Shardlight
Gameplay 8
Graphics 8
Sound 10

Guide Amy Wellard through a post-apocalyptic world where the poor try to eke out an existence under the oppressive rule of the aristocracy. Shardlight features an interesting setting, memorable characters, and excellent pixel art visuals. The fact that the puzzles are logical and the superb audio also makes it easy to recommend to point-and-click adventure fans. Overall, this is yet another fine release from Wadjet Eye Games and will surely please fans.

Gameplay: The game is not too challenging but remains enjoyable throughout.

Graphics: Shardlight features some nice pixel art visuals depicting various locations.

Sound: The audio is well-rounded thanks to a great soundtrack and stellar voice acting

Summary 8.7 Outstanding
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Shardlight

Developer: Wadjet Eye Games | Publisher: Wadjet Eye Games | Release Date: 2016 | Genre: Point & Click Adventure | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Shardlight, the latest point-and-click adventure from Wadjet Eye Games, opens 20 years after bombs decimated the world. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world where death, hunger, and disease are rife, leaving the poor to scrabble for food and water while the rich “Aristocracy” controls the resources. Amy Wellard is just a simple mechanic, but when she contracts the dreaded Green Lung disease, she is forced to take on dangerous government jobs to earn vaccine lottery tickets. During one such job, she encounters a dying man whose last wish sets her on a course to change history.

There is a lot of lore behind the world of Shardlight, but it doesn’t force it down your throat. Instead, you can learn as much or as little about the game world as you like by talking to characters, examining the environments, and paying attention to what’s happening in the background. The game opens with Amy grudgingly attempting to fix a reactor for the Ministry of Energy and encountering the person sent to do the job before her. It is an excellent introduction to the bleak world Amy inhabits and makes it clear right from the start that the game doesn’t pull any punches.

We don’t want to spoil too much about the story as it is pretty good, but it definitely has a bit of a “Beneath a Steel Sky” vibe. The developers did a great job with the characters in this game, as you encounter quite a few memorable people on your journey. The main villain is all pomp, powdered wig and porcelain gas mask, but you can also understand his motivations, which makes him harder to despise. This is something not many games can pull off, and it makes the story even more intriguing. Of course, wherever there is oppression, there is also sure to be rebellion, and Amy is quickly caught up in the middle of it all.

Amy is a great lead character, and her tale hooked us from start to end. Even though the world is so bleak that it has a cult worshiping the Reaper and praying to him for deliverance from life, Amy remains kindhearted. This doesn’t make her weak, as she definitely knows how to fend for herself, but it’s nice to play a character who is not jaded and cynical. The story really puts her through the wringer, though, and before the end credits roll, she will have seen some very disturbing things.

Fans of Wadjet Eye Games will know what to expect regarding gameplay, as Shardlight is a fairly typical point-and-click adventure. Players can left-click to interact with things, right-click to examine them or move the mouse cursor to the top of the screen to view their inventory. Shardlight keeps your inventory down to a short list of items, which cuts down on the guesswork, and it also tends to keep its locations relevant to the task at hand. This is great as you are not left wandering around aimlessly when stumped, but some players can find it a bit restrictive. The game is also fond of only allowing you to leave certain locations once you’ve solved a puzzle, which is something we appreciate but others might not. The puzzles are, for the most part, very logical, and we were only really stumped about once or twice during the course of the game. A keen eye is required to spot some objects, and some puzzles may rely too much on shooting things with a crossbow, but overall, we enjoyed the experience.

Players who loved the point-and-click adventures from developers like Revolution Software and Sierra will enjoy the visuals in Shardlight. The pixel art visuals may be low-rest, but each scene is still packed with plenty of detail, and the portraits for each character are great. As you wander about the various locations, you’ll see ordinary people going about their business, which, along with some nice animations, make the game world feel alive. The glowing shards hanging everywhere also add plenty of atmosphere to each scene. Those who are used to the high-resolution 2D or 3D visuals of modern titles might turn their noses up at the retro look of Shardlight, but we think the artists did a great job. Games with post-apocalyptic settings tend to look a little formulaic, but Shardlight is brimming with its own style. It even surprised us with a couple of very violent animations, such as people getting crushed, stabbed, or decapitated.

A special mention should go to the audio, which is downright superb. The music is kept low-key and moody, so it never becomes distracting, but a couple of tracks are quite memorable. The voice acting steals the show, though, with the actress voicing the lead doing an excellent job in particular. She makes her character believable and even manages to sound genuinely excited when talking about the various car wrecks strewn about, just like a real mechanic would. Most of the supporting cast also sounds excellent, and even the minor characters do a pretty good job. After completing the game, you can listen to some blooper voice tracks, which allow you to hear how much the actors enjoyed their roles. In addition, the game features commentary tracks from people such as the artist, producer, and musician, providing some excellent insights into the game’s making.

