Ephemerid: A Musical Adventure

Developer: SuperChop Games | Publisher: SuperChop Games | Release Date: 2015 | Genre: Adventure / Indie / Casual | Website: Official Website | Format: Digital Download

When it comes to lifespan, adult mayflies certainly got a raw deal. These tiny insects typically have a day to find a mate and reproduce before shuffling their mortal coils. With the exception of entomologists, most people wouldn’t think twice about these short-lived insects, but SuperChop Games has decided to create an entire musical adventure dedicated to them.

Ephemerid is a tough game to categorize as it blends a couple of different genres in a very unique manner. Sometimes, it resembles a rhythm game as you click on objects in tune with a beat, while other times, it has more in common with a point-click-adventure or puzzle game. However, just like a mayfly, the game only lasts for a short time and can easily be completed in a single sitting. Each of the twelve levels is absolutely captivating, though, and even though the challenge factor is very low, it remains enjoyable. This is thanks to the incredible way the developers fused the audio and visuals into what they describe as a “rock opera.”

Whether it is tapping musical clouds in a game of Simon Says as your little mayfly encounters his mate or snatching bees and beetles away from the clutches of a giant spider, the audio and visuals never fail to impress. For a game that is played entirely without vocals or any text describing what is going on, it tells a captivating tale of discovery, love, danger, and triumph. Since it is virtually impossible to fail at any of the levels, this is not a game for people who demand a challenge to have fun. Even without a tutorial, the game is very intuitive, and it is usually self-evident what you must do. Having said that, the game does contain a few achievements that require a little more skill to accomplish, and the speed of the levels can be increased to create more of a challenge. This is definitely not a game where you will ever have to worry about time or scores, though.

Although initially an iOS title, Ephemerid still looks great on PC thanks to the beautifully handcrafted visuals. Everything in the game world was created out of glass, paper, and paint before being sprinkled with a liberal dose of particle effects. Highlights include a giant spider with adorable button eyes, cute little paper beetles, and colorful night skies. The only downside to the visuals is the large black borders on either side of the screen when playing in high definition. I can understand why this had to be done, as the handcrafted visuals would have been distorted otherwise, but it is still a pity.

The game’s highlight is the rocking soundtrack, which features some awesome guitar tracks. We actually found ourselves replaying some levels because we wanted to hear the excellent music again. Incidentally, once you have unlocked a level, you can return to it anytime from the level select menu, which is styled like an old-school vinyl LP. The visuals and audio blend together perfectly and add to the game’s unique feel. Despite being originally designed for use with touchscreens, the mouse is a perfectly good substitute. A large blue circle serves as your cursor, and without your fingers obscuring the screen, it is easier to appreciate the beautiful visuals. Your interaction with the game is pretty much limited to tapping on certain items in sync with the music or grabbing and redirecting items moving across the screen. Some might see this as restrictive, but it matches the style of the game perfectly and makes for a very relaxing experience.

While Ephemerid will probably appeal more to casual gamers, anyone who appreciates good music and unique visuals will enjoy the experience. It might be short, but it is definitely sweet and, thankfully, very affordably priced. In addition, the developers have hidden a fun little secret game in Ephemerid for players who have completed the main game.