Garlic, a quirky and imaginative indie platformer developed by Sylph and published by Ratalaika Games for consoles after an earlier Steam release, takes players on a wild and challenging journey through the Sacred Tower. You play as Garlic, an onion-headed boy on a quest to meet the Cyber Goddess, who grants a wish to those who reach the tower’s pinnacle. However, things take an unexpected turn, adding a dash of intrigue and weirdness to this seemingly straightforward adventure.
The game’s premise centers around Garlic’s pursuit of the Cyber Goddess, a leggy deity challenging him to climb the Sacred Tower for a wish. But as the story unfolds, unexpected twists make the narrative engaging and surprisingly charming. The humor and self-awareness in portraying Garlic is endearing.
Garlic boasts responsive and tight controls that lend themselves well to the action-platformer genre. Players can execute a variety of moves, including dashing, wall-jumping, and ground-pounding, creating a smooth and dynamic gameplay flow when used together. Transitioning between moves feels intuitive and satisfying, allowing for impressive combo dashes reminiscent of classic titles like Celeste.
One of the game’s strongest aspects of the game is its balance between challenge and player ability. Levels are designed to be both demanding and rewarding, requiring players to string together their moves effectively to progress. The checkpoint system deserves praise, as it breaks the game into manageable sections, providing relief to players during particularly tough segments and showcasing that the development team did a good job tuning the difficulty level just right.
Visually, Garlic adopts an 8-bit aesthetic while incorporating modern character designs and animations. The art style, though heavily retro-inspired, feels far from outdated thanks to some modern touches, adding to the game’s charm and providing a polished and delightful experience. The quirky character reactions and clever animations in particular add value to Garlic’s visuals. In terms of audio, the game features laid-back tunes that complement the gameplay without becoming distracting.
Garlic’s strengths lie in its subtle madness, polished presentation, and nice flow of gameplay moves. However, there are minor hiccups in Garlic’s journey. The game’s sense of humor can occasionally fall a little flat, and encounters with multiple enemies simultaneously can lead to overly frantic and disorienting moments.
Garlic is a delightful and off-beat platformer that doesn’t shy away from embracing its eccentricity. With tight controls, diverse challenges, and a distinctive style, Garlic is a breath of fresh air in the indie platforming genre. Although it may not appeal to everyone, those seeking a somewhat different gaming experience should definitely give Garlic a try. Embrace the madness, savor the challenges, and let the flavor of this unconventional platforming adventure win you over.
Score: 7.7/10
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