It's not the puzzles or the exploration. It's not the smooth, responsive platforming or the simple controls. It's the way the leaves rustle. It's the way the snow crunches under your paws. It's the way the fox yips that makes you fall in love with Seasons After Fall.
I first met Swing Swing Submarine years ago, when they were roaming the Gamescom halls on their own, armed with a laptop and the first teaser for their upcoming puzzle platformer Seasons After Fall. The French gamedev trio had a lot of ideas for their game, which looked promising indeed - they just hadn't had the time to put them into the game yet. Fast forward, and the game is finally out. I am glad to see that it's still the very same concept, the same design. I wasn't prepared for this level of polish, though.
You're playing as a fox with mystical powers which allow you to manipulate the seasons and the life of the forest. This creates new platforming elements: water will freeze, leaves will be blown upwards, vines and giant mushrooms will grow, creating new paths for you on your quest to find the guardians of the forest. It all feels effortless and, well, natural - which is probably the nicest thing that can be said of a game that's all about nature.
It's the little things, really. The way things move, the way the world seems alive. But it doesn't stop there. Every time you move the cursor in the menus, you hear the sound of a string being plucked. It's this attention to the smallest details that elevates the game from being yet another puzzle platformer to something amazing. Seasons After Fall is not as hard as Swing Swing Submarine's previous games, as its focus is more on exploration and storytelling than brainteasing puzzles. Interacting with the environment, reaching areas that previously were inaccessible, feels organic rather than like a set of artificial barriers.
The game's lovely music, composed by Yann van der Cruyssen. deserves special mention. Played by a string quartet, it's used sparingly but always adds to the richness of the experience. By way of music alone, it adds tension and even the vaguest sense of unease sometimes, even though there are no enemies and no way to perish whatsoever. Most of the time, it's just a pure joy to listen to.
I keep repeating myself here, but all of these things add up and make Seasons After Fall the masterpiece that it is. It took a long time to get here for Swing Swing Submarine, but it was so worth it. This is a year of many amazing releases. Indie games are thriving these days and the sheer number of great indies is something worth celebrating. Still, in this virtual candy store, Seasons After Fall sticks out for being a truly enchanting experience.
You can purchase Seasons After Fall from Steam for $14.99. For more information, visit the game's website or follow Swing Swing Submarine on Twitter.
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