Unsighted Reviews
Unsighted is this year's best Metroidvania/Zelda-like game by a long shot. It's creative, gripping, and accessible with a ton of stuff to do and see. There are a few small issues, like some awkward writing or too much menuing, but those are well worth it for such a fun, polished experience.
UNSIGHTED is an amazing game that manages to bring together various elements of different genres in a masterly way. With a beautiful narrative coupled with incredible combat and exploration, it's one of the best games of the year so far.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Unsighted boasts engaging gameplay and lore, strong dungeon design, all wrapped around an effective and impactful countdown mechanic
But that’s the thing, if all games were judged on their story, many masterpieces wouldn’t be very good, especially in the Metroidvania genre. A good story is a bonus, and Unsighted’s gameplay is fundamentally near-perfect. But I can’t help being disappointed at what this could have been with good writing. If I could have really fallen in love with the characters, it would have been so emotional when they turned mad, or if I was to be forced to choose between them and someone else I may need to beat the game.
That just scratches the surface - there’s also crafting, a chip slot equipment system, companions to help in battle, some simple item fishing a la Hades, unique weapons to divine, and many more secrets we haven’t even touched upon. For Brazilian developer Studio Pixel Punk, Unsighted is an accessible and content-rich debut with a compelling sci-fi drama at its core, and certainly in the argument for one of the best metroidvanias of the year.
Unsighted combines some very familiar ideas: it's a top-down, roguelite, sci-fi Metroidvania with a strong 16-bit aesthetic. Its time-is-ticking, post-apocalyptic scenario is brought to life by the enchanting palettes of its pixel art, making a world you want to explore, full of characters you want to know. Far from punishing, it leans more on the 'lite' than the 'rogue', letting fun prevail – as it will, thanks to the addictive rhythm of the controls, backed by punchy sounds. The cooperative multiplayer is icing on top of an already well-iced cake. Combining flavours of Super Nintendo classics with modern playability, Unsighted is the game 1995 desperately wanted to make but just didn't know how.
UNSIGHTED is an impressive and elaborate adventure through a devastated world. Exploring the city of Arcadia is exciting because of its immense map interconnected with various routes, puzzles and secrets, in a free progression that offers different approaches to overcoming challenges. Combat stands out with intense battles focused on precision, in which various weapons allow us to execute numerous strategies. Other than that, the title has a unique time-limit mechanic that brings tension and tough decisions to the adventure. This also serves as an incentive to play the story more than once, as it will hardly be possible to see everything in a single attempt. Finally, notable extra modes and good accessibility options are available. In the end, Unsighted is an unmissable adventure and a great debut for Studio Pixel Punk.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Whether you’re looking for a great adventure or a devastating one, Unsighted is absolutely both and then some.
In no uncertain terms? Unsighted is awesome. More people should know about it and play it, especially considering that the game goes out of its way to be accessible even to people who usually find Souls-like titles too hard, or people who dislike the timer mechanic but still want to experience the game, or even people looking for a harder ride. This is a good game and you should go play it. It’s not quite for everyone… but it’s as close as any title I’ve reviewed comes to being a must-play.
UNSIGHTED excellently combines multiple genres to create an experience unlike any other. It offers exhilarating combat and complex puzzles alongside a meaningful and unique sci-fi narrative.
Overall, Unsighted is a solid nonlinear platformer with ample depth and content. While the start is a bit bumpy, the game quickly finds its rhythm and provides enjoyable gameplay with a retro feel. The timer and stamina systems may be frustrating to some players, but the game provides more than the typical customizability to scale the difficulty for casual players. In short, it’s hardly an un-sightly experience; it’s well worth a good long look!
Unsighted is interesting to me, in part because at just a casual glance, or even just a very short play session, I believe people will severely underestimate its ambition and execution...
UNSIGHTED deserves recognition and exposure not only for the crisp design, beautiful world, hypnotic tunes, and abundant secrets, but for the unique concepts it introduces to great effect, namely the NPC death timers. The stakes in games often lie in winning or losing a fight and having to expend more personal time on a fight that bruised our egos. Here, we have the added layer of humble automaton friends’ lives hanging by a thread. Even though I found several secrets throughout my initial trek, I am absolutely certain more can be uncovered; I just might take a rare plunge into New Game+.
Unsighted is a hard and pure metroidvania, cared for and fun in every aspect, able to satisfy both experienced players and those less accustomed to the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Unsighted is a great adventure. At first, it may lack a distinct identity due to its many influences, and its stamina system and time limit can cause frustration and anxiety. However, players that stick with it or adjust some of its more grating aspects will find a lot to love. Give it a whirl if you are into Metroidvanias with an emphasis on planning and strategy.
Overall, UNSIGHTED is a game that I hope doesn't fall into the "hidden gem" category. For the simple reason that it is a gem that should not be hidden and needs to be in the line of sight (get it?) of as many gamers as possible. Despite the stress of the lifespan gimmick, this unique element is what will keep you on your toes and panicking, worrying but ultimately loving your time as Alma. The narrative is beautiful, and characters are all full of life and loveable, making for a gaming journey that you will genuinely care about.
As an action RPG, Unsighted may disappoint by not being too complex in terms of evolving and managing the protagonist's internal economy, but as an action-adventure, it's versatile enough and has a solid and responsive gameplay. Although its concept of temporality can be frustrating at times, the title may appeal to those looking for sensitive narratives with a different connection to the gameplay. Furthermore, it is easily recommended for those who enjoy metroidvania-style exploration dynamics and dungeons like those of the 2D games in the Zelda series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I didn’t know what to expect from UNSIGHTED, but all I know is that I was pleasantly surprised by the results. It’s a game that features a really fun and fast-paced combat system, with some excellent world design, all tied together by a really unique time mechanic. This might be a game that will fly under everyone’s radar, but I would highly recommend UNSIGHTED to anyone looking for a good challenge or a fun world to explore.
UNSIGHTED does a lot of things and it does them extremely well. So, if you enjoy the classic Zelda formula, Metroidvania exploration, twin-stick shooting, and reaction-based combat then you'll love your time with this gem of an indie.
Unsighted remixes familiar ideas with an engrossing spin on what it means to take on a time-sensitive mission to save the world.