{"id":2019,"date":"2014-04-28T18:01:52","date_gmt":"2014-04-28T16:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-child-of-light-a-fairytale-platforming-adventure-ps4\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T19:07:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T17:07:37","slug":"review-child-of-light-a-fairytale-platforming-adventure-ps4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-child-of-light-a-fairytale-platforming-adventure-ps4\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Child of Light \u2013 a fairytale platforming adventure (PS4)"},"content":{"rendered":"

UBI Soft’s Child of Light is an atmospheric and visually stunning modern fairy tale and an engaging platforming experience.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Child of Light<\/em><\/strong> tells the story of Princess Aurora, living harmoniously with her father, the king, in a distant kingdom. He cherishes her above all else. However, his remarriage to a woman who becomes Aurora’s stepmother precedes a tragic event: on Good Friday, Aurora falls into a profound slumber, rendering her seemingly lifeless.<\/p>\n

\"Aurora<\/p>\n

Aurora is not deceased but rather trapped within a dreamscape of light and shadow. Here, she must master new abilities, forge alliances with the benevolent beings of light, and solve intricate puzzles, all while engaging in combat against the dream world’s dark denizens. Child of Light<\/em> incorporates elements reminiscent of the Zelda series, with gameplay mechanics drawing inspiration from Limbo<\/em><\/strong> and Final Fantasy<\/em><\/strong>. The influence of Limbo<\/em> is evident in the side-scrolling perspective and the captivating visual style, evoking the ambiance of a John Bauer fairy tale illustration. Problem-solving also plays a crucial role, with challenges involving manipulating boxes and activating mechanisms. Furthermore, the game features a character akin to Murphy from Rayman Legends<\/em><\/strong>: Igniculus, a luminous entity that can be controlled using the R-stick, the PS4 controller’s touchpad, or by a second player. Igniculus can move independently, collect bonuses, provide healing to Aurora and her companions, and impede enemies during battles.<\/p>\n

The combat system in Child of Light<\/em> employs a turn-based mechanic reminiscent of classic role-playing games. Players strategically select actions, considering their duration and speed, to determine when to execute attacks with swords, utilize magic, or adopt defensive maneuvers. While common in Japanese RPGs and functional within this context, players accustomed to action-oriented platformers might find it interrupts the gameplay flow. However, the system introduces strategic depth, allowing players to acquire and enhance weapons with gems, and to optimize their party’s abilities for each encounter.<\/p>\n

\"child<\/p>\n

Child of Light<\/em> features a relatively open world, and Aurora progressively unlocks abilities that enhance exploration, such as the power to fly freely. This aerial maneuverability is both liberating and visually impressive, adding another layer to the already stunning graphics and fluid gameplay. Navigating the dream world and accessing any point of interest becomes a seamless and enjoyable experience.<\/p>\n

Beyond the exceptional visual presentation, particularly Aurora’s dynamic hair animation, the soundtrack creates a beautiful and immersive fairy tale atmosphere, complementing the narrative, which is presented in rhyme during both cutscenes and gameplay. While this rhyming dialogue may initially seem unusual, it quickly becomes an engaging and distinctive feature. The musical score is composed by Yoshitaka Amano, renowned for his contributions to the Final Fantasy<\/em> series.<\/p>\n

\"Allts\u00e5,<\/p>\n

Child of Light<\/em> is not as extensive or complex as a typical Zelda title. However, its price point reflects this, retailing for approximately 150 SEK<\/strong> (via PSN\/XBLA), a fraction of the cost of a full-priced release. Despite its modest price, it remains a visually remarkable game that provides numerous hours of enjoyment. Its engaging fantasy world makes it suitable for players of all ages. Considering its value proposition, it earns a high recommendation.<\/p>\n