is a bit unpolished in some ways and could benefit from some non-essential gameplay moments to add to the world and help to set up the game and the main character a little bit (like an opening cutscene, some dialogue choices, some panning shots, etc.).”
    • “$20 is a bit steep when you compare it to other similar games with many more hours of gameplay.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it charming yet repetitive and abrasive, particularly in dungeon settings. While the town music is praised for creating a welcoming atmosphere, transitions between overworld and battle music are often described as jarring and awkward. Overall, the sound design is criticized for being noisy and lacking cohesion, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The town music though, very good and really makes it feel like a welcoming area in the game.”
    • “[*] soundtrack was really good.”
    • “The accompanying soundtrack is fitting and works harmoniously with the game.”
    • “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 kinda forgettable too)”
    • “I did feel some of the dungeon music to be a bit repetitive and needlessly abrasive for a mostly puzzle-oriented dungeon.”
    • “It has an effect of bringing you out of the experience, and the music is charming on the surface, but quickly grows repetitive and almost obnoxious.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, particularly on Ubuntu Mate 16.04, with users reporting no significant issues. While some minor glitches are present, they are considered manageable and do not detract from the solid gameplay experience.

    • “Runs great on Ubuntu Mate 16.04 with no issues.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    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, they appreciate the enjoyable battles, which 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.”
  • humor2 mentions

    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 amount of unique weapons and equipment to witty dialogue and subtle humor, this game has a great deal going for it.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    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.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    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.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    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 me on a personal level.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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