Light Fall, by Bishop Games, is a 2D adventure platformer set in Numbra. Using your control over the Shadow Core, you can journey through Numbra and handle any challenges in your way.
The first level of Light Fall functions as a tutorial for early mechanics and movement. I enjoyed the way it taught mechanics in an open environment to allow the player to mess around and get a feel for the basic character control. During this, I noticed that the camera was a bit disorienting as it would follow you, especially when jumping around, but it was easy to get used to as I progressed through the game.
One of the many things I enjoyed in Light Fall was its narration, as it was pleasing to listen to your owl companion narrate what your character is going through and it was reminiscent of Bastion, which also did this very well.
Light Fall’s visuals were also amazing. Each act had a theme that was unique and different from the last. The art style and direction initially reminded me of Limbo, but Light Fall was much more colorful and vibrant, and had much more detail, layering, and lighting effects, making it very visually appealing. The story cutscenes were also beautiful and included some movement so as not to have just a static image.
The gameplay mechanics in Light Fall are easily the best part of the game. I loved controlling the Shadow Core because of the movement capabilities it brought to this platformer. Initially, I missed having normal platforming mechanics, like a double jump and dash, but as I progressed, solved puzzles, and utilized the Shadow Core more, I realized how fun it was to use and master.
Another thing Light Fall did well was the level design. I enjoyed getting immersed in the narrative as I explored the level and scenery. The game rewarded exploration and mastery of the mechanics by offering hidden yellow collectibles that would unlock additional lore. Another bit of good level design within Light Fall was offering several routes to the player, so they could decide on the path to take.
One of the biggest flaws I noticed in Light Fall are the boss battles. There were very few boss battles, and the final one seemed a bit overly difficult compared to the rest of the game. After enough time and countless deaths to learn its patterns and better tactics, I beat it, but I mostly felt relief rather than satisfaction.
Another weakness I noticed is the short gameplay time. There are only four acts in the game, and depending on how fast you progress, you can breeze through them very quickly. And since the game is so immersive and fun to navigate through, time flies when playing through the levels, which makes the game seem even shorter.
Overall, Light Fall is a beautiful 2D adventure platformer with great controls and amazing visuals. The difficulty and skill curve are great and really push the player to master the Shadow Core mechanics as you progress through the game. If you’re a fan of 2D platformers with gorgeous visuals and a lot of control over your character, then Light Fall is a game you should check out.
Rating: 8.5/10
Here is the Light Fall Launch Trailer:
Light Fall is available for purchase for PC and Mac via Steam and the Nintendo Game Store for $14.99 USD.
PC Review
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Overall Score - 8.5/108.5/10
I am currently a sophomore at Michigan State University, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Game Design and Development. I love to play a wide variety of games and hope to one day be able to create amazing games like these.
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