Reverie: Sweet As Edition is a joyful nostalgic experience that is pleasant to the eye. Furthermore, its fun story, familiar characters, and wonderful lore make it an interesting and enjoyable game to play from beginning to end.
Developed by Rainbite and published by Eastasiasoft Limited, this is an action-adventure title. Moreover, it has some basic puzzles and plenty of RPG moments. What’s more, there are some interesting dungeons to explore, loads of bosses to defeat, and an array of monsters and creatures to overcome. As such, this short game will entertain you from the opening gambit.
Reverie: Sweet as Edition tells a great story.
You control Tai, a young lad who travels to Toromi Island to visit his grandparents. This mystical place has a secret that has been passed down from generation to generation. However, few believe it to be true, until Tai arrives. Inspired by the legend of Maui and the Giant Fish, this surreal plot explores some wonderfully unusual topics. Additionally, the developers have enjoyed their creative licence.
The action focuses on a semi-linear approach. As such, you’ll enjoy drip-fed elements and classic blocking mechanics. Accordingly, you’ll be prevented from exploring the whole map until you have the relevant tools. These items can only be obtained once you complete each dungeon. On completion, you’ll be able to explore otherwise unreachable areas.
This gentle learning curve was great as you became accustomed to each new tool. Sadly, though, the game offers little guidance on how each item works. As such, you may become stuck on a puzzle until you work out the finer points. This was disappointing, as the rest of the action is well explained and easy to understand.
Collectables, fighting and puzzles.
The gameplay concentrates on 3 key elements; collectables, fighting and puzzles. The collectables are there to tease completionists. Moreover, they demand that you explore the world thoroughly if you wish to find every feather. I loved this small portion of the game as it made you search every nook and cranny. Moreover, you got to see areas that you’d have otherwise missed.
The core aspect of the gameplay has to be the fighting and the puzzles. There are 4 dungeons to explore and plenty of monsters to slay on the way. The opening dungeon is simple to navigate and the problems you encounter are easy to overcome. Yet, the second and third dungeons will test your logical mindset and your memory recall. On top of this, the bosses will give you a hard time until you highlight their weaknesses.
Though Reverie: Sweet As Edition won’t test veteran gamers, I enjoyed the causal gameplay and the progressively tougher ideas. As the plot reaches its finale, there is a distinct difference between the opening chapter and the final moments. Moreover, it doesn’t stray from its nostalgic roots, and this was fantastic.
Reverie: Sweet as Edition is bold and wonderfully pixelated.
I adore a pixelated experience. Subsequently, Reverie: Sweet as Edition was right up my street. The stunning colour palette was bold and flashy. As such, it was beautifully retro without being OTT. Furthermore, the finish was modern and the clean lines and interesting sprites were great. On top of this, the stage design was impressive, and each dungeon had a varied approach.
Alongside this, I loved the quaint audio. The mixture of dramatic songs and softer tunes enhanced the drama and the family moments. Additionally, the shrill sound effects retained a dated edge, which worked perfectly with the retro style.
Excellent controls.
The developers have done a great job of simplifying the control setup. With only a few inputs to learn, you’ll master this in no time at all. This is then helped by the excellent response rates and the well-considered UI. In short, this is a great title for gamers of all skill sets.
Though there are collectables to find, Reverie: Sweet As Edition is a little short for my liking. Consequently, once you get through the story and find every feather, there are few reasons to return. This was a shame, as I loved exploring the world and discovering new places.
Reverie: Sweet as Edition does its job perfectly.
Reverie: Sweet as Edition doesn’t break the mould. Yet, it undertakes its job perfectly. Yes, there are a few shortcomings regarding longevity and replay value. However, I’m being somewhat picky. Mostly, this game delivers everything you want from a retro action-adventure experience. Accordingly, I enjoyed it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you uncover the secrets of this mystical island? Learn new tricks, overcome each puzzle, and defeat every boss.
