LOST EMBER

"One of the most beautiful ways you could possibly spend 5 hours."
I have played through the story of this game and I feel I have enough time in to offer up a review. I will be structuring it in sections which will be: Strengths, Weaknesses, Value, then Summation.
Strengths:
-By far the best part of this game is the artwork. It's like playing a painting. The art is fresh looking, well done, and absolutely gorgeous. I feel like you could take a screenshot from literally anywhere in the game and it would look beautiful. Colors are vibrant, the music is great, sound design is absolutely top notch. The sound design and art direction for this game are spot on and the whole thing is just an absolute feast for the senses, which I appreciate over almost anything in these types of games. Yeah, that's the best way I can put it, it's like playing a painting. Beautiful.
-The physical parts of the game feel expansive, even for the short story that it is. The art direction was done in such a way to create open, spanning worlds that feel huge and infinite.
-I like how they modified some animals to be "not quite" real animals. They look like they BELONG in the world, and fill their role. I guess the best way I can describe how this is and how I appreciate it is that "the game uses the IDEA of a type of animal, rather than trying to put every individual species in the game." I like this approach.
-Every animal feels unique. They are all fun to play and fill a role in the world.
-All the animals are adorably modeled and animated.
-The best part of this game for me, is running through the various worlds and areas as different animals, making this into more or less a type of 3D platformer where you shapeshift for changing circumstances.
-The game flows well. I rarely found myself getting stuck for very long. It is also very gracious with hints and nudges along the way to keep you on track.
Weaknesses:
-I did not find the story to be exceptionally captivating. It was a nice story, there isn't anything wrong with it, but I didn't feel immersed in the storyline, or that there was anything new or different about it. It was sufficient and filled its role, but did not blow me away. It had some nice twists and it was a sweet story but I didn't find myself truly wound up in the character's personalities. What this game perhaps has in visual and auditory beauty, it somewhat lacks in depth of story.
-I found the lack of facial animation on the wolf to be somewhat unnerving. The body was very well animated, as are the other animals in the game, but the eyes of the wolf in all the cutscenes kind of threw me off and I found myself focusing on the fact that it never blinks rather than getting emotionally invested in the story. Even some minor movement of the eyes would have made the wolf more expressive. I understand that real animals don't have expressions, but that's the beauty of games. This really only applies to the face, as the body animations were very good. HOWEVER, this criticism is not to say anything negative about the model itself. I am totally in love with the overall design, just like all the other animals, that part falls right in line with the rest of the game.
-Some of the scripting/dialogue chosen for the "lost ember" is not my favorite. Overall, I appreciate its presence and it lends itself well to highlighting the game's crucial moments. However, I would have appreciated some of the hints to be a bit more vague, especially during cutscenes. This may have been some of my problem with the story. I don't even mind that they're narrated with the lost ember's voice, but some of the choice of dialogue seems to always describe what you can already see happening, or doesn't allow my mind to process it. It's hard to explain exactly how I would improve it but I think my problem is that the dialogue seems forced and not natural, as if the lost ember has done this already a few times and is trying its hardest to make it seem like this is a totally new thing, but the way it's written suggests false surprise at the cutscenes.
-The voice acting is just OK. I suppose I shouldn't be too harsh as this is not a AAA title, it's a small game made by a small studio. The voice acting just didn't seem to fit the best. This is a minor complaint as it was OK overall.
-The game is too short. I want more. And I mean that in the best way I possibly can. It's so beautiful I didn't want it to end. This is how much I love looking at this game. I wish it was longer or had some more replayability, but after one playthrough I think I am done indefinitely. It took me about 5 hours to get through, and without any more depth to the story or any more worldbuilding to be had, it is now off of my backlog and into more or less of an archive, a memory. A fond memory, but a memory nonetheless.
