I’m pretty sure I’ve spoken before about being a video game snob. But in case I didn’t, let me give a quick refresher. Without a doubt or any shame, I am a complete snob when it comes to the games I choose to play. You know how parents always give you the whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” spiel growling up? Well, that’s just nonscience. Give me a book, movie, game, anything with a terrible looking cover, and you’ve already lost me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard about a game, gone to Steam to look it up, been greeted with a horrible cover picture that looks like a toddler’s art project and then instantly clicked away.
However, that being said, over the last few years, I’ve been trying to grow as a person. Part of that is being more open to things that might not be inherently pleasing to my eye. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t picked up more than a few games I usually wouldn’t have and been impressed by them. Imp of the Sun is one of those games. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about the art or the art style used for Imp of the Sun. It’s just not a look I would usually gravitate towards. Still, new person and all that, I decided to push prejudices out of the way and give the game a try and man, oh man, am I glad I did.
From its world-building to its story and gameplay mechanics, Imp of the Sun is simple. You play as a little flame, affectionally named Nin, whose mission is to stop an Eternal Eclipse and save the world from endless darkness. To do this, Nin must travel across four regions to find the Keeper and reclaim the Sun’s power that they stole. The game is a short but fast-paced platformer that is more about mobility than puzzle-solving and will constantly keep you moving through the levels. Each of the regions you travel to is marked by a specific ability found there which will help to traverse the area, be that dashing through the air or being able to climb walls; each location will teach Nin a new ability for them to take into the next.
Because of how closely tied each area is to the power you learn, areas can be played in any order and after getting a few starter powers, each area can be enjoyed to the players’ own preference. Don’t enjoy long puzzles? Well equipped with the right skills, you might be able to skip the puzzle altogether. This means that each area in Imp of the Sun can be as long or as short as you feel up to and makes the game perfect for when you only have a couple of minutes to dedicate to a run.
While the main focus in the game is very clearly on the platforming, there is also some combat mixed in to keep things interesting. While there aren’t many areas to explore, each comes with its own type of enemies that require a new approach to defeat. Whether this is simply finding a way to knock over shielded enemies or using one of your skills to dash over pitfalls while chasing foes, the variety makes the game fun and keeps the player constantly engaged.
Arguably the best part of the game, however, comes down to the five boss battles. Each boss battle will focus on the power found in that area. Thanks to the game’s focus on movement, the fights feel very dynamic and cinematic. The only downfall to the boss fights is that each one of the five becomes easier and easier thanks to Nin’s new abilities. Still, even though they might not feel as challenging, Nin doesn’t feel any less agile and powerful – something that aids the feeling of growth that’s present throughout the story.
