Sparklite Preview: A Procedural Game for All Ages
It’s been over half a year since I visited the busy halls of PAX East 2019. Despite some extensive preview coverage across all four days of the trade show, there’s one game I just can’t stop thinking about, months later: the upcoming action-adventure indie Sparklite.
Thoughts From the PAX Show Floor
Even though Sparklite was one of the very last games I played at PAX East 2019, I’m glad I stumbled upon it and developer Red Blue Games’ booth late Sunday afternoon.
A gorgeous top-down action-adventure title, Sparklite shares some very clear similarities with Zelda games like A Link to the Past. After crash landing an airship in the middle of a forest, players navigate a sprawling 2D overworld teeming with enemies, pitfalls, and chests. As Ada, the engineer of the downed ship, players are equipped with a trusty wrench and map of the world, the latter of which is conveniently divided into distinct biomes, from forests and plains to deserts and tundras. Defeating enemies and opening chests yield coins for currency, as well as mana bits, which are used to activate secondary abilities, such as a laser gun and a movement dash.
During my playtime at PAX, I followed the in-game objective marker, which led me to a dilapidated mine. Upon making it inside, I encountered a powerful boss enemy (shown below), which quickly did me and Ada in. Fortunately, in Sparklite, death is not the end of the road. Expecting a typical game over screen, I was surprised to find that Ada instead respawned in a mysterious village. The town, which floats atop the overworld à la Supergiant Games’ Bastion, serves as a hub for the player, allowing Ada to acquire new abilities and items in exchange for currency found in the world below.
Descending back into the overworld, I was surprised yet again to find that the layout had shifted. In Sparklite, turns out death has another important effect: procedural regeneration of the game world. Navigating this new, unpredictable world map, I made my way back to my initial objective — taking down that mine boss — only to be bested once more. At that point, it became crystal clear that Sparklite wouldn’t be quite the cakewalk that Zelda fans may be accustomed to. In truth, Sparklite seems to be an experience all its own — tough and unpredictable, while still retaining that classic action-adventure feel of gaining shiny, new equipment to ease progression and make the world a less scary place.
While procedural generation for the action-adventure genre has been done before, Sparklite looks like it’s aiming to strike a nice sweet spot between randomization and personal progression. Far less Binding of Isaac, far more Dead Cells, if you will. It’s an exciting proposition that’s bound to attract those who might not normally enjoy some of the less forgiving procedural indies out there.
To Roguelike, or Not to Roguelike
When asked at PAX whether they’d describe Sparklite as a roguelike, the game’s developers were quick to dismiss the idea. Based on our conversation, it seems as if Red Blue Games is going for a far more accessible experience that will cater to players of all ages and skill levels. Based on my preview, I doubt hardcore players need worry: Sparklite is still a challenging game, and the options are there for those looking to avoid permanent upgrades and keep their playthroughs as difficult as possible.
Sparklite has certainly undergone some iteration since last I saw it, but all things seem to be shaping up nicely for the aspiring developers over at Red Blue Games. It remains to be seen whether or not the game will deliver on its lofty ambitions, but after playing it for myself, it’s certainly got my attention.
Sparklite is set to release November 14, 2019 for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
