Inverge Studios‘ Effie is a current-gen indie 3D action-adventure platformer. The studio’s first foray into the console market is a modern throwback combining classic genre elements with an open world.
Effie tries to remind gamers why they love platformers, but is it enough to garner recognition among other modern platformers?
Genre: Action-adventure platformer.
Studio: Inverge Studios.
Release Date: Out now for PlayStation 4 & late 2019 for Steam.
Effie‘s gameplay is split into three key areas: combat, platforming, and puzzling. These classic genre elements are how you’ll spend most of your time exploring the open world, all via the use of Galand’s shield.
The shield has a very important role in the adventure because its not just a weapon, it’s a versatile tool. Runestone allows Galand to attack enemies, solve puzzles, and even surf around at high speeds. Unfortunately, the combat takes a back seat as it is very repetitive, and button bashing your way through the same moves gets boring quickly. However, Effie plays like Spyro Reignited Trilogy with a ridiculously fun-to-explore world. Speeding through the Red Plains on shield is something you’ll want to do repeatedly.
Platforming
The exploring and platforming is about what you’d expect from a 3D platformer. The game gives you a double jump and dash ability for hopping between platforms to progress and avoid obstacles. There’s nothing new here, but a time trial segment would help elevate the gameplay. Some of the platforming set pieces are perfect for speed runners.
Additionally, you use platforming to find enemy camps, challenges, and to discover collectibles like runes and relics. Special runes will revitalise Gallant and increase his strength, while relics seem to be there just for completionists.
Puzzles
Puzzle-solving also plays a big part in Effie, with puzzles scattered in-between the core platforming segments. These puzzles mostly consist of hitting switches and pulling levers to progress. As a result, they tend to be quite easy, with the more difficult puzzles having huge hints plastered on the walls or ceiling. These sections would have been far better if they were to ramp up in difficulty as you progress.
Beauty Is Everywhere
Inverge Studios’ mobile roots are on full show here, with the game taking on the extremely approachable aesthetic that many popular mobile games have. It’s quite reminiscent of Thekla Inc.‘s puzzle game, The Witness.
The beauty of Oblena’s locales distinguishes Effie from most of its cousins. Zones like the Red Plains, Windmills Town, Grapeland, and Woodborn all offer refreshing colour palettes for the eye. Everything is bright and colorful, amd characters and enemies stand out regardless of where they are, as everything has its distinct appearance. You can forgo a map and waypoints in Effie, as landmarks are purposefully unmissable and recognisable.
The decisiton to use a mixture of low-poly and caricaturist cartoon models with realistic environmental textures and character designs is a smart one, resulting in a memorable and artistic aesthetic.
Magical Composition
One of Effie‘s strong points is, without a shadow of a doubt, its music. Adrián Berenguer offers some truly magical compositions, adding a sense of grandiose to the adventure and giving players a greater sense of immersion. The accompanying music is brimming with life, synchronized with the action on-screen, and making the whole experience even more enjoyable. You definitely want to play Effie with your headphones on.
The Verdict
Effie does well to pay homage to the platforming classics of the early console wars. The game has a lot to offer both visually and aurally, and the game’s enjoyment is found in adventuring and platforming your way through the open world, solving puzzles as you go.
Review Summary
A thoroughly enjoyable indie platformer with a distinctive look and sound, built from Inverge Studios‘s experience in mobile games development. Worth a play, especially if you’re looking for something to fill the void of the current lack of platformers.
