One of the biggest criticisms the Wii U has faced during its lifespan is that not enough games released on the system have utilised the full potential of Nintendo's unique GamePad controller. Red Column's three-part episodic game 3Souls aims to fill the void, providing an inquisitive 2D puzzle platform experience that is designed from the ground-up for the Wii U GamePad.
3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa (with two more episodes coming as DLC in the future) introduces the player to the world of Mustland. In this land there are people known as Ánimas, who wear life-essential masks which protect their souls from the world around them. Souls float around the Ánimas similar to a celestial light, revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. The protagonist of the first 3Souls episode is Nelesa, a girl trapped in the sad cells of Moon Prison who is seeking a better life. The player, via the assistance of the GamePad, is able to connect with the world of Mustland and help Nelesa escape.
Episode one begins with the first Ánima locked up in a cell. With the aid of the GamePad the player is able to view and interact with the tiny pixel character's soul, revealing her feelings and thoughts. These feelings and thoughts act as both visual and audio cues to help the player solve on-screen puzzles so that Nelesa can progress. Eventually, the first lot of clues all tie together with the discovery of a hidden passage.
These challenges that Nelesa must face increase in difficulty over time. Going beyond the character's thoughts and feelings, the player will be required to make use of the microphone, touch screen and camera on the GamePad. One of the earlier featured mechanics requires the player to blow into the microphone to activate wind fans so that Nelesa is able to jump across bigger gaps. Eventually Nelesa will encounter seemingly unreachable platforms, only to discover the GamePad and its motion ability can tap into prison security cameras, which then reveals a series of hidden platforms that can reach even higher points. Other levels of interaction incorporate the touch screen; one such example is cleaning off dusty plaques with the stylus. These signs often reveal hidden maps, messages or artwork, illustrating where the actual exits are in certain locations.
Although the difficulty level doesn't rapidly spike, each mechanic introduced is built upon over time. This grows frustrating rather quickly due to the trial and error nature of each task. Many of the platform and puzzles elements incorporated into 3Souls will set the player up to fail on their first lot of attempts. One example of this is with invisible moving platforms only viewable on the GamePad while Nelesa can only be seen on the television screen. The dual-screen idea is self-evident here, but this is by no means an enjoyable platform challenge; while it's not impossible to get past this, by the time the challenge has been overcome there's more of a bitter aftertaste about the experience rather than the feeling of a triumphant success.
One other notable challenge that further highlights this problem with the GamePad implementation is when Nelesa encounters a series of security doors. Each one has a safe code on it that needs to be solved in order to progress; like with the platforms, the initial concept builds upon itself over time. The first door you can locate the pin number on a painting nearby using the GamePad, but the main issue is the input of these codes via the safe wheel displayed on the controller. The motion controls used here are so temperamental that the experience becomes rage inducing. This initial idea further develops with the player eventually having to solve one wheel with no hints in the surrounding vicinity, and another one requiring a QR code to be scanned via a mobile phone, or another nearby compatible device. One of the same doors in this section then places the player under extreme pressure with dangerous enemies flying about - meaning there is only a short window of time to solve the code before they return.
These dangerous enemies, in reality, are actually just flying flowers. There are also standard flowers which are apparently deadly threats to Ánimas, because they can remove the life essential masks from their faces. Other traditional platform elements like lava pit falls are also featured; in each area of the game Nelesa has three health points, and if all of these are lost she must restart an area. This only adds to the frustration at times, when Nelesa must travel through an area solving entire puzzles all over again.
In a nutshell, dropping from platforms into a pit of burning coals a million times over is not fun when you're unable to make a proper decision about where to drop in the first place, nor is missing a moving platform as you ascend because it's only visible on one screen and not the other. Locks requiring nothing but guess work are not satisfying to solve, nor is it fun to solve such tasks in near impossible time frames. While challenges are always welcome in platformer / adventure experiences, there is a sense of unfairness at times in 3Souls. The level of interaction with the Wii U GamePad is admirable in terms of intent but is unfortunately excessive and not always smooth. While the transition to and from the television screen is mostly seamless - beyond aforementioned examples where challenge designs fall short - it becomes tiresome.
