Zefyr: A Thief's Melody

Мабуть, одна з найдобріших ігор з тих, у які я коли-небудь грав. Вороги не гинуть, а насолоджуються відпочинком і чи/водичкою, світ очищується від скверни не зброєю, а чарівними гарбузами, злі персонажі не те, щоб і злі... Прокачка навичок персонажа дуже гармонійно розтягнута на всю гру, що дає також можливість повернутися до раніше відвіданих локацій і дозібрати те, що не встиглося... Єдиний мінус, як на мене, це доволі одноманітна, хоча і приємна мелодія. 4,5/5.

In my opinion, Zefyr is a good game, quite unique in its genre. It is primarily a platformer and exploration game, though it borrows gameplay elements found in action-adventure titles. I enjoyed the experience, but it's important to keep in mind the fact that it was developed by a single person. It is impressive, I could really feel the developer's dedication to his game. However, some aspects are therefore limited and some others are border on amateurish. The gameplay relies heavily on a magnetic gauntlet that allows you to climb any vertical surface. Its use is automatic, restricted only by a gauge that is emptied while climbing and recharged instantly once you are back on a horizontal surface. This mechanic is used throughout the game across sometimes massive levels, featuring far more verticality than most platformers. That sense of vertigo was the aspect I enjoyed most. As the adventure progresses, you can unlock other items, such as a bow, bombs, a grappling hook, .... adding a slight puzzle aspect to the platforming. The levels are spread across various islands. This brings me to the second thing I loved most: the open-world feel of the exploration. While you initially need an NPC's help to travel between islands, you can later roam the ocean freely with the aid of turtles. The game also features enemies and bosses to fight. However, this aspect is much less successful, most encounters are overly basic. Fortunately, combat is a secondary element, though it does add a touch of variety. It isn't necessarily a negative, but overall, the game is easy. I died for the first time only after the game ended. There are no tricky puzzles or hard-to-reach exploration areas; it’s more of a relaxing game than a challenging one. It’s a shame that the story serves merely as a pretext and a framework for the adventure. It doesn't take itself seriously at all and shows no ambition to flesh out the game's world. And yet, the player does have access to a quest log. There are several islands where you can talk to NPCs. While there are a few bits of lore, I must emphasize that they are very limited, the developer clearly had no ambition in that regard. On the other hand, the game is very structured: you always have an objective, and gameplay elements are unlocked gradually as you progress. It wasn't a major issue, but the currency collected throughout the game was only useful during the first few hours, specifically for unlocking map upgrades. These upgrades are important for spotting the various types of collectibles on the map. The game's few musical tracks are decent, but several levels are so quiet that it feels odd (perhaps a mistake on the part of the developer?). The combination of almost no ambient noise and a lack of music for tens of minutes at a time becomes oppressive. Overall, the game looks quite nice, though the color contrast is sometimes far too high, resulting in garish colors that saturate the screen. The general impression is that the developer learned the ropes while making this game, refocusing their ambitions on a few key areas to deliver a solid final product. Even so, it is surprising that they included elements that could easily have supported so much more. The in-game currency, the story, and the lore could easily have been improved without having to rethink the entire game. It remains a good, lighthearted game nonetheless.

Hats off to the creator on this one. Probably one of the closest things we have to an open world One Piece game without the One Piece. The world is largely a vast ocean filled with small islands, thieves, ninjas, pirates guardsmen, animals, spirit-gods and robots (eat your heart out Oda). There's a primary quest, but the game rewards exploration, and the easygoing pleasure of hopping from island to island for treasure or weird islands never failed to be fun. The game may not be for everyone, but I think everyone would agree it's a game to be proud of. Congratulations Mathias Fontmarty!

低情商：画风太粗糙 高情商：致敬塞尔达

The fact that this was made by a single person boggles my mind. Everything is so wonderful, colorful, fun, and extremely joyful. This game is great for kids or adults - truly made for anyone wanting to smile. I mean, you beat up pirates and heal sick animals in a gloriously tropical world. It's beyond fun. The platforming is the real star here, too. Great mechanics, some pretty tough parts, but nothing that ever made me want to angrily bite my controller like I did as a young'un playing Prince of Persia. Aside from a few tiny typos and what some might consider "slightly clunky" combat, this game is truly fantastic and I would highly recommend. At the very least, play the demo and see if you don't get hooked

[h1] 's good. [/h1] Definitely low budget, but it was a surprisingly good indie adventure game I liked the main method of platforming; free-moving wall climb as long as you have "stamina" Also a solo dev effort

What an amazing game! Very simple, yet fun. Reminds me of Mario 64 and Zelda Breath of the Wild. Simple, some challenges, and it just feels great to play! Thank you!