• Review: The Unfinished Swan

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    Beatboxtaun
    Published on 10-24-2012 08:43 PM
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    The Unfinished Swan

    Developer    : Giant Sparrow
    Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
    Platform: PlayStation 3
    Genre: Adventure
    Rating: E 10+
    Release Date: October 16, 2012 (PlayStation Plus)
    October 23, 2012


    Giant Sparrow brings a world that is a blank canvas for you, the player, to unearth in The Unfinished Swan. This PlayStation 3 exclusive is ready for you to jump in and explore the unknown.


    Presentation
    The story revolves around a young boy named Monroe, whose mother just recently passed away. She had a passion for painting and was really good and beginning new projects. However, she was bad at finishing them and had a lot of unfinished paintings that she left behind, along with Monroe. When the orphanage told Monroe that he could only keep one of the paintings that his mom created, he kept his mother's favorite, The Unfinished Swan.

    Upon waking up, in the middle of the night, he noticed that the swan was missing off of the canvas. As he followed the swan's footsteps, he is taken into a door, in his room, that leads him into a world that he is to discover through his paintbrush. As he chases this run-away swan, the swan leads Monroe through his journey where he will finally meet up with the King, the person who has created this all-white unfinished kingdom.


    Graphics
    The graphics for The Unfinished Swan take on a story book type feel. The art is similar to that of which you would see in a children's book, except each page would be a white canvas that is being depicted as the world is discovered. Since the world that Monroe discovers is an all-white environment, the ink he throws around, reveals the path that he needs to take, to get through this labyrinth.

    The world consists of simplistic visuals, made up of a majority of a black and white pallet. There is very little color and that can be found in the statues and other unique items that are encountered throughout the game. Animals, that may propose a threat, are depicted in shadows. The graphics have a soft feel that emphasizes upon the storybook feel.

    The player will also uncover story book pages on walls inside the labyrinth that reveal the story, as the game progresses . It offers the player a narrative experience as though you are actually playing out a story book, rather than just reading one. Emblematic statues, that appear in gold, in the world help tie in the game's story and the importance of the existence of the place that is yours to discover.


    Music/Sound
    Peter Scaturro, the Music Supervisor at SCEA Santa Monica Studios, previously stated that the music in The Unfinished Swan was inspired by the characters themselves. With the main character, Monroe, suffering through the tragic loss of his mother at a young age, the music does not contain a dreary feel, but rather one that plays on the adolescence of a boy out on a voyage of discovery.

    You are greeted with ambient sounds that flow perfectly with the game and compliments the environment and all that exists in the game's world. Not only do the sounds match the game, but also the gameplay itself as the music will also keep you on your toes and let you know if trouble is around the corner with the change in its tone.
    The music and narration of the found story book pages of The Unfinished Swan is what you can imagine you would hear while watching a children's program found on PBS- delightful, youthful, and flows perfectly with the story.


    Gameplay
    You take on the role of Monroe in a world that is a white, blank canvas. The player, in a first-person perspective, discovers the surroundings of the environment by throwing paint blobs around him. This reveals the path that is hidden before you. The blobs will turn up walls, bridges, walkways, trees, and other various objects and obstacles in the world. The setting is a labyrinth in which Monroe is to make his way to the King by following the swan. By painting the white world around you, it will give you an idea of which direction you need to go. The gameplay is very simple as you only us two buttons, one to jump and one to throw the paintballs. There are very few monsters, no health meter, unlimited paint, no timer, and no ammo, which adds to the game's simplicity of picking up and playing.

    Not only do you paint the setting, but there are also storybook pages hidden in white on the walls throughout the labyrinth. The player will spot them when you see a gold letter on the wall; this is usually the first letter of the page of the book. When you toss some paint onto the wall, the page is revealed about the King and offer up some details of his indecipherable actions and puzzling lifestyle.

    There are balloons that you can splash with paint and collect to use as monetary value in the Toy Shop. To get to the Toy Store, the player simply presses the "Start" button, which allows you to search through various items that can be used in-game. One of the toys includes a hose, which allows you to fire paint balls at a rapid fire rate. The Clean Canvas erases the mess of paint that you made in the world, since over-painting can also end up hiding the environment, just as it was when it was all white. Another item you can buy is called Freeze Time that allows the player to freeze paint balls in midair (before they are shot), which will let the player shoot several, hold them, and then shoot them all at the same time to cover a larger area. The player can pick up a balloon radar which will then open up a radar at the bottom-left of the screen. When you get near a balloon, the radar will start to inflate like a balloon to let you know that you are close.
    In certain parts of the game, there are various objects that you will shoot to help you on your voyage. One part, for example, you will need to shoot a wheel to get it in motion and this will make walkways accessible to you. Not only do you throw paint, but in some stages of the game, you are given water to throw. This will allow the player to shoot vines that will cause them to spread on walls, so that they can be used to climb on to get to higher grounds.

    The game does allow you to play with the Move controller, as well. Since it had the paintbrush mechanic, I gave it a shot. While it works fine with Move, I still preferred going back to the controller. It could just be that the controller is my comfort zone and it's much easier to pick up one controller to play, but, the Move controller handled just fine.


    Lasting appeal
    The game is not complicated and not very long at all. However, keep in mind, it is rated E 10+, meaning anyone ten and older can pick up and play the game. Since The Unfinished Swan can be played by using both PlayStation Move or a Dualshock 3 controller, the game will offer a different experience to the player. This is a good reason to take your Move controllers out of the storage bin and give the game a go with them, as well.

    When you buy items from the Toy Store, you will find yourself tempted to replay the game to use the items. Plus, I wanted to go back in and get balloons that I had missed the first time around. Since the game is not too long, it is quite pleasant to go back and play and pick up some easy Trophies.


    Conclusion
    The Unfinished Swan offers a different type of story that taps into the emotions of a difficult situation that many of us have to deal with at some point in our lives. It is actually a great way for children to be exposed to it, in a manner that is not overwhelming for their age. The game is special and is also a great alternative to simply reading a book, since it is a narrative video game, with a message.

    There were times in The Unfinished Swan where the game was not as engaging to take away from the repetitiousness of the gameplay. At times I wanted to get through the stage to get to more of the story. However, the overall package of the game is one of those gems that you need to play. It is in that special category that stands out from the typical games that we are all used to playing. It is a soothing game to sit down and enjoy alone, or with the family. The ease of the game allows the younger crowd to pick up and play it, as well.

    The world itself is unfinished, but through Monroe's paintbrush, you bring color to a world to not only find your path, but to also complete your journey through a complicated time. The message, the story, the simplistic gameplay, and music all combined together to make the perfect recipe of a unique and special gem.


    Score:
    7.5/10


  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.

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