The Forbidden Arts Review (NSW)

Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: The Forbidden Arts
Developer: Stingbot Games
Publisher: Stingbot Games
Genre: Action, Adventure, Platformer
Price: $14.99
Also Available On: Steam

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The Forbidden Arts is described on Nintendo’s official website as an “action adventure platformer with a focus on discovery and exploration,” and, if nothing else, it tries hard to live up to promise. Developer-publisher Stingbot Games wraps its gameplay around the story of Phoenix, a young boy whose power of pyromancy is recognized and awakened by the druid Elia. In the process of honing his abilities to control fire through interaction with other magicians, he learns of a sinister threat about to envelop the Overworld. How he gets to sharpen existing skills and gain new ones while overcoming challenges form the crux of gamer interaction.

The Forbidden Arts offers mechanics that are no more complicated than its plot. From the outset, Phoenix is armed with twin daggers to hack and slash at enemies, not to mention dexterity to run from, or jump to avoid, attacks. In time, he develops his talent for magic, allowing him to widen his offensive and defensive repertoire. As he is a pyromancer, he can unleash fireballs (and, later on, heat vision and spirit of flame), theoretically good for dealing damage from a distance, but which depletes his magic meter accordingly. Replenishment comes by way of proximity to sources of combustion.

The Forbidden Arts encourages Phoenix’s traversal of dungeons. Scattered all around, and often in areas requiring conscious effort to get to, are blocks of gold. Once collected, these can then be used to rebuild shrines granting access to missions that enable character upgrades upon completion. Not surprisingly, it gets to earn its keep the most through the platforming sequences, during which gamers run, roll, dodge, duck, dip, jump, jimmy, and, yes, pore through puzzles. The obstacles are varied, but, apart from unexpected twists, on the easy side.

At $14.99, The Forbidden Arts emerges as a decent-enough eShop title that should be good for some 10 hours‘ worth of gameplay. The plot is rudimentary at best, and the visual and sound designs display catchy but repetitive components. Enemies abound and exhibit distinct qualities, but the level of combat itself rarely elevates beyond the use of Phoenix’s most basic blades of steel. In any case, the platforming elements stand out and serve to distinguish it from the dregs of Nintendo’s vast library of digital titles. Worth a try.

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THE GOOD

• Standout platforming elements
• Striking, if repetitive, visual and sound designs
• Fairly lengthy
• Loaded roster of enemies

THE BAD

• Rudimentary plot
• Basic combat mechanics
• Lacks polish

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RATING: 7/10

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