Ember was such a nostalgic trip for me but can definitely be enjoyed by almost anyone, regardless of nostalgia. Ember hearkens back to games such as Baldur’s Gate and Planescape Torment – and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I’d like to comfort those who may not have played these games at release; this game is great whether it’s your first classic style RPG or your twentieth adventure. It may be simpler than more recent RPGs but it’s just as magical and well worth your time for plenty of reasons. This may not be a game that breaks new ground but it’s certainly respectful and fun going down the worn path it’ll take you down – if you’re ready for the journey ahead.
If you’re looking for something new then this needs to be said: You will not find many new things here. However you will find a beautiful love letter to Baldur’s Gate and games from that age that will pull you in with great design and an interesting world. Games have proven time and time again that new isn’t always the answer to the question of “What makes a game great?” I had no idea how badly I missed playing a well designed classic RPG. In fact, once I sink my teeth into a couple dozen more hours of Ember, I’m absolutely going to revisit Planescape Torment and Champions of Norrath. These are some awesome games that thrive off old school mechanics. Ember is proof that not only do these mechanics work and hold up well but that there’s also still demand out there for these kinds of games. Now let’s discuss what makes it such a great game before I realize I don’t have a PS2 to replay Champions of Norrath … Crap, too late …
Ember may rely on older tropes and tricks but it pulls it off so well. This game won’t feel worn out but rather like a good pair of shoes already broken in and ready for the road ahead. I couldn’t help but think of The Hobbit once the story got going. That warm bliss-filled feeling of just running off on an adventure. Ember will have you fighting enemies and leveling up as you traverse across different dungeons and lands while learning new abilities and collecting new gear as you conquer your enemies. It feels epic and awesome despite its drawn back scale. After my first two hours into the game I was just zoned out and the keyboard and mouse just felt like extensions of myself. Ember is proof that immersion has absolutely nothing to do with graphics. All you need is a kickass story, a meaningful journey, and fun characters. Slashing through skeletons and looting gold never hurt anybody either! Well … except skeletons …
The mechanics and overall feel of the game are also tightly designed. Think Super Meat Boy and how it was able to tighten everything within the platformer genre and just perfect it. That’s what Ember does to the CRPG genre and I’m thrilled to see a comeback done this well. N-Fusion Interactive has shown near mastery of the genre and I sincerely hope we see a follow up to Ember! The world is interesting and the developer seems to have a full understanding of how to make something great from this older yet still exciting era in the RPG genre’s history. This world is worth exploring and it never feels empty. This is definitely one of those games where if you’re willing to let go then you can get lost for hours on end. This world is immersive in spite of the assumed simplicity at first glance. It also looks beautiful with its handcrafted environments that you can immediately tell the developer put a lot of thought into. Everything just feels so deliberately designed and confidently laid out.
The music is great too and I found myself humming along often. It’s very atmospheric and really helped pull me further into the world. I find myself playing the soundtracks from the Lord of the Rings trilogy whenever I’m not too fond of a fantasy RPG’s music and I can honestly say that I was never even tempted to do so with Ember. Sound effects were satisfying and helped add more magic to the mix. The dialogue will likely be hit or miss; it all depends on if you’re wanting something from the CRPG era or something more serious. It’s cheeky and cheesy in a good way. It’s got some good humor and doesn’t take itself too seriously but gamers more interested in modern voice acting will probably either dislike or feel indifferent towards it.
The controls are great and you can of course customize a few shortcuts for frequently used items to save you some time. I found myself pausing it and dishing out commands for the more intense battles but it’s welcome nonetheless. There’s no controller support to be found here but in all honesty this is something that wouldn’t translate well to controller. Even if it’s your preferred control method just trust me – the controls will flow from your hand with a keyboard and mouse. I tested it on my laptop’s touchpad and it was comfortable enough but if you’ll be playing in a more restrictive environment then I would absolutely recommend the iOS version. I’m planning on picking it up on iOS when I get an iPhone in a few months because I know this will translate well to a touch screen format and be great fun on the go!
I didn’t have any major complaints with Ember. There were times I wish the game went a bit faster. Backtracking was sometimes a pain but it barely broke my suspension of disbelief. Before I knew it I was back to forgetting I was even playing a game. All in all this is a great game and I can’t recommend it enough to fans of the CRPG genre. I think it’s worth looking into even if the genre isn’t usually your cup of tea. There’s a lot of fun to be had here whether your first RPG was Baldur’s Gate or even Skyrim. Just expect it to be a little slower in terms of pacing and a bit drawn back in scale and you’re bound to have a great time. I never let price impact my overall opinion of a game because I think the game should be judged solely on what it sets out to do and how well it succeeds, but I would like to mention that Ember is only ten dollars. That’s not a lot of money for a thirty hour plus fantasy RPG filled with fun and replay value. Consider adding Ember to your Steam library or your iOS home screen today!
I had a lot of fun with Ember and I know it’s going to be a game that I’ll replay for not only months to come but also for years to come! I’d love to hear from anyone who decides to join me and take on the role of the Lightbringer. Feel free to reach me on Twitter @mrjoshnichols and let me know what you think of this gem from an earlier era! This is definitely a game I’ll be talking about for quite some time so expect to see me posting about my own journey in the world of Ember!