Windscape

A 3D WORLD OF COLOURED TRIANGLES? WHAT DAY IS IT? WHAT YEAR?

- Justin Towell

You can’t get much more ‘indie’ than a game created by just one man. But ambition certainly isn’t lacking here: Windscape is a fully 3D, first-person adventure game. Yes, like Skyrim, though it’s nowhere near as intricate.

Instead, this game embraces old school simplicity, having been inspired by classic RPGs like The Legend Of Zelda, Secret Of Mana and Golden Axe Warrior. The result is a nostalgic throwback that would probably be just as playable if it were turned into an 8-bit Game Gear title. But if you’ve noticed that few 8-bit RPGs get Xbox One remakes, you’ll realize the fundamental problem here. That kind of adventure is just too basic for today’s tastes.

Not that it tries to shy away from its simplicity. The art style is unusual in that there’s barely any texturing at all. Instead, the world and characters are made up of flat-shaded polygons, giving it an early ’90s ‘Virtua’ kind of feel. However, the polygon count is far higher than classic 3D gaming could manage, which means Windscape looks more like a modern game with its textures missing, which is distinctly less likable; chunkier would arguably have been better. Also, the basic character graphics mean people don’t blink – and since humanoid foes maintain eye contact as they slump to the floor, that makes for a very unnerving spectacle. ‘Why?’ They seem to ask, as the light fades from their dying, staring eyes. Ugh.