Praey for the Gods

This is a pretty obvious and unabashed mix of two beloved classics: the open-world action game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the boss-fighter Shadow of the Colossus. This probably sounds like a match made in heaven for many gamers -- and, indeed, there are some great moments of scale and discovery -- but Praey for the Gods is, in the end, a little too generic and clunky to favorably compare to either. A big part of the problem is simply that indie studio No Matter's ambitions seem to exceed their grasp. The world is fairly large and full of secrets, but movement and combat aren't as smooth or intuitive as one might hope. It doesn't really matter much while playing on easier settings, where mistakes are quickly forgiven, but when you crank up the difficulty, it can be frustrating when you get punished for slip-ups that don't entirely feel as though they're your fault. Plus, they crafting system, semi-realistic physics, and paragliding mechanic all feel either half formed or not fully exploited in play scenarios.

The best parts of the game are the boss fights which have you frantically climbing the fur of enormous gods to reach spots of vulnerability. It's undeniably familiar, but the execution is a little cleaner. These battles generally aren't too hard, and the satisfaction that comes with bringing the massive monsters down is tangible. There's a cinematic quality to these fights, a David and Goliath kind of vibe, thanks largely to the game's courageous and determined underdog hero who's easy to root for. Had they focused their energy on this part of the game and reduced the scope of the open world adventuring, No Matter may have given players a tighter, more compelling experience. What's here is still often fun, but Praey for the Gods is an example of how less could perhaps have been more.