Of course what is really important in any homage to retro platformers is the boss battles, and Owlboy does not fail to deliver here either. What sets Owlboy apart from similar hi-bit, 2D inspired games is it mixes these styles in a smooth, effortless way that seems to fit the characters and the story, which is no easy task with so many gameplay styles at work. Building upon this mechanic it blends what you would usually expect from a Metroidvania-style game, but breaks out of the expected tropes of this style by adding straight puzzle elements, R-Type style shooter sections, and at times seamlessly switching back to straight platforming action. Otus' companions also have various unique abilities and depending on which one he is carrying, his offensive capabilities change, although you can switch between them in real-time. He then uses this ability to pick up his friends and carry them around the vibrant 8-bit inspired landscape. Otus is an owl-human hybrid and therefore can utilise the power of flight. The premise is quite simple on the surface. Mechanically, this colourful tale of friendship is deserving of praise. It is this subtle dynamic that gives Owlboy its charm, as it's evident most of the cast clearly care for him and value him as a friend, but with a lack of two way dialogue have to instead outwardly show it through their actions. The fact that he is mute somehow gives all the other characters in the narrative room to express themselves through him, almost speaking for him at times. The cast has an interesting mix of personalities with Otus, the protagonist of the tale, taking centre stage. The game introduces us to host of vibrant and quirky characters along the way. Ultimately it seems the game is about acceptance, as many of the companions and friends Otus makes throughout the game were once enemies, but when he comes to understand them and their stories he accepts them for who they are and the choices they have made, as they do him. Through the characters portrayed in the game and how they interact with each other, the player is exposed to experiences such as bullying, loss and forgiveness, and how these issues can affect people. One thing that may surprise you about D-Pad Studio's long-awaited adventure is the presence of serious undertones woven into the narrative. In some ways Owlboy echoes D-pad Studio's previous game, Savant: Ascent, in that it contains similar shooting and platforming mechanics, although Owlboy greatly improves on the formula by adding a fully realised and compelling story with emotional range. Owlboy's story slowly unfolds at a comfortable pace, revealing hidden depth and a tale that is not as straightforward as you might think. When Otus' village, Vellie, is attacked by pirates he sets off with his friend and companion Geddy on a grand quest to save a dying world and stop the pirate overlord, Captain Molstrom. You take control of Otus, a shy, mute member of an owl-human hybrid race known as the Owls, the so-called protectors of these floating islands. Owlboy is set in a future where the land has drifted into the sky after being separated by a cataclysmic event. The fusion of mechanics is ambitious and could have left it feeling like a Frankenstein's monster of stitched together play-styles, but instead Owlboy transitions from 2D shoot 'em up to adventure platformer with ease. There are definite influences from Mario, Sonic, R-Type and Zelda, just to mention a few, although it somehow seems to encapsulate the entire 8-bit era as a whole and present it in this new visually stunning hi-bit package.
After nine years since its initial announcement, D-Pad Studio's vibrantly crafted pixel world clearly pays homage to the retro classics it was inspired by.
Owlboy is a retro-inspired, 2D adventure platform game in which you play mute apprentice Owl, Otus, on his journey to save a dying world and prove himself in the eyes of his fellow Owls.
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