Feist (PC) Review

A common assertion online that is Feist resembles Limbo, and in many ways it does. However, it seems more graphically in tune to Badlands… Until a certain point. While the graphics are, by and large, minimalistic, it's the environment and details that really stick out. Upon stumbling across lakes in the foreground, it's clear this game makes absolutely sublime use of its 2D environment. The stunning attention to detail is awe inspiring. Even the detail of the main character, whose hair becomes more frayed the more damage he/she takes, is fantastic. Many 2D games could take a lesson from the sheer beauty found in the forests and caves throughout Feist.

The sound is equally minimalistic, and does a superb job of setting the tone along with the graphics. Despite the graphical tone being beautiful, it's also oppressive, and the music, if it could be called that, follows suit. Don't expect any grandiose scores that are meant to be empowering, as the music makes the player feel nothing more than helpless. Even though every note slips into the background, it also, subliminally, serves to create a perfect cocktail of dread and overshadowing death.

2008, as stated before, was a big year, if not the biggest, for indie gaming. Feist seems to be stuck in that year, as it feels like the gameplay is the one spot where faltering commences. First of all, a lack of many tutorials means experimenting is highly involved. The tutorials offered are few and far between, leading to a lot of moments of discovery. On this note, Feist hits its high note, as discovering things without help is a great treat. It doesn't feel too good for long, though.

While the lack of tutorials may add to the oppression, after the first encounter with a giant fur beast, they're more of a nuisance than some sort of epic struggle. A few of them even seem disproportionately stronger than others, but this is mostly related to the environment they must be faced in. Again, the game layers itself with dread, and these fellows are clearly not layered well.

A few spots in Feist even fail to follow its own rules. Frequently, enemies weigh down disproportionately on the main character, and since it is so much smaller than pretty much every foe, it feels like a Collosi throw down. Actually, it feels like bullying, because although the death meter is present in the form of the fraying hair of the avatar, there is no real consistency to how much damage that can be taken before staring at its lifeless body.

To draw an old point back in, Feist seems stuck in 2008, despite being a beautiful game. It doesn't lean on the lessons of its indie brethren, leaving behind seven years of solid knowledge the community has handed back to the indie game makers. However, Feist still overcomes. Despite feeling helpless, players actually have several tools at their disposal. Sticks break rather quickly, rocks slow the user down, and flies are very handy. Being the only weapon of real long term use, flies are definitely worth picking up, turning from fearsome foes into pseudo pistols.

Due to a near perfect execution of realistic physics, Feist definitely nails platforming. Using spiked balls to climb high by throwing them and creating a step, or bobbing up and down on a tree branch, excellent physics are present throughout. Enemies fall into the physics fray, too. It's hard to understand the full strength of one of the furry beats until it chucks the avatar across the screen. While it can become tiresome to be so helpless, it's hard to not be amazed at how beautiful it is while watching it unfold.

Feist's seven year incubation did it well. Looking back at old YouTube videos from when it was first announced, it's clear the long wait was, unlike so many games, very important. While it may play dirty pretty much the entire time it's turned on, it manages to provide a satisfaction and elation-inducing genius at most of every corner. Hopefully, this will get the traditional indie treatment, and come to consoles, as well, because, for all its flaws, Feist is a game everyone should experience at least once.