One heater and about a dozen heads asking to be pierce .
When I first set in motion Children of the Sun , I was skeptical about how well this game could draw its idea off . On the aerofoil , a tactical third - mortal puzzler taw , as the Steam varlet itself set it , invites a lot of likely issues in both longevity and depth . A lot of developer often love having unique ideas like this , but at least in my case , often elongate the idea for much longer than it ’s deserving and with not enough to keep its idea pass . tike of the Sun is not one of those secret plan , presenting an interesting idea with enough depth to last its runtime without going any longer than it needs to .
A Cult, a Girl, and the Power of Vengeance
For the unaware , Children of the Sun follow The Girl , a orphic woman who ’s feel herself wag a war against The Cult and its head , The Leader . Along the way , you uncover the the true link up her to this religious cult , and the various cloak-and-dagger ritual they perform in the name of their misrepresented vision . While you ’re only armed with a sniper rifle and a undivided bullet , that bullet is n’t quite what it seems , able to bounce from enemy to foe if you play your wit correct .
While say uniquely , I do admittedly find the story of Children of the Sun to be the weak part by far . The patch is told almost completely through a serial publication of images quickly flash before your eyes which reflect the master character ’s damaged genial body politic . This is a heavy conception in theory , but it often does nothing more than thrum up more confusion than you started with . I was able to somewhat piece things together by the end , but it left the doorway opened to a ton of questions that did n’t so much breed curiosity and theory - crafting as they did confusion .
Every level is a tactician ’s playground , seeing you denounce various target across the function , find a just route between them , and fulfill that plan to huge expiation .
Still , I ca n’t dwell too much on this since it ’s such a small part of Children of the Sun . However , I could n’t aid but wonder what the plot could ’ve been had the storytelling been a tactile sensation more verbatim .
One Bullet With Shocking Versatility
Where Children of the Sun instead shines brightest , ironically throw my prospect , is in its puzzle mechanism . You may only have one bullet , but the power to bounce it from head to point with a satisfying godsend underscoring each guesswork does n’t get former . This , mix with the satisfaction of finding the most optimal path to hit each head only further adds to the enjoyment .
But what commit it to the next level is how child of the Sun systematically innovate powers that never find underutilized or overly complex . A lot of issues with game in general stem from a list of power that often devolve into you using just a duo of your faves while never witness a good reason to try out with the relaxation . Thanks in part to each ability playing a key character in choose down certain and warm foeman , you ’re consistently using your integral outfit to finish charge while never generate tired of using a sure acquirement . One of my favorite is the first power you get , letting you contain the bullet mid - flight slightly and adjust for anything you may not have considered upon pull the trigger . It peculiarly remind me of Bulletstorm ’s sniper , which let you adjust mid - flight so you could fume your target .
While it ’s not something everyone will search , I also apprise the add challenge to complete on sure stage . These challenge are hinted at through livid text and are unique for every point , leaving extra content for masses like myself who want to collect some extra gas mileage out of the secret plan . They are n’t necessary either , so if you ’re getting frustrated with a special challenge or do n’t need to take one on , it ’s never necessary .
Image via Devolver Digital
All of this together truly take a shit the tactical third - person puzzle shooter music genre I mentioned at the beginning about as apt as I could suppose . Every degree is a tactician ’s playground , seeing you mark various targets ( which is yet another dandy characteristic ) across the map , feel a good route between them , and carry through that plan to immense satisfaction . While there are some minor griping I have with one of the power , these are insignificant equate to how much this game gets right . While I move in expecting it to satisfy while proving unremarkable , small fry of the Sun showed some impressive restraint that help it keep its short runtime systematically fresh and fun .
Oddly Specific Artistic Influences
If I had to rapidly describe the atmosphere of Children of the Sun , my verbal description would be less than established . While an incredibly strange comparison , a destiny of its sound design and art style reminded me of two other Devolver deed of conveyance , anthropoid Out and Boomerang X ( both of which I ’m also a sports fan of ) . Boomerang X carries over the nontextual matter , using a simplistic art trend that accent color to help counterpoint enemies off its setting , something that minor of the Sun does n’t do as starkly , but still work well . It also goes in a much spirited direction , complementing its grim narration of revenge .
As for the Ape Out comparability , both game have shockingly similar intelligent conception that complements each other for entirely unlike reason . Where Ape Out ’s bold and brash sounds go with your ape ’s more brutish stampede against foes , Children of the Sun ’s fast-growing soundscape contribute to the mental country of the main fictitious character , as they slaughter lashings of citizenry without as much of a second persuasion . I ca n’t remember the last meter comparability like these made sense for me , but they do here .
However , I ’m not completely in sexual love with the game ’s deficiency of euphony . While I can forgive it since it was a solo dev making this undertaking , the few track the biz has blended with nothing feeling quite memorable . Even if it was just one unlike track for the multi - superimposed concluding stage , I would ’ve loved to see something to storm on that front .
Image via Devolver Digital.
A Welcome Trip to Hell and Back
Despite some minor gripes , Children of the Sun is yet another welcome surprise from publishing company Devolver Digital . It ’s a game you would n’t carry to come after given how many others have fail similar idea miserably , but thanks to a great gameplay flow , tightly contrive powers , and a coherent sensory faculty of challenge , it stand well above the rest . If you require a challenging puzzler and savor yourself the remaining shooter , Children of the Sun is a passionate title you ’ll need to set your survey on .
Image via Devolver Digital.
Image via Devolver Digital.
