Developer Embers is releasing its flagship title: Strayed Lights. A game that is both visually rich and minimal at the same time: a blend of visual storytelling and intense combat. We at VIBE had the pleasure of checking out the demo and speaking with some of the development team at PAX East this year.
Visual Storytelling
In a landscape of interconnected universes and deeply immersive games overflowing with lore, it seems like the art of visual storytelling is fading into the background. Games can be as simple as a plumber versus a giant turtle-dragon. No story needed. Good guy against bad guys.
While a large amount of the major titles released now are basically following the same formula, the story can sometimes get in its own way. Other games put players into situations that force them to contemplate the ethics of their decisions.
Strayed Lights is a masterclass in visual storytelling. Using the surroundings, beautiful cut-scenes, and focus on exploration to portray the story of a little light fighting back against the forces of darkness. From the first screen, it beckons players to take in the sights, no talking, and only some basic control instructions. It’s a chance for players to learn more about the world and put the story together as they go.
The game is set to an immersive soundtrack that reflects states of feeling in creatures you encounter, by Grammy award-winning composer Austin Wintory — whose previous projects include Journey, Abzû and The Banner Saga Series all adding to the impressive atmosphere.
Intense, Fluid Combat
Color swapping games are nothing new. Switching between colors to become immune to a specific type of damage or to attack an enemy has been around for a long time. However, using this mechanic in new and refreshing ways is a welcome change from time to time.
Strayed Lights does just that. Players use the blue to orange color change to parry enemy attacks. Though, the focus on parrying doesn’t end there. Parrying in the opposite color to the enemy will block damage, but in the same color will heal you and damage or weaken the enemy. Once the shadow monsters are weakened enough, you’ll convert them to crystals. These crystals can be used to buy new abilities for your skill tree in addition to skill points players gain along the way. Just how powerful your little light can become, we’ll have to wait until the full release to find out.
“We want players to have that amazing feeling of overcoming a tough challenge while staying accessible.” says Damien Dessagne, CEO at Embers. “We also hope they can experience a sense of wonder by exploring the world we created and the creatures in it. We can’t wait to see how players make the world of Strayed Lights their own.”
Coming Soon
“Strayed Lights is an ode to resilience through its combat flow and story,” says Alexandre Arramon, co-founder and creative director at Embers. “You face giant creatures submerged by an emotion they now personify and try to soothe them and grow in the process. We intentionally added no text or dialogue in the game to let players come up with their own interpretation.”
From France-based indie games studio Embers, Strayed Lights is the team’s debut project. “We had an incredible experience developing Strayed Lights, it was a long lasting dream becoming a reality. We put our heart and soul into this and everyone at Embers is extremely proud of the outcome,” says Damien.
While the focus on parrying makes the combat challenging almost to the point of frustration, it’s fun and smooth. It keeps players on their toes and really tests the reflexes. The world begs to be explored and appreciated. And the passion behind this project from the small development team is palpable.
Check out the demo on steam now, and keep an eye out for the full review once Strayed Lights is fully released later this month.