-I don't find myself compelled to collect all the artifacts or "see all the stuff" - The game contains a system of a few different things you can "collect" - Artifacts, mushrooms, and legendary animals. You encounter them in the world, and best I can tell, that's it. You found the thing. You interacted with the thing. It's now in your encyclopedia, that's it. The story still goes on identically whether you pick up all of them or you pick up none of them or, like me, you pick up about 1/3 of them because they happen to be along the pathway. Now, I'm making an assumption they don't have any real bearing in the game. That assumption is based on the fact that I beat the game and got a credits roll without being prompted or urged to get the items, and was not blocked in my progress by lacking any of them. If they change anything in any way, then it is not obvious to me what that is. Yeah, some of them might be related to your character as it appears in the story, but you the player don't gain any feeling for these items at any point. Since they seem to do nothing but unlock achievements, I am not finding myself compelled to go back and collect all the items for completeness' sake. Perhaps a younger me would be more completist. This would be a totally different story if there was more replayability and the items you collected were useful in some way in that world.
-There is not much replayability. As said above, in my mind this is a sort of "one and done" story. I wish it wasn't, but that's the particular box my brain has put this game into due to what is presented. What would have brought me back longer? I would honestly love, once you complete the game, if there was a sandbox type mode where you could really sit and explore all the different animals and environments. Yes, I know you can re-play chapters, but, you are limited on what animals can exist where - You literally cannot proceed past certain points without certain animals. In the story/during the normal game this is fine, but I would desire a sort of fun sandbox where I could just spend hours soaring around as an eagle or a parrot or swimming as a fish, whatever it is. But such a feature is apparently not implemented in the game. This is okay. I still love the game for what it is.
Value:
-I waited to get this game during the winter sale. I paid 17.99 which I think is just about spot on for how much enjoyment I got out of the game.
-At 30 dollars normal price, I am a bit more hesitant, this does not mean the game is bad, it just lacks replayability for me.
Summation:
-I thoroughly enjoyed the audio visual aspect of this game. It is a truly beautiful game for the senses. I wish it were perhaps a bit more mentally and emotionally stimulating, but it does not entirely disappoint at all in those regards. I hope you do not see the length of my criticisms and get the impression that I did not like the game, because that definitely was not the case. I really enjoyed it overall, and if another game comes out down the line under a similar premise or in the same universe, I'm definitely interested.

Lost Ember, one of my favorite games is really special. The visuals are beautiful and the animals are extra cute. Exploring different parts of the world, each from different perspective (wombats, fish, ducks, goats, buffaloes, armadillos, elephants, fireflies...) was gorgeous and exciting. Kalani, a lost wolf and her spirit companion want to discover the truth about her past and find the City of Light. Throughout their journey, as they learn more and more about Kalani, they are faced with many obstacles and their friendship is put to the test. Lost Ember is a beautiful game about compassion, forgiveness and love. ❤️

Lost Ember is indubitably an extraordinarily beautiful game with vibrant worlds showcasing various different terrains, environments, and animals throughout its mesmerising, albeit short, playtime. Despite suffering from some clunky mechanics and glitchy sections, the premise of the game is simply captivating. It is indeed on the pricier end of the spectrum for such a small number of hours; thus, I suggest taking this into consideration before purchase, or waiting for a sale.
Pros
+ Vibrant, stunning, and picturesque visuals spanning across multiple biomes.
+ Atmospheric, poignant story.
+ Emotional soundtrack.
+ Various different animals to embody (with some questionable morphology and behavioural traits for some species)
+ Abundance of collectables
+ Steam trading cards and achievements.
Cons
- The English (UK) voice actor was slightly disappointing, especially in more passionate scenes where he sounded truly awkward and unable to express himself properly in higher pitches.
- Some areas were riddled with glitches, falling through the map and uncomfortable movements, especially with the mountain goat.
- Rather expensive ($AU 42.95) for 4-5 hours of the main storyline and with the above-mentioned issues.
Story
Beginning in the form of a wolf, players are introduced to a red glowing orb who acts as the main narrator. The orb states that to get to the lustrous city of light (a highly sought-after resting place), they must work together. Guided by Yanren spirits and their customs, the two then begin their journey and descend further into the beautiful valleys, canyons and forests surrounded by stunning nature, slowly discovering the reasons behind their peculiar pairing.
