2023-08-24 21:05:29
Released in 2022 on PC, Black Skylands is finally entitled to a proper porting on consoles. The game from Hungry Couch Games hits the mark.
You may remember Black Skylands, a small indie game released in early access in 2021 on PC, and in its final version in 2022. The title has been little talked regarding, it is true. Yet it was one of the real good surprises of the year.
Black Skylands is a rather atypical title that takes the form of a twin-stick shooter in an open world, which mixes game sequences on foot and in a ship. An original concept that adapted perfectly to the commands of a joystick. It is therefore logical to see it land today on Switch, Xbox and PS4/5.
The sequences on foot are very successful.
We live in a universe where humans live on a whole bunch of floating islands above a sea of clouds. We play Eva, a young woman living on a ship that acts as a village, the “father ship”. The Cloud People have been at war for seven years, following an incident involving several prominent figures, including Eva’s father. We will therefore evolve in a hostile universe where many bandits occupy different islands. But another threat worries humans, that of monstrous creatures from the Eternal Storm, a phenomenon originating in a distant region of the sky.
The adventure is punctuated by a scenario which turns out to be pleasant, but it will be possible to move away from the main quest to explore this universe. The title is rather ambitious since it offers the possibility of exploring an open world aboard our flying ship. Our vehicle can be improved and will not only serve as a means of transport since it is possible to fight on board. We often come across hostile ships of different sizes that we will have to shoot down with the weapons of our own vehicle. You also have to take care of it by repairing it when it takes damage, and managing fuel and ammunition.
A bit like Zelda Wind Waker, this sea of clouds is filled with small islands everywhere. Many of them are not necessary to complete the story, they are occupied by bandits and then our task is to free them. To do this, Eva can use different firearms, and this is when the title shows her face as a twin-stick shooter. We then travel through the different islands like a Hotline Miami, frantically destroying everything that moves. Our heroine also has a grappling hook to navigate between islets, but which is also useful in combat since it draws enemies towards her. A melee attack allows you to get rid of enemies in melee, and although it is much less effective than weapons, it forces enemies to drop ammo if they get the killing blow with it.
The open world is quite large.
Between these journeys and action phases, we can rest on the parent ship, in which we must arrange different buildings to process the resources found in the enemy camps. Craft useful objects and equipment, build buildings or even cultivate the land, enough to make our character evolve. Some RPG mechanics are then added to the adventure since it is necessary to manage our equipment and our weapons, these can be improved thanks to different parts found in this vast world. Our character has two numbers that represent his strength and that of the ship, data that can be compared with that of the enemies of the different islands to know which place will be more accessible than others. The progression is therefore marked by our level, but the open world still allows you to spend time there to equip yourself better, or on the contrary, to go into camps that are too dangerous at your own risk.
We will thus alternate between these different phases of the game, and the mix is quite successful. The formula has an addictive side that pushes us to explore the smallest islands of this universe. The gameplay is also a great success, the sensations are good, with the exception of the battles in the ship which are much more capricious because of a somewhat complex maneuverability. It must also be admitted that exploring the islands is sometimes redundant since they do not always offer varied situations. The title also offers local multiplayer, a nice addition, but which remains rather limited for the moment.
Black Skylands offers a rather convincing atmosphere, with nice music, but which frequently leaves room for silence and the work done on the environmental sounds and sound effects. The title is also very successful visually, with a very beautiful pixel art and a lot of details that let us see what is hidden below the clouds. Good news however, this console version is less buggy and more solid than the PC version. We did not notice any slowdown during our gaming session. Suffice to say that at €19.99, it is well worth its price.
Conclusion
If it had already convinced fans of indie games on PC, Black Skylands is even more attractive on consoles. First, because the gameplay is particularly adapted to the use of the pad. Nothing like a controller to progress in a twin stick shooter. Then, because the developers were able to correct all the bugs and slowdowns encountered at the time on PC. A unique mix of genres, between action, RPG and shooter, Black Skylands offers an exotic experience by mixing sequences of exploration and ground shooting, and shoot them up on board a ship, all in an open world that does not require only to be discovered. Certainly one of the best indie surprises of this summer.
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Black Skylands
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On aime :
A gripping adventure
The open world that leaves a little freedom
The open world that leaves a little freedom
Successful gameplay
The artistic direction
We like less:
The slightly less successful shoot sequences
A bit repetitive
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#Test #Black #Skylands #indie #nugget #arrives #consoles
