The Merlies Reviews
The Merlies is a warm hug of a game, with elements that casual and seasoned gamers alike can enjoy. It’s a rewarding adventure with a story about overcoming adversity, building community, and appreciating the world around you. A lack of in-game direction and some less-than-stellar controls hold it back from being a true gem, but anyone who loves exploration and stress-free gaming will no doubt find a lot to like here. The idea of a wholesomevania is fantastic, and the execution of The Merlies makes for a game well worth diving into.
The Merlies’ small size isn’t just a visual trick—it turns normal objects into huge parts of the world, toward the same goal. The absence of combat and timers gives the game an unusually relaxed rhythm. You can stop and examine your surroundings and experiment with your flock; with no combat or timers, the game has a relaxed pace. You can take your time, look around, try things with your flock, and search for hidden paths without feeling rushed.
Normally I don’t like platformer puzzles, but I loved this one. I normally struggle with the platforming part, but this time the developers have made even the dreaded double jump quite doable, even for people not fond of platformers. The lack of timers and enemies, the calm visuals and soundtrack, and the very cute tiny birds make The Merlies one of the very best games to add to your backlog this Fall
While very pleasant, and generally feeling pretty distinct with its mix of exploration and puzzle-solving, the somewhat loose controls and some quirks keep it from being better