Wandersong

This is a weird game. But in a good way, I think. I like that it did something different in a number of ways.

In the end this is a story game, and I liked the story overall. The gameplay was alright, not a ton of depth but altered enough to keep it from getting super stale, but the real purpose of the game is the conversations that you have with everyone. If you like that kind of thing, you'd probably be into this game.

Some of the absolute best that twee indie game sensibilities have to offer, more mechanically eclectic and playful than a lot of games that are actually mechanically oriented can be, and generally just a game that instilled me with a sense of wonder like few others, Wandersong is an absolute joy through and through. There's an unmistakable kindness that feels core to the game feeling the way it does, and it's one that comes in many forms. The big thing is that above all else, it feels like a game where the most powerful force there is, is that of unwavering optimism and self-expression, something strong enough to disturb that natural order of the universe. What makes this feel especially important in Wandersong is with the way that the singing mechanic and most of the rhythm sections feel extremely janky and lacking in much that could be considered traditionally good in how they sound. I feel like this is one of the most meaningful elements of the game however, conveying how the act of artistic expression in itself is important and deeply beautiful, rather than only waiting until you think you're "good enough".
It feels very intentional as well, that the point is that The Bard in their complete commitment to their singing is able to get through so many situations despite not being super technically proficient. There's also a sense of comfort in a game that's got a world that is inherently kinder than it appears, in which even most seemingly towering threats are actually very reasonable and simply a tad misguided, which segues into the comparative hostility of the late stages of the game feel all the more oppressive. Fantastic character writing all across the board as well, playing very well into the "these characters just have one main trait that they embody to the fullest extent" with just enough moments of nuance with the main cast to have me adore them all.
The singing mechanic is a really cool part of the game as well for how many different ways it gets recontextualised, with each minuscule element that went into designing it having some big part in how you utilise it throughout the game. The cohesion that having this big central system brings makes the very playful and unique ways that each chapter progresses feel all the more interesting, evading the possibility of feeling weird and scattershot by everything being tied to this singing in some capacity. So many thoughtful touches going into the most minor of details further contribute to Wandersong feeling so lovingly handcrafted and fascinating to delve into the smallest of ideas, once you start realising things like Miriam's unique stuttering text crawl, or the way that being called by your real name is such a rare occurrence, everything starts feeling so cool to just, sit and think about for a second. A truly inspirational experience on many levels, this is what games are all about!
10/10

This game saved me from a dark place. It's my go-to feel good game! The heartfelt music and story genuinely feels like a breath of fresh air. Words can't express how thankful I am to have stumbled across Wandersong!

10/10.
Honestly, there is *nothing* more to say. You just need to play it. It is cute, quirky, silly, humorous, heartfelt, wholesome: *amazing*!
Okay fine, here's a little more detail! If you like stories like Undertale maybe to compare. Stories that really are just wholesome if you play and talk to everyone and try to help as you go on your adventure. Stories with silly dialogue that just can't help to actually make you laugh and doesn't seem forced or awful. Okay, some *can* be corny, but it suits the game greatly. It's all about that sort of humor in the best way really that I really think *anyone* would laugh or smile and enjoy.
Just be a Bard.
Be an adorable bean singing everywhere you go; even if it annoys a certain someone that you'll also just end up loving~ (you personally, not the Bard nor literally lol).
Connect and love the characters~. And love the little to strong messages throughout the game as well that you may connect to.
Pros:
- Cute. Wholesome. Heartfelt, Adorable.- all the words in relation.
- Thought out and unique story fitting for it's style and gameplay~. Story and side stuff give you lots of messages to understand or connect with, and fill you positive after~.
- Just be a happy little Bard!! Feel bad for the Bard personally as you play, because you love him, and support the Bard's want for adventure!
- Secrets to find that are not too hard or too easy.
- Art is quite simple, but colorful enough to fill the world. The characters are what brings it all more to life~. As well as story!
- Personal opinion: Achievements are actually clever and I think match the game's humor or style. (Play through at least once before looking up the hidden achieves for hunting~.) Some achieves are missed opportunities though.
Cons?/Neutral:
Only real con to be real: the controls for singing are real easy to slip up. BUT, there isn't really penalty for it either. It is meant to be a relaxing and cute game I think with no punishment.
- - Elaborated to controls: Camera zooming in or out on character/screen, can mess with mouse movement speed to slow down on some scenes or moments to react slower or wrong- even with high mouse speed. Some puzzles are also kinda difficult to control because of this.
Map style/layout and colors, can make it difficult to spot or know where you can actually jump up a plane or down (world is flat/2D). As well as make it hard to spot the next 'song queue note' for certain scenes because the song colors blend with background.
A glitch here and there. But honestly only ran into 3 and was no big deal.
** Buy the game on sale or not. I got on sale, but now thinking that it might actually be worth the full price just for the pure *joy* this game has given me in awhile compared to other games! It is certainly on top with Undertale even to me~.

I have fond memories of this game.
It's a wholesome simple game which uses its core mechanic in new and interesting ways constantly. It kept surprising me with how it found new ways of doing things and it kept me engaged throughout the game without getting boring or dragging on. The story is cute and fun and I found it very interesting. There are so many interesting characters too. Had a few small glitches with the game but I think I can let it slide as it's an indie game and that's to be expected. It's a very easy recommendation, especially just for the laughs the game gave me.

This isn't about you.
No, seriously. There is not a single achievement you do (okay, except like 5).
You're not the hero, someone else is.
But you know what? thats fine.
10/10, beginning is a bit slow but wow, if you give it a chance you will surely be immersed in the story & reach the end faster than you expect.

I LOVE Wandersong!! What a cute and enjoyable experience. You can really see the care and dedication the devs put in the development of this game. Everything comes together so nicely. The art, music, and story were amazing. I am not very musically inclined but this game really didn't let that get in the way of experiencing this. I think Wandersong for anyone who enjoys indie games or cozy games. It was so hard to put this down until I fully finished it.
10/10 experience I love the little bard they can never make me hate you <3