I had falsely assumed that the plot would be on the back-burner to make way for the exploration part of the game, but by the end, the story was the star of the show. The narrative is neatly divided across seven chapters in the game, and while it seemed a bit slow in the beginning for me, things quickly ended up taking a dark turn. The key to breaking these is by uncovering memories from your past which builds the bigger picture about Wolf’s past incarnation, Kalani, and in time, your spirit companion.
While the vistas of Lost Ember seem to stretch far and wide, as you progress through the first barrier in the game and move ahead, you’ll find another barrier waiting for you up ahead. With the ability to now transfer our soul between various life forms, or as our companion calls it, “soul wandering,” the duo of the Yanren spirit and the lost ember must uncover their memories about their former lives and enter the City of Light. As we head down the path to the cave and discover an amulet with the name Kalani, Wolf’s past life, we find Kalani’s very being taking form before our very eyes, and grant us a gift to help on our journey. Proclaiming that he’s been stuck for ages, we go forward as Wolf, helping our new spirit friend break through barriers and enter the City of Light. What follows this prologue is the entrance of the player’s companion, a floating ball of light that requires some assistance. The remaining are thrown back into the world as wild beasts, otherwise known as Lost Embers. Almost.Īccording to the Yanren, those who follow their traditions are said to be greeted into the City of Light after death. Alongside its lush vegetation, adorable critters, and dreamy skies, it’s a formula that’s almost bound to be a hit. Overall, there are some deep themes touched upon in Lost Ember, and parents may need to help explain certain issues while opening up a discussion about human nature and how impactful certain decisions can be.A beautiful narrative about reincarnation, shape-shifting, and exploring the remains of lost world was enough to pull me and my Nintendo Switch into the picturesque world of Mooneye Studio’s indie game, Lost Ember.
Lost ember full#
As the characters' memories return, an emotional story unfolds about just how these characters were connected before the fall of civilization, and it's a harsh look at the full range of what humans are capable of. Thankfully, these lighthearted moments are around to help balance the weight and drama of the game's primary plot. Possessing animals gives players the opportunity to open their imaginations and visualize what life is like for these creatures. Left to their own devices, the various animals move around and have their own personalities. The game looks amazing, dropping players into a vibrant world that's teeming with life. In the grand scheme of things, Lost Ember's technical issues are more minor nuisances than anything, only slightly dinging an otherwise wonderful experience.
What's more frustrating is running into an invisible wall while exploring a game world that looks much more open than it actually is. There's not a lot of precision in the movement, but there's usually not a lot required. More impressive is that it manages to do this in spite of clunky controls and some irritating navigation issues. Lost Ember is one of those games, giving players a beautiful stage on which they're told an engaging story. Sometimes in games, as in life, it's more about appreciating the journey for all it is rather than focusing on how you got there.
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