It’s not the longest point-and-click adventure we’ve ever played, and neither are the puzzles particularly challenging, but the setting and characters of Shardlight really drew us in. We always wanted to see what was around the next corner or discover what challenges Amy would have to overcome. Anyone who enjoys a good adventure game with memorable characters and an interesting setting won’t be disappointed with Shardlight.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows ME or higher
  • Processor: Pentium or higher
  • Memory: 64 MB RAM
  • Graphics: 640×400, 32-bit colour: 700 Mhz system minimum
  • DirectX: Version 5.2
  • Storage: 2 GB available space
  • Sound Card: All DirectX-compatible sound cards
  • OS: Windows ME or higher
  • Processor: Pentium or higher
  • Memory: 64 MB RAM
  • Graphics: 640×400, 32-bit colour: 700 Mhz system minimum
  • Storage: 2 GB available space
  • Sound Card: All DirectX-compatible sound cards

Related posts

Albert and Otto: The Adventure Begins

Albert and Otto: The Adventure Begins

Albert and Otto offers stylish visuals, interesting puzzles and platforming sections that will leave even veterans with sweaty palms. The story is a little vague, but traversing the bleak, trap-filled gameworld is a lot of fun. The game is a little on the short side, but makes up for it with a low price and with three more episodes to come there is a lot to look forward to. Gameplay: Quite challenging in places, but conquering the tricky parts is immensely satisfying. Graphics: The bleak, monochrome art direction is nothing new, but still looks very stylish. Sound: No speech, but features a suitably eerie soundtrack.

Pharaoh Rebirth+

Pharaoh Rebirth+

Pharaoh Rebirth+ is a Metroidvania style platformer that oozes charm and playability. Even with the low resolution visuals the pixel art remains brilliant and each location is packed with detail. The story is another surprising highlight and you’ll encounter plenty of humor along with interesting twists. You really can’t go wrong with this title if you are a fan of the genre and it manages to shine despite some technical limitations. Gameplay: The game has a surprising amount of depth for a platformer and plenty of replay value as well. Graphics: The resolution is rather low, but this doesn’t diminish the brilliance of the pixel art visuals. Sound: Catchy tunes and decent sound effects.

Pinball FX3 – Universal Classics™ Pinball

Pinball FX3 - Universal Classics™ Pinball

With tables based around Back to The Future, Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the Universal Classics Pinball pack is a must have for fans of the genre. All three of the tables on offer look great and are a lot of fun to play. The table designers have done an admirable job with fusing these licenses with pinball instead of simply using images based on the films. Unfortunately, none of the tables feature licensed music, which is really a pity for films like these that has such iconic soundtracks. However, apart from the music there is very little to fault here and these tables offer a nice break from all the Marvel and Star Wars tables available for the platform. Gameplay: Three tables with great designs that are a lot of fun to play. Graphics: Each table features plenty of visual elements from the films as well as some great looking 3D models. Sound: The sound effects and voice acting are decent enough, but the lack of licensed music is a bummer.

DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die™ Edition

DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die™ Edition

Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition is an unforgiving game that punishes mistakes harshly, but players who stick with it will find a massive world filled with very satisfying challenges to overcome. It can be an incredibly obtuse game for newcomers, but plenty of guides are available to help out. Unfortunately, this edition is a very shoddy port, but thankfully, the REMASTERED edition is available. Gameplay: Harsh, unforgiving, punishing but very addictive and rewarding for those who persevere. Graphics: Although dark and oppressive, the game is also filled with many beautiful and memorable locations. Sound: Features a great soundtrack and sound effects as well as good voice acting.

Shmups Skill Test

Shmups Skill Test

Shmups Skill Test is a collection of mini-games that are designed to test how good you are at playing arcade and bullet hell shooters. While this means it doesn’t have as much depth as other titles in the genre, it still provides a nice diversion and a way to hone your skills. Since it is based on a rather old arcade game the visuals are far from cutting edge, but the gameplay and low price tag make up for this. If you think you have mastered the genre, then try out this game to see for sure. Gameplay: Lots of fun in short bursts, but obviously doesn’t have as much depth as full-fledged shooters. Graphics: The visuals are definitely showing their age. Sound: Not your typical shooter soundtrack.

SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy

SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy

Don't approach SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy expecting an indepth move list and longevity. Instead, it is a very newcomer-friendly brawler with a firm emphasis on fan service. The customization options are nice, but not as extensive as we would have liked and the story mode is unlikely to keep players hooked for very long. The game is undeniably fun, especially if you don't have the time to practice endlessly just to become proficient with certain characters, but sadly this also means that you'll tire of it quite soon. Gameplay: Very newcomer-friendly, but can't hold a candle to some of the bigger titles available. Graphics: Characters look great and the outfits are eye-catching, but the backgrounds could have been much better. Sound: Nothing remarkable about the music, but the Japanese voice acting is very fitting.

Leave a comment

3 × one =