The story is told mainly through red flashbacks and finding memories scattered throughout the chapters. I found the story itself to be surprisingly dramatic and meaningful, showcasing love, forgiveness, deceit and more. As a zoologist and animal lover in general, I was already overjoyed at the different animals and admittedly, the severity of the story at the beginning became slightly lost due to this. However, the flashbacks can be left open to interpretation and it is easy to lose sight of the plot, especially coupled with the periodically bizarre voice acting that retracted from the story.
There is also an option to remove the narration entirely which I know some players have chosen and is a good alternative for those just wishing to explore the beautiful landscapes. Towards the game’s conclusion, the height of the narrative became clear and it was emotional and immersive but ultimately did suffer from quick scene cuts or the over-dramatic voice acting.
Gameplay
Players begin as the enigmatic wolf but are also able to embody every living creature they come across including ducks (and ducklings), giant tortoises, sloths, wombats, fish and more. Each animal has varying walking speeds and skills which are needed to traverse the world and continue onwards to the City of Light. Roll down hills with wombats (I wish wombats could actually use this as a method of locomotion in reality), jump in and out of water as a fish, ram stone walls down as a bison and dig under the ground as an armadillo.
Gameplay is minimal, mainly consisting of exploring and running through the lush environments, finding collectables and traces of memories to piece the story together. Just exploring and enjoying the amazing visuals can account for hours by itself. There are no real puzzles or difficulty, even dive-bombing into the ground as a parrot is completely acceptable and thus it should be clear that Lost Ember is intended to be an immersive, exploration game where the beauty and nature is one of the primary purposes behind the title.
Glitches & Bugs
Unfortunately, I encountered a multitude of glitchy areas which severely impacted my immersion and with such a price point, should not be left unfixed or unmentioned. On almost every one of the 6 chapters, there was at least one section where I could fall through the map, or at least see the bare foundations of underneath it.
The inclusion of flying animals gives players the freedom to soar through the map, which I adored, however... it also becomes highly likely that players will fly to an area that we are not intended to be. Eventually getting stuck or as I experienced, accidentally finding myself way back at the beginning of a chapter after somehow flying through a small gap. Animals would consistently get stuck in walls, or at least, have their heads moulded inside solid objects, or once again, half in and half out of the map layout.
Flying was a bit awkward, but I got used to it, however the mountain goats jumping mechanics was awful and never seemed to register on the initial attempt at a jump. Lastly, the fall damage was extremely confusing. Sometimes, when jumping off a tiny ledge, I would immediately respawn, yet other times when I jumped off a huge cliff, it was perfectly fine. This was rather frustrating, yet almost amusing as to why I would respawn after jumping off a tiny step less than a metre high.
Overall, despite these bugs, the game as a whole is still stunning with gorgeous graphics, however it is a shame that such evident mishaps are still occurring frequently throughout the title.
Graphics & Sound
After touching on this throughout my entire review, in my opinion, Lost Ember's strongest point, by an absolute landslide is its strikingly beautiful and unique art. Its inescapable grace and relaxing essence simply cannot be ignored. The bright, vibrant colours fill players' screens, accompanied by the many living beings residing in these fields make this a nature lovers paradise.
The soundtrack is also rather memorable and paired with the graphics, elicits emotion, and draws players into the story. Even with the slightly confusing narrative, I found that the soundtrack alone was enough to pique my interest and recapture my attention.
Technical
This game was played with the following PC specs:
Intel i5-9400 2.9 GHz
16GB RAM
GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
1920x1080 resolution
HDD
Windows 10
Conclusion
Lost Ember is a unique experience that truly captures the natural beauty of the outdoors. The innocence of the animals paired with the poignant story ultimately creates a game I will not easily forget. However, its steep price and buggy areas are something to take into consideration before purchase. Despite this, all in all, I greatly enjoyed my playthrough and will certainly be revisiting the game to revel in its beauty and spend more time as each of the creatures. Lost Ember is a must play and is indeed, an animal lovers utopia.
