Selfloss REVIEW
Selfloss is an adventure from Goodwin Games studio, inspired by Slavic and Icelandic folklore. Whales are worshipped here, turtles fly in the sky, and the main character makes his way through the forests and collects herbs. This is a rather melancholic game that needs to be approached with a certain mood.
An old man named Kazimir finds himself in an unusual world from which there is no way out. To earn his freedom, he will have to follow the orders of the local mistress, Madder. Since the hero is able to perform a special Selfloss ritual that heals souls, this difficult task is placed on his shoulders.
Selfloss is steeped in legends and beliefs. It wonderfully combines an environment inspired by the landscapes of Iceland and mythical motifs from Slavic folklore. You can immerse yourself in ENT by talking with the characters and studying the notes and notes scattered in abundance throughout the game world.
The old man explores spacious, branched locations, solves puzzles and fights the creatures of the Miasma, a mysterious disease that has engulfed the world. For both, he will need a staff that emits light – weak or, if you hold down a key, focused and bright.
Weak light is needed to, for example, highlight runes, whereas powerful radiance is needed to eliminate monsters. The latter do not obediently wait for them to be destroyed, but run and rush at the hero, forcing him to dodge attacks and actively move around the arena.
To solve puzzles, the staff can be used independently, separately from the character. In these episodes, the game evokes associations with Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, because you have to control the old man and turn the beam of light at the same time. Many puzzles are tied to this game mechanics, but there are also other challenges, such as the destruction of Miasma shoots, and even some kind of fishing.
However, at the same time, Selfloss requires full immersion and an appropriate mood. It is worth sitting down to play with a mood that does not suit her – and instead of a meditative journey to the afterlife, you will get painfully slow gameplay that you will want to stop as soon as possible.
It’s all about the slowness of the project: the old man walks slowly, accelerates reluctantly, reacts to the player’s commands with a slight delay. After activating a trigger with some creature, you will have to put down control and watch the cut scene associated with it. And having picked up an important subject, you will go back through the entire location – and it’s also good if a portal is found on your way, allowing you to shorten the path.
Selfloss can be recommended to those who are ready for a meditative adventure. If you prefer dynamic gaming sessions, then you are unlikely to get into the stories of the characters. This is one of the most beautiful indie games, which also makes you think. Selfloss raises the topic of the loss of a loved one and wonders how to deal with it.
