We’ve been following the release of Spindle, a new action-adventure title from developer Wobble Ghost and publisher Deck13, with interest. The pixel art homage to the classic Zelda games has been released on Steam and Switch, priced at $16.99. We’ve been enjoying our time with Spindle, and the bottom line is that anyone who is a fan of classic adventure titles will get something out of this one. On the face of it, this does seem to stick rigidly to the tried and tested formulas, but is there enough here to help it stand out on its own?
The story in the game centers on Death, or the latest reincarnation of him. You wake to discover you’re now charged with getting souls to the afterlife, but something has gone wrong, and the souls aren’t where they’re meant to be. This creates the basis of each dungeon level, with the entire game interconnected by an overworld map. You don’t have to go it alone either; a trusty pig has joined your team, and together you’ll uncover the mystery of the souls and put the world back to how it should be.
Although the story is well thought out and works well, it never quite reaches any heights that make you feel completely engrossed in the world. Most of the NPC characters are bland and feel like they’re just there to push that particular part of the story along. That said, we don’t wish to be overly critical of Spindle‘s setting and story. We enjoyed the romp and the little twists in the narrative, and there isn’t any unnecessary gumph, which can sometimes bloat these kinds of games.
Where Spindle truly shines is in its excellent mechanics and well-made puzzles. Each time you visit a dungeon, there’s a real sense of being in a different place, and the challenges are varied throughout. Much of this variety is achieved after you gain the ability to control the pig. A clever mechanic where the main character turns into a stone statue while the pig runs off to narrow underground passages, finding switches and solving clever puzzles. Speaking of the game’s puzzles, there is a great balance between difficulty and fun factor in solving them; some are really well-thought-out.
Another aspect of Spindle worth mentioning is the variety of enemies that appear throughout the game. Each area and dungeon has its own specific set that requires different tactics to beat. While the combat isn’t particularly difficult, you will suffer deaths quite frequently if you don’t learn how each enemy type attacks or when they’re vulnerable. The same could be said for the boss fights, each of which is a grand battle that requires a few goes to work out the attack patterns. The other great thing about the boss fights is how some require you to switch between the main character and the pig in what almost becomes another puzzle to solve on its own.
With each boss fight, another lost soul is recovered and the next part of the mystery uncovered. Each dungeon has a new ability to learn, which will help you reach previously closed-off areas on the world map. There are also lots of secrets to discover, usually after you have a new move to use, and these normally end up with collecting coins, which are used to upgrade your life meter in Spindle. This also gives some much-needed longevity to the game as we spent a couple of hours exploring all the areas, including the world map, once we had all the abilities, and by the end, we had added a few extra hearts to our life counter.
The other standout aspect of Spindle is its beautiful pixel art and decent soundtrack. The whole journey is filled with lovely trees and scenery that pop out at you. There are also some tranquil moments where you can go fishing and enjoy the calm waters. These moments are especially good in the underground caves, where dimly but splendidly lit lakes are home to some of the hardest fish to find. There are also some wonderfully designed buildings and set-piece stages throughout that break up the otherwise mostly green or grey surroundings. Spindle looks and sounds great, and there is plenty to do and see.
Overall, Spindle is a delightful romp that will please fans of retro-styled adventure titles. While it doesn’t stray too far from the usual tropes that make this such a beloved genre, there are plenty of new ideas that bring a fresh experience. The switching between the two characters to solve puzzles and open new areas is clever in places, and the well-designed dungeons and boss fights are engaging and varied. It also doesn’t outstay its welcome with experienced players being able to finish in about eight hours, while those who like to take their time and explore will get even longer out of it. A great game that pays homage to the classics while blending in interesting modern mechanics.
