Pyre PlayStation 4 Review: Another Conquering By Supergiant
It’s kind of cool how the development team at Supergiant Games has managed to come so far within [...]
Unique Gameplay Wins the Day
It's a different kind of gameplay than we've been used to from Supergiant Games, and it may throw those of you who truly loved Bastion and Transistor for a loop. But, as mentioned above, the team has learned to mold new gameplay ideas into something that works – and tremendously well as that. You actually learn from your adversaries, and also try to make your team members work to their best benefit, so each battle can be easily won. It's a bit hard to explain, but once you conquer your first team, you'll have the basics nailed down, and you'll start to feel the vibe that Pyre is going for.
There are losses, mind you. You won't always conquer like a champ, and sometimes you'll learn certain consequences that come with your team. But despite the bittersweetness of these moments, it shows just how strong the bond with your character truly is – and it's pretty damn nuts, especially when it comes to making your gameplay experience feel more distinctive. It's like it has the depth of a role-playing game, but with competitive tactics that mixes up things pretty nicely.
And you can play against friends locally, which is pretty neat for those of you looking for a different kind of versus experience with couch play. The sessions I took part in were great fun, and reminded me that others could learn something different from the game, just as I did. That said, I do wish online multiplayer was included, though that would've delayed Pyre a bit further out – and, nah, I'm fine with the way it is.
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Pyre looks absolutely fantastic, with a beautiful world that's well put together, and character design that actually makes a difference, instead of stuff that's merely slapped in place just to make us feel better about weird little beings. You actually identify with characters better this way, as well as the world you're dwelling in. This is probably Supergiant's best looking game to date – and, yes, that's considering the beauty of Bastion.
Speaking of beauty, hot damn, did I love the soundtrack. Darren Korb, who worked on the company's previous games as well, once again concocts a selection of music that truly fits what you're doing in the game. It's amazing stuff, and makes me realize I should probably hunt it down for my private music collection.
While Pyre isn't the usual Supergiant Games molded game, that's actually an advantage. This team has proven that they can take ideas and twist them around into something genuine. If you didn't believe that already with Transistor, then you will with Pyre. Its gameplay is compelling and offers something really cool with each new round, and the presentation will wow you, as it's amongst the best stuff you'll find in an indie game to date.
We'll probably be waiting a while for Supergiant's next big concoction for the game industry, but if they're anything like Pyre, they'll be worth the wait.
RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher.
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