All of this adds up, and unfortunately does spoil what is enjoyable about 3Souls. The narration of the story and voice acting is sublime. It certainly captures the eerie atmosphere and mystery of the story behind Nelesa and the world around her. Many of the game's environments contribute to the narrative, with the beautiful conceptual style of artwork assisting with the storytelling, whether it is displaying a block of cells housing fellow prisoners or portraying murky maze-like sewers. This is supported by a soothing yet appropriately lonesome soundtrack. There are also loud ping noises linked to Nelesa's soul, which will provide a hint or clue whenever available. A second player can join in on the action too, with one player taking control of the platforming responsibilities while the other handles the interactive elements via the GamePad. In many ways this is an easier way to manage the game environment and dual screen approach, so is worth trying out.
Conclusion
3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa has an intriguing story, character and setting, but ultimately falls short of its full potential as a puzzle platform game. There is far too much trial and error when it comes to a lot of puzzles or working out how to navigate each area. While a lot of the challenges steadily increase over time, the problem is that you can't but help feel cheated whenever you lose a life due to the amount of guesswork required. With another two episodes on the way, Red Column must find the right balance in terms of difficulty and execution of GamePad ideas. Give this a go if you are feeling patient enough for a slow paced puzzle platformer.
Comments 41
More average muck. Will the Wii U eShop in years to come be remembered as a treasure trove of quality indie titles? I doubt it. For every Shovel Knight or Toki Tori 2, there's another 10 average/poor games. The Wii U has the grunt to push out some beautiful 3D graphics, instead I'd say most of the titles have been 2D sidescrollers that the NES could have handled back 30+ years ago.
Interesting concept, poor execution. I see.
Sincerely surprised to read the game is bugged with so many issues, being planned as episodic would make me guess the devellopers deeply believe in this project. Afterall the first game need to capture the player's imagination for push him/her into buy the next episodes.
I guess something went terribly wrong in development? I still feel I'll maybe give this a chance in future, but I wasn't feeling to do it soon and this review definitly doesn't hustle me ^_^;
It sounds like there's plenty of interesting concepts at work here, especially for a 3-quid game. "Buddy & Me: Dream Edition", a game that tries to do absolutely nothing and manages to do exactly that (nothing) was given a 5 too. I think you could have been more generous with the rating because it's rare to see an indie game using the GamePad so extensively. I know we don't reward people for "trying", but this game seems a million times better thought out than stuff like Splashy Duck, Peg Solitary, Avoider, Tabletop Gallery & in general all the trite crap that takes 2 days to make and scores a 5 on this website...
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Yeah, you know what though? With eShop style stores I just don't remember that stuff at all. It's not like physical stores where the shelves are cluttered with them and then they show up in giant bargain bins. That plagued the Wii, for instance. Instead, they just fade to the side and are forgotten. I only remember the good ones like the ones you mentioned. Another advantage of digital downloads and stores.
I bought this game I'm not far into it. now I'm sad to hear that it doesn't play well oh well!
Hi there! I'm the creator or 3Souls!
First, thanks Liam for taking your time to review my game! I like to listen to criticism to be able to get better in what I love to do.
I'm sad to hear that you feel frustrated with the game, although I may say that I had the feeling when I read the review that you played this game as a platformer instead as a puzzle-platformer.
My point is that the longer you take to compare and analyse the hidden platforms (which is the puzzle factor), the easier the process becomes, but rushing in your jumps will definitely bring you to many deaths.
With this I don't mean that it is an easy game, but a tricky challenge.
Of course this may not be the case either, and whichever is the case, I'm taking note of this and I will work in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable with the game.
Thanks a lot to all the Nintendo Life team for your support and time!
Thanks for all your comments!
@zeppray Thanks for buying the game! Let me know your opinion here if you got time
@A01 If you want, I can give you a code and you could discover it by yourself
@spizzamarozzi @BakaKnight @buildz It seems that you were interested in the concept. If you still are, and you wanna check it yourself, I will be happy to give you a code as well.
@aaronsullivan @SLIGEACH_EIRE you dont really seems interested in the game, but well if you are, you can still ask me for a code
Ok... I got a score of 5 and a review that said my game is mostly frustrating... I should stop giving codes to strangers XD. Im joking! Im glad to see more people trying the game over here
Thanks again Liam for the review!!
Clipse I enjoy the game but when you run out of lives and have to start all the way back at the beginning I can see how that can be pain! Maybe you could make it more like uncharted where when you finish a section that's where you pick it up from...just a thought but I love the game !
