We reviewed Tunic on PC

Driftwood
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 | 5:00 PM
3 comments

GSY Review Xbox Series X PC Xbox One

Some more editorial content on Gamersyde with Tunic, which comes out today on PC and Xbox consoles. Not only have we written a full verdict but we've also recorded a Gamersyde Offline video to present the very beginning of the game. Enjoy!
Note: It comes as a little bit of a surprise since it was not supposed to, but Tunic is available on Game Pass.

Verdict

Tunic may not stand out that much at first glance, but it is nevertheless the result of meticulous work that is much more than the sums of its parts. Not everyone will enjoy the lack of guidance imposed by the collection of the pages of the instruction manual. It's really a game within the game in fact, as you must find meaning yourself as most of the pages are written in some unknown language but they all include hints as to what you're supposed to do and how. As there really seems to be a meaning to this language, we are sure players will embark on a relentless effort to translate everything in order to understand the lore and the story more. The game is actually much deeper than what we expected and the post-game stuff will clearly keep people busy. Everything is not perfect though, at least for us. Combat is slower-paced and a bit less satisfying than in a game like Death's Door for example and it can be tricky to dodge attacks when facing some of the enemies (or bosses). Moreover, the difficulty spike in the last part of the game might be a bit discouraging at first. For instance, there are even enemies that can reduce the size of your life bar until you die, among other things. That said, accessibility options hide something that will allow everyone to complete the game. Indeed, there, you will find options to either make your character invincible or to deactivate the stamina bar and make your life a bit easier. Victory is always possible though, and it goes without saying that with comes the satisfaction that only challenging games can truly give. At the end of the day, aside from a few nitpicks, here is a fairly "Tunic" title that truly deserves your attention if you're a fan of the genre.

On the upside
Plenty of content to keep busy
A game of adventures and discoveries
The instruction manual is such a great idea
The soundtrack
Looks very cute
Post-game content if you haven't had enough
Cheats can be activated so everyone can complete the game

On the downside
Sometimes a bit too opaque
The difficulty spike at the end
We wouldn't mind it if dodging had a bit more amplitude

GSY Offline

Sdarts

Commented on 2022-03-16 19:52:43

Thanks for the review. Sounds like a lovely game, just like Hob. Need to finish Elden Ring and Final Fantasy 7 Remake first - put on hold because of ER.

In reply to

nostradamus

Commented on 2022-03-19 09:55:55

Man, so much great games.

g4m3er

Commented on 2022-03-20 11:32:20 In reply to nostradamus

Posted by nostradamus

I still have Returnal, Tales of Arise and Nier Replicant lying around in their original packaging.
Elden Ring is a little bit time consuming (~80hrs in).

I like the style of this game. I definitely give it a try as it is available on Game Pass.