![the pathless the pathless](https://apptrigger.com/files/2020/11/ThePathless_WaterfallShrine.jpg)
It does also have to be said that the finicky eagle A.I. There’s a disappointing lack of sufficient puzzle reinvention throughout, even as the game introduces a few neat traversal variations later on.
![the pathless the pathless](https://cdn.wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/WCCFthepathless4.jpg)
There is a sure rinse and repeat aspect to The Pathless’ core gameplay, as becomes especially apparent during the game’s second-half where players will likely have the various mini-game puzzles down to a tee.
![the pathless the pathless](https://www.quickread.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PS5-Price-768x427.jpg)
Even if you’re caught, though, the penalty is miniscule you get hit and lose a few yellow shards which are used for levelling up the eagle’s flight abilities. The land also contains the Godslayer’s crimson sphere of influence – a gigantic red ball of evil, basically – and if you get close enough while on maneuvers, it’ll expand and swallow you, leading to a stealth showdown – shades of Death Stranding – where you need to retrieve your eagle while avoiding the next boss. These sequences typically begin as frantic chase scenarios before pivoting into a more cinematic – and ever-gorgeous – arena-style showdown, and they’re easily the game’s highlight.
#THE PATHLESS SERIES#
There are many more puzzles littered throughout the map than you actually need to advance through the six-hour story – such as firing arrows through a series of strategically placed holes, or arranging emblems of the four spirits in the correct order – yet once you’ve cleansed enough obelisks, you’ll face off against one of the Godslayer’s four spirits in a fiery boss battle.
![the pathless the pathless](https://www.impulsegamer.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/thepathless-1024x572.jpg)
Your primary objective throughout the game is to, with the help of your eagle, solve environmental puzzles – marked by the pervasive red mist of corruption lingering around them – in order to receive tokens which can then be used to light up a series of obelisks. The switch-footing between grounded and airborne movement is really what makes The Pathless so fun to play, and though you might need a few moments to get to grips with these mechanics, it’s an absolute blast once you’re in its acrobatic thrall.īeyond the basic setup, this isn’t a game that holds players’ hands excessively, and in the early-going I genuinely had little idea what I was actually supposed to be doing there’s nothing in the way of a conventional HUD or mini-map here, nor are there mission markers to guide you.ĭespite the game refusing to spell everything out, you do have “spirit vision,” which will nudge you towards points of interest. As such, it’s imperative to keep firing arrows while on the move, and later on the game also introduces extra talismans which allow you to move faster and bound up into the air.Įqually important is the presence of your eagle, who can drag you into the sky and fly you across vast differences. Traversal, which is easily the most refined aspect of the game, sees players speeding around the world and firing arrows at talismans strewn across the map in order to fill a speed gauge which is quickly drained by dashing. Yet despite this familiarity and the game’s lack of a particularly compelling narrative, it’s still a worthwhile experience thanks to its deftly-crafted traversal systems and the affecting two-hander between hero and sidekick. On paper, The Pathless certainly sounds like it doesn’t deviate too much from the minimalist indie adventure game schematic, being one of several recent “AA” games to deliver its own take on Shadow of the Colossus. With the villain having corrupted four gigantic, animalistic spirits of the land, it is up to the Hunter and her trusty eagle companion to scour the world and relieve the spirits of their corruption. The game takes place in a mysterious, mystical land which has become tainted by a malevolent entity known as the Godslayer. Giant Squid Studios’ follow-up to their gorgeous debut Abzû proves to be a decidedly more ambitious and expansive effort, and while The Pathless isn’t without a few formulaic frustrations, it largely offers up an enticingly ethereal action-adventure romp.