@zeppray
Thanks! Glad that you like it!
I thought a lot about this, because there are also many people telling me the opposite, that they like the challenge.
What I would do probably is to offer two ways of play in a patch: the original one (3 lives) and the "panorama" one, where there are not lifes and because of this, you can always keep trying from the last check point (this mode will make the game much easier and shorter, but probably some people will enjoy playing it like this)
Just to clear up a little bit for the rest of the people. The game is divided in sections. Each section of the prision (Stair, corridor..) has a type of portal (a different use of the GamePad).
Then, when you die you start on the last check point ( and it saves all what you done in that section) but if you die 3 times, you start all over again that section (but not the full game of course!).
I hope this could satisfy then to all the players
@Clipse I'm definitely interest in the concept, but I feel a bit bad in accepting a code, your project really sound interesting and with an actual effort in using the Wii U's features, it deserve all the proper purchases it can get ^_^
(And as I said I'm still considering to buy it in the near future, you shouldn't try to burn your potential sales with free codes XD)
@Clipse It's nothing personal, I should realise some of these games are made by one man teams and don't have the resources to make blinging looking games. I tried watching videos on Youtube but without the gamepad on screen I'm missing half of what is going on. I'm in the middle of playing Batman but could make time to give this a whirl and a mini review.
Thinking more and more about it, the solution of a mode with infinite lifes will suit much perfect for those that are not that good with platforms, Im getting more convice about this. Original mode - Panorama mode.
@BarryDunne Thanks for the gameplay video! I am agree with you, I saw your video and so far you are the only one that comment and show parts of the gameplay. I appreciate the other videos too, but from there people cant really get much about the gameplay with only the TV
@BakaKnight As you like, and thats nice to hear, thanks! Im really interested to hear opinions from people interested in the concept and thats why I want to offer the codes to the first comments that I saw around here
@SLIGEACH_EIRE sure! all opinions are very welcome! Let me know.
I have to try this game, as it's one of the few which throw in new and intriguing idea. All the best to the developer, who took his time to replay and listen to player opinions!
Clipse I was just about to log on to suggest the same thing you posted. I read your comments I think it's a great idea make an easy level and a challenging level great idea looking forward to the patch !!!
@Clipse You know what, I actually might take you up on your offer. I can't definitely say it's poorly executed until I've played it, can I? I guess I'm too used to doing that on RCMADIAX's reviews.
And if I enjoy it, I'll be even more inclined to support the future episodes. I guess videos can actually portray what this game is like, since I watched one by NintenDaan and it just didn't look good (the video, not the game) since the GamePad was missing...
@ederenzi78 Thanks!
@zeppray I got now the best formula I think, that also will give more value to the collectibles (ml-rules and memories). Those are not complicated to find at all because they are actually important for the story, but if you get all you unlock the vault with music and video of the game...
What I thought if that everytime that you get game over (you lost 3 lives) you can choose:
-Restart the level (the actual and challenge mode where you have to do that current level again)
-Continue with 3 extra lives (you start where you died and your lives are again 3) but you will loose all the ML-Rules and Memories found on that episode so far.
So if you want to really collect all, you need to do it properly: each level with 3 lives maximum.
Lets see when I get time to patch it. I probably try to put the italian and french version there and maybe even portuguese. (and now that is more easy with this option... make the lightball always deadly when the player fail hehe )
@buildz Ok then ... but how do I do it? there is not way to send a PM here right? via twitter maybe?
... I think Twitter is the best choice. I'm pretty sure there's no PM functionality on NL.
@Clipse My Twitter name is the same as my username for here.
EDIT:
@SLIGEACH_EIRE @buildz Done!
@Clipse So, I've finished the episode, and I have to admit, it's better than I was expecting. The puzzles all make really good use of the GamePad, including the colour puzzles and camera/lock puzzles, and the graphics certainly suit the overall theme and soundtrack well. The plot is quite ambiguous at this stage, leaving a lot to be questioned, but works well to drive the player forward. My only gripe is the fact you have to restart entire levels over, especially the last one, given how long it is. Some puzzles can be very frustrating and trial and error based, but this only applies to like one puzzles. Also the soundtrack is somewhat repetitive, but it isn't bad by any means. Finally, the Episode is quite short, but for £3 (well, what should've been £3) it isn't worth arguing over. When the game is complete, it'll have enough content.
