With so many relatively unknown developers using the Nintendo Switch platform to showcase their talent and ideas, a potential mire can be created, with some real gems getting lost in the sheer amount of titles on the market. It takes a lot of creativity to stand out from the crowd, and with an interesting concept and simple gameplay, Saviorless ensures that it is worth sifting through pages of eShop listings to find something worth spending time on.
Starting unexpectedly in the heavens, the initial story is a simple one. Putting forward the idea that free will is a myth, the stage is set with gods and their offspring discussing the race below – that every story told is set and lives are on a fixed path, decided upon by the stories told. Each god, as it were, has a charge and a duty to ensure life continues as destined. When two young charges decide to interrupt the status quo, a relatively uninteresting life becomes a full-blown quest across multiple landscapes.
While many may be put off by a lack of combat options, fans of classics such as Flashback and the soon-to-be-revered Full Void will feel right at home here. To progress, alternative routes and methods to dispose of obstacles, both inanimate and bitey, must be found. That heron on the other side of the chasm eyeing up a body part? Scare it away with a conveniently placed sound system, for example. Puzzles aren’t particularly taxing, with a sensible bit of game design showing the basic puzzle principal and a steady increase in complication that never feels unfair. Although a concept that should be standard in any game design, too many often ignore the simple things, leading to early frustration and a title destined to never be completed.
Visually, Saviorless presents a grim backdrop, fitting perfectly with the story beats. Battered sheds and decayed wood beams prop up perilous platforms towering over rocky chasms. As the story progresses, run-down backdrops make way for towering palatial-style buildings, each with their own puzzle-centric navigation to traverse. As with a familiar hat-wearing individual, your protagonist is mostly silent. Instead, all exposition comes from the residents of the desolate world, as well as interludes taking place back above the clouds as the “gods” come to terms with the events they have originally set in motion.
With a title attempting to tell a compelling story, a loose control system could easily derail the main draw. Thankfully all aspects are tight enough here and any mistake will rest solely on the shoulders of the player. A generous respawn system will also allow for a fast restart and continuation. A quick system like that is the perfect companion to a console like the Switch. The pick-up-and-play factor will always keep a game in rotation with a (sort of) handheld system. In terms of the other big tick, there is some replayability to be had in Saviorless. Paper scraps can be found in most of the locations and range from staring a player in the face with the simplicity of collection, to trickier options requiring precise jumping or engaging the grey brain cells.
