Wind Preview
Back to the Ark
Unlike Dead Cells, Windblown is a fully 3D action game that takes place in a series of small, interconnected floating stages. The base of operations is Ark, an elaborate floating storybook village. The Ark orbits a deadly storm called the Vortex, which regularly spawns monsters called Sentinels to attack peaceful villagers. You play as a Leaper, an essentially immortal warrior who defends the Ark from the invading enemies of the Vortex.
Like Dead Cells, Windblown is a roguelike, so having an addictive and satisfying gameplay loop is essential. Windblown checks the box with frenetic action and tight controls. Players race from island to island, fighting monsters and searching for loot, weapons, and a host of trinkets and power-ups. Although Windblown has its own vocabulary for these mechanics, they are familiar things like passive and active special abilities, weapon upgrades, consumables, and perks. Gears can be collected and used in the Ark to purchase permanent weapons and trinkets for the next run. While many games feature melee and ranged weapons, in Windblown the two weapons clash creatively and it's fun to experiment with different combinations.
Several of Windblown's ideas stand out. Halfway through, it's possible to send everything you've collected to the Ark, so that when you die, the material isn't lost forever. You can recover the souls of defeated Jumpers to obtain special items. You can also avoid combat, at least temporarily, by going around the map simply collecting gears and any other obvious treasure, and then circling back to engage enemies. Ideally, by the time you face a boss, you will have collected better weapons and upgrades throughout the level. But, like all roguelikes, progress is definitely incremental. Windblown is a very challenging game, especially for solo players, but it supports cooperative play.
Challenge under the facade
Dead Cells had a dark gothic aesthetic, but Windblown is colorful and engaging, with a cel-shaded cartoon vibe and an anime-style intro video that sets up the narrative. You have the option to choose from adorable animal player characters, such as bats and axolotls. NPCs and enemies are a combination of humanoids, animals, and machines. However, the game's action is so fast and furious that there isn't much time to notice the details of the environments. In fact, there's so much action, color, and light, especially in co-op, that it's often a little difficult to stay focused on the player character amidst the chaos.
Although he is not voiced, the game's dialogue and characters are playfully written, which adds to the overall welcoming atmosphere. I mean, sure, it's about Vortex trying to annihilate the Ark, but Windblown keeps things lighthearted, pun intended. Beyond the character designs, the weapons and effects reminded me a bit of the less detailed Torchlight or maybe Skylanders. The game's music is upbeat and fits the action, but doesn't make a particularly strong impression.
Great first impression
Windblown has a lot to offer, even in early access. The game has a very strong identity, well thought out mechanics and is extremely polished. The way the character's dual weapons synergize with each other and the player's build is compelling fodder for repeated runs and experimentation. Some players may decline the difficulty (there are no options to decline), but that's the only downside. Windblown is a promising and excellent sequel to Dead Cells.
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