FOUNTAINS is a brilliant modern take on old-school Souls-esque experiences. If you think of FromSoftware’s early title, King’s Field, you kind of get the idea. This brutal title is not for the faint of heart. It broke me in many ways, but I returned for more sadomasochistic gameplay. Accordingly, I wanted to scream, quit, and smash my controller every time I booted it up.
This retro Soulsvania affair was developed by John Pywell and published by console experts, Crunching Koalas. It is a single-player, isometric and pixelated title that is as dark as it is confusing. With exploration at the forefront of the action, gamers are asked to find secrets, pathways, and other elements as they tackle minor monsters and massive bosses. Moreover, there are traversal tools to discover if you wish to complete the game.
FOUNTAINS is a dark experience.
I love Souls-like games, and I was a huge fan of King’s Field. Consequently, this was always going to be a winner. However, the weird nature of the plot took a little getting used to. Much of the action is deliberately mysterious and misleading. Therefore, if you like hand-holding, this won’t be for you.
The story is odd, and much of the focus is placed upon the magical fountains. These structures empower you to heal, cast spells, and act like each bonfire and shrine from other Souls games. The shrouded nature of the story unfolds through snippets of lore, interactions with NPCs, and the destruction of each key boss. Subsequently, there is information to absorb, images to observe, and plenty of story-driven exploration.
Simple ideas that are well executed.
Many of FOUNTAIN’s core principles are extremely well executed. Despite the simple nature of the mechanics, it delivers captivating, tough, and enjoyable moments. The combat requires finesse, timing, and the use of magic and melee weapons. Each monster and creature has unique strengths, weaknesses, and attack patterns. These require some trial and error and plenty of practice to overcome.
On top of this, there are new weapons to find, equipment to upgrade, and different magical rings to give you special powers. You must manipulate each situation to gain an advantage and stay alive. This isn’t easy, as death is all but assured. However, if you can master your tools, you’ll explore an array of unique locations and overcome many puzzles, obstacles, and problems you face.
The exploration elements are what make this special. Pathways are blocked, and you must venture into dungeons, activate switches, and navigate chasms if you wish to find every boss. Moreover, there are magical mushroom rings, an underground rail system, and other secrets to help you on your way. The random but simple nature of each core layer was fascinating, even if you were left scratching your head throughout.
FOUNTAINS is brilliantly dated.
The melancholic nature of FOUNTAINS is grim to witness. The map is dark, earthy, and highly pixelated. The result is a title that looks like it belongs to a bygone era. This results in some clunky old-school animation, a hard-to-read map, and hours of confusion, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Despite its dated style, I loved the grim and often oppressive design.
The audio is a sombre reminder that death and destruction are just around the corner. It is a little repetitive, but I didn’t care. Additionally, the use of basic sound effects and silence works extremely well. The result is a dark fantasy affair that is brilliantly atmospheric.
Excellent controls.
The control system is deliberately refined. Furthermore, the UI takes little effort to master. Subsequently, you’ll be up and running in no time. However, defeating every creature and staying alive is another problem altogether.
The developer has just released a new DLC for this title. Therefore, if you have played this on Steam, there is additional content to try. Yet, if you are new to the action on Switch or Xbox, you’ll have plenty of madness to get your teeth into.
FOUNTAINS is dark, deadly, and wonderfully horrible.
I must be a sucker for horrible games because I adore FOUNTAINS. It pushed me hard, and I loved the confusing gameplay, the simple and effective mechanics, and the amazing story. If you adore exploration and tough moments, this will make you scream and smile. Accordingly, I recommend buying it here! Can you discover the meaning of every secret? Explore the world, overcome every foe, and master the water.
