Windscape

Windscape isn't an antidote to the everlong tropes of modern action-RPGs – simply because it still needs to rely on enough of them to tie its own systems together – but it does present a relaxed and engrossing alternative that's designed to give players of any age or skill level the chance to explore, battle and craft at their own pace. The deepness of that crafting system belies its apparent simplicity, and with all manner of stories to uncover across its hand-crafted lands, you're left with a first-person adventure that very much belongs on Switch.

Windscape is a melding of old action/adventure gaming with new mechanics and storytelling in mind, allowing the player to explore the nearly open-world around them at their own pace.

Overall, I had rather a mixed experience with Windscape. Unfortunately, the quests didn’t really engage me and I just started wondering and exploring. I didn’t feel hooked and it’s a shame as the combat really isn’t the greatest.

Considering Windscape is largely the product of one developer, it is actually quite an accomplishment. It ambitiously attempts to marry aspects of two of the mediums most influential action-adventure franchises and, for the most part, is able to create a very enjoyable experience.

Windscape is not a bad game, in fact there were times, mainly when I was chilling listening to the music and crafting, I really enjoyed it. I just wished the quests were more varied and had a bit more life to them.

Overall, Windscape is a successful indie title. An affectionately arranged world with many facets invites to some hours of fun. The game isn't perfect and doesn't offer the greatest challenge, but entertains well over the season and has its own charm. For fans of RPGs and Action Adventures it's well worth a look. Due to its rather short-lived quests it can also be played with little time and doesn't need any intensive activity like most RPGs. Windscape is therefore a kind of mini role playing game, which works very well without a skill system.

Windscape is a fun little throwback, but it often relies too heavily on nostalgia instead of carving its own path.

Windscape has its rough edges, but the scope, ambition and heart of this one-man passion project help it to punch above its weight class. If you want a Zelda or Skyrim-style game that's great for relaxing after a long day, Windscape fits the bill nicely.

Though I may have felt a bit conflicted on how to score Windscape, I like its concept, most of its simple but workable design, and how much of it slows as a whole...

Windscape reminds me a lot of a Mimikyu – a soulless husk of a puppet that's pretending to be something it's not. This game is a shell of what it could be given enough time, money, and effort, and I truly hope it continues down a better path via post-launch fixes.