Trick with combat is to utilize 'wall jumps' for maneuverability and speed. Dash in any x/y direction was fun. I didn't used often beast form, except for speed. I didn't like transforming into light fish for luminance (especially making a flash). Doll visuals were fine with me - it's that 2d art better stands trial of time, what's important here, I think. I would very much wish for Aquaria 2. However after game was made it's two creators separated their ways. One of them created Night in the Woods, later. P.S.: I would probably place Aquaria above Ori, exploration wise.
I never really felt like combat was intense enough to need wall launches. And yeah the light requiring charging was such a pain. Personally my problem with paper doll is it often feels very stiff. Sure it might look like it holds up against time in a screenshot but it usually looks awful in motion. In Aquaria the main character is an exception but all the other animation is pretty weak. I wasn’t that familiar with Alec Holowka when we recorded this but I am now. He was by many accounts an abusive person. Though I don’t recall Derek Yu having said anything negative about him. Still, after Holowka took his own life I don’t think Yu is likely to revisit it. Personally for exploration my favourite games are the ones that make me want to see just one more room or around a corner or whatever. And Aquaria just didn’t give me much satisfaction from exploring. -Tom
Trick with combat is to utilize 'wall jumps' for maneuverability and speed. Dash in any x/y direction was fun. I didn't used often beast form, except for speed. I didn't like transforming into light fish for luminance (especially making a flash). Doll visuals were fine with me - it's that 2d art better stands trial of time, what's important here, I think.
I would very much wish for Aquaria 2. However after game was made it's two creators separated their ways. One of them created Night in the Woods, later.
P.S.: I would probably place Aquaria above Ori, exploration wise.
I never really felt like combat was intense enough to need wall launches. And yeah the light requiring charging was such a pain.
Personally my problem with paper doll is it often feels very stiff. Sure it might look like it holds up against time in a screenshot but it usually looks awful in motion. In Aquaria the main character is an exception but all the other animation is pretty weak.
I wasn’t that familiar with Alec Holowka when we recorded this but I am now. He was by many accounts an abusive person. Though I don’t recall Derek Yu having said anything negative about him. Still, after Holowka took his own life I don’t think Yu is likely to revisit it.
Personally for exploration my favourite games are the ones that make me want to see just one more room or around a corner or whatever. And Aquaria just didn’t give me much satisfaction from exploring.
-Tom