Gylt analysis; the jewel of tequila finally on consoles!

It’s been a long time since Tequila will launch, exclusively for Stadia, one of its latest works. I remember perfectly when it was announced Golden, and it was one of those video games that make you think as soon as you see them; “I have to play this.” In 2019, the year it launched, I had also just savored the fantastic RiME at the time, which left such a great taste in my mouth. However, that of playing Golden in the cloud… that never really convinced me. And it is that I am one of those who support the alternative yes, but in the end nothing like playing natively on my system.

Due to exclusivity with Google Stadia, I was forced to enjoy Sally’s cloud adventure, and despite everything, I enjoyed it. At the same time that I was playing it, in lower quality of course, I was saddened by the fact that I knew it wouldn’t get enough recognition from the public, being a fantastic video game. NOWI am sure that Golden will find its place on its own meritsthen I will try to explain why.

Sally’s story, better than ever

We can finally take advantage of the full potential of Golden on consoles, and despite Stadia being a better-than-expected service, the power of the Series X/S makes the experience unbeatable when playing it natively. The immersion is total, with a setting that sometimes recalls Silent Hill, once Sally resumed her gondola ride in Bethelwood. This kind of “upside down world” that Emily finds herself in finds the balance to deliver a lively experience, but with just the right amount of horror.

The sets, whether it’s the mine, the institute, or the town of Bethelwood itself, look great, with some technical part more than up to par. One of the points that stands out the most is the lighting.. Throughout the adventure, it is essential to take advantage of the light to defend yourself and, at the same time, control the environment or solve puzzles. The reflections, water, or textures of what’s around us don’t feel outdated at any point, and while perhaps more powerful improvements can be expected from these next-gen versions, I can assure you that the game conforms in every way.

In Gylt light will be your best ally

On a playable level, the port to the Xbox Series also remains the same as the original Stadia release, with the smoothness and lack of “input lag” that comes with playing on our own system. In my case, I’ve already enjoyed playing on Stadia with the Xbox One controller, and with the Series X controller it’s just as enjoyable to control Sally.

I said earlier that light is a crucial element in Golden, and it is that the gameplay is based almost entirely on it. Shortly after the start of the adventure, Sally will find a flashlight that will become her best ally. Beyond being able to light up the scenes, it will be a weapon to defend against the monsters that prowl Bethelwood, the result of this terrifying dimension.

Among other collectibles, on the map we will have distributed batteries with which to recharge the battery of said flashlight. Although yes, we will only spend energy to execute these enemies from behind or dazzle them, so normal use will not involve any expense. Tequila cleverly shows us this battery level on Sally’s back, from the same flashlight. A well-integrated element, and one that also forces the player to choose carefully which beasts to kill and which to avoid, a strategic touch enough to complicate the experience a bit, but without overdoing it. With the rest of the puzzles, the same thing happens.

The most important thing in Gylt… Don’t be seen!

The AI ​​also deserves a special mention. Without achieving the complexity or depth of other video games, Golden it is sufficiently well implemented for the adventure that Tequila offers us. He detection system It will warn us with a white arrow if an enemy sees us, and it will turn yellow if it detects something, while in red it will have seen us completely. A silhouette of Sally will indicate the last point where we were seen. And if we need to trick them, we can always rely on vending machines to get cans, or use the flashlight as a distraction. And if they see you, there will always be air ducts to hide in.

Another feature I like Golden, is its level design. The high school area at the start of the game is bigger than it looks. Moreover, it is very satisfying to discover these seemingly inaccessible areas, and which are later accessed through a secret conduit, or after solving certain puzzles.

A brilliant sound section

Tequila launched a round game in 2019, and a good part of it can be seen in the soundtrack that accompanies us throughout. The melodies arrive when they should, and the background music contributes to that constant feeling of helplessness. Remember that Sally will only have the help of her flashlight throughout the adventure.

On the other hand, in terms of dubbing you should know that he has voices in Spanish, just like it came to Stadia. Dubbing practically reduced to the exclusive protagonist (for script reasons). What you can be clear is that it is on a sensational level. The same goes for sound effects; the footsteps in the dry or in the puddles, the monsters, the opening of the doors… Everything is extremely neat, attentive to the aspirations of the title.

An adventure not to be missed

Rhyme It became one of my favorite indie games back then, and it still is. Tequila then clarified that they not only know how to create good titles at a playable level, but that the art section always comes with a great story, told with great taste. The same is reflected in Golden; the plot of Sally and Emily is not only told through dialogues or cutscenes, since the setting also speaks to us. There are collectibles and details all over the map that offer us new insights into Emily’s whereabouts and why she’s trapped there.

Finding Sally’s cousin is the main objective of the game, but our terrifying journey to her is undoubtedly the highlight of the adventure. A great tour, which despite the occasional flaw in its physics or playability, it goes without saying that you will have an “appalling” time.