Have you ever wished that Hades had a cute (yet deadly) animal protagonist and a co-op mode? If your answer is yes, then you should check out Motion Twin’s Windblown, which is launching in early access and had a great demo at Steam Next Fest.
If the studio’s name sounds familiar, that’s because the team released one of the best games in the roguelite-Metroidvania subgenre, Dead Cells. Now, it’s taking a different approach, starting with a top-down perspective and a new, unique art style. After plenty of trailers and previews, its Early Access release is set for October 24th, and I must say, the Next Fest demo was a sweet appetizer.
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Windblown, at least in its demo, jumps right into the action, with little dialogue and storytelling getting in the way of the awesome sense of movement (you can speed across so much land in seconds) and ease. Isometric view action. In this regard, it feels a lot like Dead Cells, a game with a well-established mythology but not bogged down by too much world-building and walls of text.
Another advantage of successfully moving from one game to another is a set of controls that are easy to master but slightly more difficult to master. Windblown is simple to pick up and play, but there’s a rhythm to every hit, shot, and dash. Combat quickly becomes a lilting symphony that’s both visceral and strategic; the right split-second decision-making (rather than just reacting to visual cues) can mark a brief encounter that comes out unscathed or almost The difference between being ready to fend off another attack. “Alternating attacks” also seems to be the key to cracking the perfect flow. They require you to quickly switch between two equipped weapons at just the right moment, like a perfect sprint.
The backdrop of the archipelago, divided into blocks and floating high in the sky, is appealing from the start. The scenery is beautiful and pleasing to the eye without feeling bloated thanks to the colorful art style. Back in the village/headquarters, the atmosphere is calmer, but even amid the weird maelstrom that threatens to eat everything and everyone you know and love, Windblown has a persistent beauty that isn’t derivative.
I also got the impression from this demo that there’s a bigger mystery to uncover (who are we really? Why are we trapped there?), and that you’re tasked with dealing with the knowledge and equipment of other jumpers, This fact reveals a larger history that is gluing the entire premise together. Likewise, Windblown doesn’t seem too interested in overdoing its narrative, but I can imagine Motion Twin adding more meat to those bones as the Early Access period continues.
Even though there are limited weapons and loot to be found in chests and taken from fallen enemies, there’s still a sense of progress toward a specific build that’s also reminiscent of Dead Cells’ approach. Rather than aimlessly stacking random passives and gear, it’s more valuable to strike a balance between two weapons that suit your playstyle and then level up around them. That said, it’s hard to evaluate the whole thing from the demo alone, as I’m sure the useful progression meta layer will add a lot of juice to the brew.
Regardless, killing the mysterious emissary from the vortex, which is an army of buildings as far as I can tell, always yields rewards that can be used to upgrade the next run and help the village grow. You know what to do. The biggest difference here is that Windblown seems to have a faster loop than other games in the roguelite realm. It’s weird to come back empty-handed from an adventure (even if you fail). There is always something new or a friendly person waiting to interact with.
Best of all, Windblown has online co-op built in from the moment of Early Access, making it a or even better
For a game rushing into a crowded market, Windblown already comes across astonishingly confident and sophisticated. I didn’t have low expectations for Motion Twin, but it’s always great to get your hands on a highly anticipated indie release and be satisfied with the results. My experience with Dead Cells also tells me that they have that special touch and will turn it into something noteworthy, so pick up next week.