Definitely one of the better uses of the GamePad, and it rivals games such as 6180 the moon.
@buildz Im really happy to hear your comments . Hopefully with the patch that will offer a mode with no live-based (always restart where you die) it will sort out the problem of frustration for some people that you mention. Thanks a lot for your opinion and thoughts!
@Clipse No problem man. I'm now intrigued to see what SLIGEACH has to say, given his sometimes negative nature.
@buildz Hey. I'm not negative. I'm honest, too honest for some peoples liking. But I'm fair too.
I'm up to the Moon Surface now. Have had to take a break but I'll get back to it later or tomorrow. I will say this much, so far I'm enjoying it.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE "sometimes negative nature" Only sometimes, I said. The meaning of negative is to be against something, and, sometimes, you are vocal about being against something. It's your honest opinion, and that's great, but it still counts as being negative. I don't mean 'negative' as in 'oh he doesn't agree with me', as I'm also sometimes negative.
@Clipse Purchased and playing it, but right now I can't get past the last section of the secured door area, I'll need to try tomorrow with the light of the day as right now I'm unsure if the matter is even me giving the wrong answear or the gamepad refusing to recognize the colors.
Anyway this issue aside I liked the rest of the game, it's definitely interesting and charming, the gameplay works better than the review made me think and it as a ton of atmosphere. Indeed the atmosphere is so good that i feel bad to say that the easter egg of the"Nindie quiz" feel terribly out of place, it's a funny idea, but it breaks the immersion and more than once I accidentally had a quiz popping up distracting me while i wanted to understand Nelesa emotions (and pointless to say, that costed me unfairly a life ^_^; ).
I'll maybe say more if I'll manage to complete the game, but for now as last thing I would like to say that... this is a 3DS game XD
Having to turn around for discover secrets, tilting the console, having to search colors with the camera... I'm sure there are good reasons why this was made for Wii U, and it works there too, but the gameplay really scream 3ds ^_^;;;
@BakaKnight Thanks for your comment! The last section of the secured door area is really tricky, so maybe is the wrong answer Remember that you can actually see which color turns on looking at the TV (at least for the first lightball).
I get what you said about the Nindie quiz. At first was 8 times to touch, but it was too hard to find... I think I will change it that it appears a music note instead for a few seconds, and if you touch it, then appear the easter egg (there are 16 hidden songs btw ).
The 3DS is the only rational version that could be ported at the moment... but I still think that the feeling of the control panel in your and yourself separate from the TV is better than a portable. Maybe in the future, but right now im focused on the rest of the episodes.
I'm stuck on trying to make the colour yellow. Must have been 1,000's of attempts to take a red and especially green photo. Only once managed to get green but died thanks to that flower flying about. Very, very frustrating. I'll try in natural light tomorrow. Blue it can read no problem. Otherwise it's been enjoyable enough.
See, I don't agree with the reviewer, I liked the invisible platforms and the security code sections. The game bugged out on me once and I had to reset it. The speed of the characters movement slowed right now so I couldn't make certain jumps. The game makes good use of the gamepad. You've in this one game put Nintendo to shame and it just reminds us of how wasted the gamepad has been.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE sorry to hear about the green color. Its the hardest to recognize, but with enough light it shouldnt be a problem. I actually had a warning about "playing with enought light" the game, but apparently I cant because the same kind of warning is in the warning app from wii u... and I have to remove it, which was enoying. I will take a deeper look to see if I can make even more recognizable the green
I did hear from another person about the slow down (looking into it now). I think is related to the console, and thats why this didnt appear until now. If you go back to the menu and then continue, this problem should be fixed. I hope I can figure why this happend soon enough and patch it.
Thanks for your comments! Glad to hear your opinion about the use of the GamePad.
@zeppray @buildz @BakaKnight @SLIGEACH_EIRE btw! I was thinking that it would be great if you that have played the game could put your personal rating on the "Game Rating" from avobe, so I can have also a refenrence of nintendo life users opinion
Thanks!
