Glare – A shining example of modern indie gaming
Glare is a new platformer from Phobic Studios. While Phobic has been putting out mobile games for some time now, Glare represents an ambitious jump to PC, Mac, and Linux. It’s a shining example of what an indie studio can accomplish in a market flooded with well funded studios pumping out the next big thing each month. The quality of the visual elements is top notch and the level design is challenging yet rewarding. Glare is a game that should not be missed by anyone that values solid gameplay mechanics and beautifully crafted graphics. That is to say anyone. Admittedly it’s not a perfect game, but it is very very good and a worthy addition to virtually any game library.
In Glare you play as a being of light called the Shiner which is given form by the armor you inhabit. Your goal is to defeat the spreading infection of the Ramora that are killing your system’s sun. Through the combination of your glare and your gauntlet, you will drive back and destroy the Ramora while clearing their taint from five unique worlds. It’s a classic story of light versus darkness, except it’s quite literal in this case.
Solid platforming experience
Glare does exactly what a side-scrolling platformer is supposed to. Each level adds a new tool to your arsenal and forces you to build on the skills you’ve acquired in previous levels. The controls (I used a controller as opposed to a keyboard and mouse) were simple and easy to get a handle on. Your weapons will face in the direction that you’re moving unless you use choose to override that with the right analog stick. If you ask me, that’s the perfect way to handle a twin stick situation where button presses will also be used. Some areas do require an element of timing in order to move safely between dangers or propel the Shiner at just the right angles. I ended up having to rely on a good deal of trial and error as I moved through each level, but the challenge level of each puzzle is absolutely where it should be. Completing each new challenge feels satisfying and rewarding.
Glare is a stunningly gorgeous game. The use of light sources and particle effects is phenomenal. As the Shiner takes damage, it emits less light as an intuitive way of showing its level of health. The backgrounds are so beautifully rendered that it’s easy to become distracted and forget that you’re on a 2D track and can’t really explore them. Each of the five worlds is distinct in both design and aesthetic. Enough similarities exist between each that you’ll understand what it is that you’re meant to do while continuing to feel a sense of exploration. One of the more interesting and easily missed features of the worlds is their spherical design. There’s a curvature present in each world that becomes more pronounced as you get closer to the center of the world and the Ramora taint choking it.
A bit of a dark side
My only real complaints about the game are the boss fights and the soundtrack. The music, to me, feels like it was developed independent of the worlds it’s meant to carry you through. Not that it’s bad in itself, it just feels like a generic fantasy / sci-fi score was thrown into the game for the sake of having music. If you spend a lot of time being killed and restarting while you learn each new level, it can get a bit tiresome. As for the boss fights, they are each a slightly more complex version of the previous fight. It’s the only part of the game that ends up feeling a bit cut and pasted. The change from side-scrolling to a sort of free-floating 2D shooter is fun, but can seem a little repetitive by the time you’re finished with the five core worlds.
Glare shines as an example of a well polished platforming experience. It’s fun to play and easy to get lost in the beauty of the game. It is certain to take a lasting position as one of the great games in the platforming genre. Check out the official trailer for Glare here. There are also a number of Steam achievements for those that can complete the time trials for each world. It personally took me about 6 hours to get through it all the first time, so I have a bit of work to do before I get all of my cheevos. Glare releases today, October 1oth and is available through their official website or on Steam.