Rating: 7/10
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you can be a duckling

Lost Ember is a unique gaming experience and a must-have for all animal lovers. I became so totally immersed in this game that I played into the wee hours of the morning one night! Lost Ember is one of those games where you take your time and explore the environment to find relics and a variety of mushroom collectables.
The big adventure was to be morphed into the various animals around you from the slow sloth and giant tortoise to a mole or hummingbird. There were 6 legendary animals to possess, but I somehow missed them completely!!
The environment ranged from beautiful undulating hills, to a dust storm in a desert, snow high in the mountains or swimming down a raging river. It was so magical and such fun....and delights the child within us all.
The back story of an ancient culture was fascinating. You become emotionally invested in its story of rebellion, revenge and redemption. I guessed the ending, so wasn't surprised.
The graphics are stunning at times. Music was really good....loved that gentle piano at emotional moments. Controlling the animals could be a bit clunky, but nothing was impossible. At times, I got caught in rocks with my head stuck in it or morphed into the wolf at the wrong time, but going back to the last checkpoint was the best solution.
Quite expensive for the hours of play, but is replayable to get all the achievements and collectables. Not a perfect game, but getting better with each update. I was amazed to see the thousands of kickstarters in the credits. Highly recommend. 8.5/10

This is the most stunning game I have played in quite a while. Design and music are beautiful, and you can see how much work the dev team has put into this. I started playing when the closed beta was out and played again several times after the official release.
The story is sad and heartwarming at the same time, for we follow a wolf and a spirit through a world were mankind is no more (a quite recennt event as it seems). The spirit was denied access to the city of light after death, and he's convinced the wolf has once been human, too, but done thinngs bad enough to let her be reborn as a "lost ember" and thus a beast. So the spirit is determined to get to know what the wolf had done in order to get her and himself access to the city of light.
I won't say anything else about that quest in order to let you experience that journey yourself, but I love how the wolf and the spirit step by step uncover bits and pieces of the past in order to make sense of the greater picture and find out what injustice has been done.
You walk around as the wolf, always accompanied by your spirit guide. In order to complete this journey, you get the ability to take over different animals and travel around in their shape. This allows you to get to places and do things you'd never be able to as a wolf.
At the beginning of the game, the spirit has no clue about who he was before his death. About halfway through the game, I had an idea who he might have been, but it took quite a while until I got to know if I was right or not - and I liked that, for it made me pay very close attention to all those little hints that I might find.
From the beta until now, I have seen the game being improved and the community being heard and answered. At this point, I only found very few minor bugs left in the game, small enough so they don't stop me from enjoying this game so much.
Since the release, I have played the game several times, and I still can't stop myself from crying at two parts throughout the game. The music really adds to the amazing story, and combined with the beautiful design, this is an amazing game. I can only recommend y'all to go play it and experience it yourself!

I think it was a beautiful game with a great story! Don't expect an action or puzzle game, it's definitely more of a walking simulator, but definitely the best I've played!
PROS
- the world is beautiful and more diverse than I thought! It's not all green forest, let's put it that way
- great story! I really felt a connection to the characters and was close to tears on multiple points of the story
- lots of different animals to play. This is probably the main thing of the game and it really makes exploring the world as different animals pretty fun and interesting
- huge world to explore
CONS
- no real challenge. You basically explore the world and find hidden areas and fun little extras until you're satisfied and go on with the story. But for me this was always fun and never boring or frustrating
- sometimes you don't really know where to go. This happened on a few occasions, but never lasted for too long. One time I restarted the checkpoint to get back to the main path. Luckily the game saves quite frequently so you don't ever go back that far.
I would definitely recommend for anyone enjoying a relaxed story game! It's not too long (I played about 4 hours), so the 30 bucks it asks for is a bit much, but I'd say it was worth it for me. Definitely would recommend buying when on sale!