@Clipse If you want I can rate, but right now I could only place a low score as the game is interesting, fun, but sadly impossible to complete for me ^_^;;;
Fact is, the point where I'm stucked is the same as @SLIGEACH_EIRE, I can't get the green recognized, no matter what. I tried both at night and day with everything green I could find and every light on and... nothing, and I can't put more light in my room. I'll have to wait until a very sunny day with the sun's rays pouring right into the room, that's... a bit excessive honestly as requirement for play a game >.>;
And even worse, yesterday I didn't explicitly said I had problem with the green cause some tones of dark green I tried killed me and made me think my answear was wrong, it was so unclear what wasn't working that I started to doubt red+green = Yellow XD
Sorry for complaining so much over a single problem, it's just that this little detail is killing your game for me, which is a true shame, I really liked it up to this point and there was a ton to praise, the atmosphere, the creativity and effort in the challanges, all the little details you filled the game with... But everything fall a bit apart when a single section of the game keep some players like me blocked for longer than the game is, and not because of skills, but over a technical issue >.<
@BakaKnight lets see how i can help u. That part is tricky because you need to have many things in mind. SPOILERS You are right. The colors are red and green. You need normal light. Not darkness of course, but not straight light ( that will make the colors look white, you can see that in the camera). The tricky part is the traffic light. U need to do red when the traffic light is red and green when is green, if not u will die. I recomend u two things. First, test the green on the first traffic light and find a green that works. (You can restart the level in the pause menu) once u get the right object, i recomend u to do the green first, cos is the one that gives u problems and once u have it, do the red (like that u ensure that u get the green right). The tricky part of this last test on the level is the flower. It kills u for 3 reasons: wrong combination of colors, wrong timing with the traffic light or because u are in his way.
And also, the most similar green than the one in the gamepad, the better.
I hope this info help! ( im in a train now, so maybe i didnt make much sense writing from my phone hehehe)
@Clipse Sorry, I made you waste time as I'm seeing your reply AFTER I finally beated the episode, still I hate to say that none of what you said would have helped as those are all things I knew since I stepped in the room, I was really only fighting with recognizing the green and trust me, I needed a very good light for manage that (Indeed I'll have to "Praise the sun" despite not being a Dark Soul's player XD).
And I'm super thankful that I noticed your 3 life system had a little hole to exploit, I kept exiting to the main menu and reloading for doing the last section with infinite lives and don't have to start over (I honestly didn't have the patience anymore for start over after the "green" boss >w>; ).
Unfortunately... I missed a memory and since there is no way to replay areas I'll have to restart from square one if I want to find it; however I really can't understand how I manage to miss it, was there a secret one or i really passed by it without seeing it?
Anyway after finally beating it I can say the game was worthy the price and I'm glad I payed it for show you my support, I definitely want to see more games from your studio!
But as far as 3Souls I could honestly be already "filled up", I'll wait to hear more before taking a decision, but right now I don't know if I want to play the next episodes ^_^;
@BakaKnight glad to hear that u managed to finish the game, is good to hear ur opinion. I will take a deeper look into the green light to make sure its better recognize for the next patch
There are two memories that u need to find that are a little bit hidden. The memories are always SPOILER near to the red thorn that is moving. I think the less ovbious is in the light puzzless room. On the room where u learn to mix coulours .
Thanks again to take ur time to let us know ur thoughts!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Do you people ever think for yourselves or do you just go by what reviewers say? I played it and I like it. Granted, I got it for free, but it seems to be an enjoyable game.
I am not saying everyone must like everything, but too many people here use reviews in place of having to think about or try new things.
@Drumpler I both played and completed it.
https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAADAAB2V0eq81bQDg
Did you read my later comments?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I've seen you be dismissive of several games solely on the words of a reviewer. While I am glad you played and enjoyed it, too many people use reviews in place of critical thinking skills.
@Drumpler Most people aren't going to fork out money just to prove a reviewer wrong. I take an overall picture by seeing how it averages on Metacritic. I think the score was pretty accurate overall for this game, maybe a 6 at a push.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE You don't have to go out of the way to prove them wrong, just don't treat their words as gospel.
@Clipse Just chiming in to say that I really like your game. There are some downsides, but overall I am sure enjoying myself and I can't wait to finish the game. I saw a review giving it a meager 2/10 and that's just...bollocks.
Sad to see 3Souls having been mostly forgotten about. Wasn't it possible to port it to Steam, rather than (only) itch.io?
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