The Pathless is a game that was brilliantly developed by Giant Squid. If you aren’t familiar with their work, they also developed Abzû. They are at it again with breathtaking graphics and a story that plays to every one of your emotions. If you have yet to play The Pathless, I highly recommend it. I played it on my PlayStation 5 but it is on other platforms as well.
An Archer And Her Eagle
You play as The Hunter, accompanied by her eagle, and set forth to cleanse the land of a horrible curse. Throughout their journey, I found myself incredibly invested in their story. It was a beautiful story that needed no words to be told and I think that’s what made this game truly unique. The world is scattered with a ton of lore to help you understand the world around you, but The Hunter and the eagle never speak to each other. They grow closer by conquering insurmountable odds together. Through their story, the world around them bursts to life and as you purify the island you’ll begin to understand how it got as bad as it did.
It was easily the biggest thing that stood out for me with this title. I think it is very difficult to convey a story without using many words but Giant Squid did it effortlessly. I grew attached the the Hunter and her bird very quickly, and kept playing the game to see if they would succeed in their objective. The subtle things drove it home for me, like petting your eagle to help cleanse it of the curse when it got overwhelmed by it. It was moments like this that solidified their bond with each other and my interest in that bond. As powerful as the Hunter is, without her eagle companion, she would not have been able to succeed.
By the end of the game I was honestly in tears. They formed a bond so strong that nothing could break it and it was truly beautiful. Without spoiling too much, I will just say I was pleased with the whole experience. It was a wholesome one from start to finish.
Unique Gameplay and Smart Exploration
The Pathless sets itself apart from other games in a few different ways. The most noticeable way is how it makes you navigate the open world. As the Hunter, you wield a bow and arrow which you will primarily use to shoot targets floating around the world rather then enemies. As you hit these targets, the Hunter gains speed and momentum and before you know it you will be racing across this beautifully cursed land. You will need to keep hitting targets to fill up your stamina gauge, but the Hunter will do the aiming for you so its fairly easy to get the hang of.
Another way The Pathless becomes its own is how it forces you to explore its open world. Instead of the traditional set of ‘go here and do that’ quests, The Pathless gives you no map. Instead, you are given an open world to explore at your own pace. Let curiosity be your guide and as you uncover the secrets of the island, you’ll learn how to search for more. This is a recipe for extremely rewarding exploration, as it encourages the player to try everything.
For example, there are many places within the world that drew in my attention. Some were huge buildings, but others were more subtle like a row of statues with one missing. I thought to myself, “I wonder what would happen if I stood where the missing statue was,” and lo and behold, a reward awaited me. It was in these minor moments where I stopped playing, smiled and just patted myself on the back for trying it. The Pathless is littered with these kinds of environmental puzzles and they are just brilliant.
Boss “Battles” Feel Important
You know how some games can just feel the same throughout the experience? Boss battles exist but the only thing separating them from regular combat are long cutscenes or big setups. Well, The Pathless isn’t like that, at all. In fact, there is no combat outside of the boss battles, if you can even call them battles, and that makes them feel so much more important. It also sheds more light on The Hunter and her eagle. Violence is not their first choice, but save this island they are willing to do whatever it takes.
It just had me on the edge of my seat with every battle. Each one was so unique and different that I couldn’t rely on the previous encounter for insight on my current one. It also created this sense of fragility with The Hunter that had me wondering if she would succeed. It wasn’t because I didn’t believe in her but it was because I had not seen her engage in combat before. That only made me celebrate her victories alongside her and her eagle even more.
An Unforgettable Experience
The Pathless was an experience I will never forget. I became invested in the Hunter’s journey from the very start and I only grew more attached as the story progressed. It was truly a wonderful experience to watch the bond between the Hunter and her eagle grow. I fell in love with both of them and if that isn’t excellent storytelling, then I don’t know what is.
It was an absolute joy getting the platinum trophy for this title as well. I’ve been lucky enough to do that on a few titles this year and this was certainly one I felt like I needed to go for. It allowed me to experience everything The Pathless had to offer and it did not disappoint.
I am always blown away by every indie game that I play. Creativity pours from developers like Giant Squid and it is an honor every time I get to experience it. These are the kinds of experiences that stick with me more, and it is exactly why I cannot get enough of these wonderful indie titles. Do yourself a favor and give The Pathless a try.
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