There was a precise era, a few years ago, when RPG Maker really gave the tools to all aspiring role-playing video game creators to unleash their imagination and creative talent. It is no coincidence that RPG Maker has once again chosen to link to Nintendo Switch with a certainly unexpected remake of a very peculiar product from the beginning of the last decade. Needless to say, indie games are benefiting greatly from the hybrid Nintendo: the Switch has literally saved the passion of millions of older gamers and guaranteed income to an endless list of garage development studios. RPG Maker, which was nominally created to give enthusiasts the opportunity to create role-playing games, was actually the source of many indie gems, including the much-discussed OMORI. Ib is another of those titles born in the online underground in 2012 and over time becoming a niche product, but with its own passionate followers: today we welcome to Nintendo Switch its revised and updated version, already present in Steam. Discover with us if it is worth savoring those environments again ib review.
An unexpected exhibition
Let's start with a big confession: we won't say much about Ib because, simply, it is a very short game, as linear and essential in its gameplay as it is original and creative in its solutions. Iincipits It is curious at the right moment: in the shoes of the protagonist, we will find ourselves exploring an exhibition with our parents. The situation will soon become more terrifying and isolated than expected, leaving us to explore a labyrinth of mysteries, obstacles and searching for a way out in every way. Compared to the aforementioned OMORI or a similar title like Undertale, Ib remains a decidedly simpler game both in its visual style and in its gameplay and design solutions: the choices adopted by the developer are not intended to convince due to the depth of the game . sector, rather to tell a brief but relatively concentrated story, with some tricks that improve the final result.
We are talking about a game with a fairly limited longevity, and that certainly draws on numerous games to discover the different endings and the numerous secrets of the game. The version that comes to Switch will be able to have one slightly modernized graphics compared to the original, additional content and in general a series of "quality of life" improvements in the management of the puzzles that make the game absolutely more fun and dense, at the cost of the loss of that feeling of rough pixels that clearly derives from such a strongly independent production.
Ib's discomfort
Ib is a more refined, delicate and, if we want, less immediate game than other titles of similar caliber: it has a structure that pushes you to make more runs, no matter how short; proposes a musical accompaniment that does not emerge immediately, but grows over time, becoming an absolutely specific background and fused with the story told; It offers gameplay that is voluntarily allowed to flow from the general fabric, which can make Ib a rather particular proposition and not necessarily appreciated by everyone.
Not much is known about Kouri, the mysterious creator of Ib, aside from some strange information from his Japanese online blog. So, right off the bat, if you were to ask us about some of his influences, we would say that Kouri performed - and was very impressed - with a specific type of Japanese productions between the late 90s and early 2000s: Clock Tower, Koun and the first Project Zero are perfect examples of clearly inspired models. Although Ib is a title that is freed from a key based on gore and scares, the sensation is that of being faced with a specific desire: to create and give life to an atmosphere capable of make you feel constantly uncomfortable, a concentration of out-of-place elements, a supernatural formed by abnormal situations in normal places.
The Switch version is absolutely recommended, in fact identical to the PC version also in terms of performance, as it has improved over the original free version and is still available. The chosen game mode is undoubtedly the portable one, the best way to enjoy many independent titles that want to do nothing more than impose themselves honestly and humbly entertain the player. Kouri's proposal, therefore, is still quite valid, despite the limited production levels and the fact that it has more than 10 years of history. Oh yes, it's been so many years now.
Conclusions
digital delivery Nintendo eShop Price 14,79 € Holygamerz.com 8.0 Readers (4) 7.5 your voteIb is certainly a less massive and immediate game than other indie horror titles that haven't gained prominence lately. It is a warning that we feel like giving, but it goes hand in hand with the advice to those who are in the right state of mind to live this type of adventure to absolutely try it. By simplifying the gameplay and style to the extreme, Ib's musical, artistic and narrative care can exceed expectations and, behind a seemingly less refined framework, tell a story that can remain in the player's mind and heart for a long time.
PRO
- Ib finally lands in the portable world
- Artistic and creative originality.
- The underlying linearity emphasizes the narrative.
AGAINST
- Rather short
- It must be approached with a precise perspective.
- The gameplay is relatively non-existent.
