And why not ? The studio Lab Zero Games had already surprised his world in 2014 with Skullgirls, a fighting game composed exclusively of female fighters, and returns 5 years later to offer Indivisible. Yet another fantasy-style RPG? Not really, since the Californian studio announces to be always in innovation and offers another genre to spice up her baby, the platform.
The Indivisible Switch trailer
Indivisible, on all supports? (Update on Switch version)
In the universe, the spirit and the format, it seemed inconceivable that Indivisible does not come out on the last console of Big N. It is now something done since the end of April, but this appearance on the eShop has not been without a hitch.
Surprise arrival … no good surprises
Indeed, this release has aroused astonishment, whether on the side of players … or developers. No communication had leaked from 505 Games and Lab Zero, who had planned an entry on the support without announcing dates. Finally, as a result of "unexpected" events, the game ended up exclusively online on April 29, instead of May (the date secretly kept by publisher and developers). A hitch, because the backers have not yet received physical copies as expected, and this Switch version is not completely complete. An update should soon see the light with the familiar Roti available, CPU / GPU optimizations, and resolution at 1080p in TV mode instead of 720p currently.
On the other hand, New Game + and coop mode, recently added via update on other media, are not mentioned by the game site as additions to this next update. Same story for the last paid DLC (Razmi's Challenge). Notable innovations and positive points, which would undoubtedly inflate the mark and the praises of the test. Unfortunately, we will judge the title in its current version on Switch.
Always as pleasant
Is this disruptive event a weight for Indivisible, vintage 2020? Well, not really, since it takes up all the qualities of the PC and console versions. So we let you re-read the test that we laid last October below, but know that from a technical point of view, the game is impeccable and does not suffer from its carrying status
Our test of October 9, 2019
At the crossroads of worlds
Everyone who has played Skullgirls will recognize Lab Zero's paste from the first contact, namely a deliciously cartoony 2D graphic style. Ajna, an impetuous, but dizzy fighter, trains daily in her village under the orders of Indr, her father. A routine interrupted by the attack on the peaceful village by Ravannavar, a dark entity whose motives are still unclear. The warrior therefore goes in search of revenge in an anonymous universe, but not without special abilities: each Allied fighter is called Incarnation, and is sucked into Ajna's spirit to lend him a hand in battle. Beautiful script pirouette to avoid lugging around the rest of the guild behind you.
You can switch between the map and the Interior For, to boost your skills with the Ringsels
Because yes, that would be problematic since Indivisible is above all a 2D platform with metroidvania sauce. Most of the game is guided by exploration, in maps that look like labyrinths, but more intuitive than they seem. At first only wall-jump and dash techniques are available to advance, but over time weapons and abilities are unlocked to solve increasingly complex puzzles. We feel a real sense of progression, whether in the skills or the difficulty of certain passages. For example the ax allows you to hang on the too large or too high walls, the fury allows Ajna to demolish rocks … A good way to remake the levels later and to reach the previously inaccessible areas.
Another part of this platform part, the Interior For is an area as a HQ, accessible by pressing the up button. We enter Ajna's mind to see the different members of the team, and a duo of characters named Ratna and Mori. These two magicians transfer the collected "Ringsels" to improve the attack and the defense of the troop. Well hidden in the various environments, these red stones are to be collected and then converted and improved.
Of many, one
Upgrade the attack and defense of the group, useful in fights that are not played during the platform phases. Once faced with an enemy, the whole thing is to attack it to start a fight. So we are struggling with a dynamic turn-based system, with 4 incarnations on our side and the enemies on the other
Each character has their own skills
The strength of Indivisible is then the reflection to constitute the best possible roster. By finding Incarnations during the moments of exploration (it is possible to miss certain characters), the card of its capacities in combat is then revealed. It's up to you to combine the warriors, healers or archers to establish a coherent group and inflict the most devastating combos. Knowing that 20 Incarnations are unlockable during the adventure, the combinations are endless and everyone will find their own affinities, a happiness. However, Indivisible is a little guided on this point since it seems very difficult to play without a character like Dhar, the warrior able to more easily break the opposing guards, or a healer like Razmi.
An inspired combat system
The alternation between metroidvania and RPG combat is far from being heavy, since for comparison the enemies are less present than for an Ori & the Blind Forest for example, but just enough to alternate without frustration the phases platforms / enemies. Bosses alternate between the two genres, that is to say that once a certain number of HP has been removed, a platform passage which is not without dangers is essential to attack it again.. So be careful not to suffer too much damage during this moment so as not to be too weak in the second part of the fight. It's clever, friendly, but sometimes very demanding, especially since a death in the last phase of platform or combat makes you start all over again. Once these demons are defeated, expect to raise your arms to heaven, your eyes satisfied.
The Iddhi bar is used to make combos
More significant to overcome the toughest enemies, the Iddhi bar at the top left is a kind of tribute to the first title of Lab Zero Games, namely the special hit bar. Filled thanks to the combos given and the good guards on the enemy blows, it is used to inflict a violent blow or a precious care during the fight. An additional strategic level, since certain situations will push you to choose between attack or healing for the use of this Iddhi. As for the fight, we will just regret the lack of transparency on the progression of the characters, since at each level passed thanks to the experience very few indications except the increase in HP are displayed on the screen.
Iddhi in two hours?
Indivisible finds the key to success from almost all points of view, and its lifespan will not tarnish the picture, quite the contrary. About fifteen hours were announced to us by Zero Lab Games, but we really have to go quickly and bypass the difficulties of certain bosses to complete the adventure in such a short time. Count at least twenty hours if you are not a fan of hunting Ringsels to complete the journey of Ajna. Weakness in Skullgirls, the scenario and the dialogues are not of an absolute depth here, but the evolution of certain characters and several relations will give a smile. Special mention to Razmi, the strange shaman of the team whose valves sometimes reach their goal. And then, we can not repeat it enough, the Z-Engine brings here a real visual sun with detailed backgrounds. A postcard embellished with the music of Hiroki Kikuta, composer of Secret of Mana.
The notes
+Good points
- Superb artistic direction
- The concept of platform-RPG mix
- Well done and dynamic fights
- Platform phases of increasing difficulty
- Dubbing and music
- Very good lifespan (more than twenty hours)
- The difficulty of the bosses, sometimes exhilarating …
–Negative points
- … sometimes too demanding
- Certain exempt dialogues
- Several forgettable parts of maps
- Lack of customization
It is the surprise of this month of September, by its mixture between RPG and phases of well-felt platforms and its perfectly calibrated realization. Zero Lab Games succeeds brilliantly in its bet to bring together genres, mechanics, characters and universes without ever being taken aback. Elements which when combined form a refreshing, deep whole for a more than honest lifespan. Simply an indivisible work.
Gamesvideo.com
May 12, 2020 at 8:54:00 AM
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