Horace Reviews
The story, gameplay, and presentation are all almost totally spot on and even if you don’t like platformers you should get someone to play it for you so you can experience the story for yourself.
On the surface, Horace may seem like just another 2D platformer on the Nintendo eShop. It’s hard to summarise the entire story, so the description of a robot trying to reunite with his family while picking up rubbish left over from the Robot War doesn’t particularly stand out. I’ve played many whacky indie games in my time at Rapid Reviews, with weird and wonderful stories, and initially Horace doesn’t sound too different.
Horace offers a very unique experience. The game mixes competent platform challenges with a well-constructed narrative, which proposes a reflection on existence from the dramas present in all of us. Horace learns little by little to understand people, understanding what feelings, pains and joys are. At the same time, we identify with the protagonist because he himself demonstrates that trait of sensitivity that characterizes us as humans. In the end, it is not just a journey of a robot understanding the human life, the player reflects about life as well.
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Horace is a challenging platformer with strong core mechanics and inventive design, all of which gradually build up into something truly amazing and satisfying as a video game. Its homage to the heart and soul of video games as an art form and its deep insight into human nature all come together to make it an experience that is both memorable and important.
Horace is a beautiful yet extremely profound tale about death, life, and purpose. With a robot’s adventure starting with it attempting to find his family but evolving into a tale with many layers. The visuals may convey a lighthearted tale and there are plenty of moments that complement this theme with funny jokes but the game evolves into a darker narrative as you progress. The platforming involves precision timing and a lot of critical thinking to solve but the overreliance to create so many challenging platforming sections can become overwhelming. Especially when needing to backtrack through nightmarish areas if you happen to take the wrong path, or being forced to swim in general. The boss fights and environments, while varied, often highlight Horace’s overreliance on stiffening many of the robot’s cooler abilities. Discouraging creative solutions in favor of strict direction. Despite the steep challenge, Horace is something special, full of memorable moments both dark and stirring that you won't want to miss out on.
It’s hard to recall the last time I honestly laughed and was so emotionally invested in a game in such a short period of time as I did with this Horace. The fact that it’s now being brought to more systems and storefronts will hopefully put it into more people’s hands and give it the attention it so rightfully deserves. If I ever were to classify a game as a complete gaming experience, very few would make the cut, and I’m ecstatic to say that Horace is most definitely one I would happily do so.
Horace is a game of great challenge, quirky humor, and heart-wrenching storytelling, all wrapped up in an adorable package. You simply cannot let this game pass you by. I’m certainly glad I didn’t.
Horace is a very, very good game. A humour filled but emotionally charged plot delivered via beautiful and well-paced cut scenes, some of the most gorgeous pixel released this year, a smorgasbord of pop culture references and mini-games and a hand crafted feel to the platforming, as if everything has been placed with care and attention, combine into one of the most surprising games of 2019.