Every once in a while, I’ll come across a game that doesn’t stand out in any single area but, when viewed as a complete picture, is a masterpiece – Little Orpheus is one of those games. From the moment I started playing as Ivan Ivanovich, a man being held responsible for losing the “Little Orpheus”, a nuclear weapon somewhere in the centre of the earth, I was completely and utterly sold.
Little Orpheus was initially released in 2020 for Apple Arcade, and judging purely by the production quality, it’s hard to believe that the game is already two years old. Any cracks that have started to form are cleverly concealed by the incredible storytelling, gorgeous visuals and heavy dose of humour.
Because the game was originally designed with Apple Arcade in mind, the controls are the very definition of straightforward. Players can jump, interact, do a running slide or crouch, but that’s about as complex as the controls ever become. And while this might sound like a negative for the game, simplicity is one of the game’s highlights.
Because players are never fumbling with buttons or struggling to remember how to do anything, all of their attention can be funnelled into the story that the game is telling, which is essentially a retelling of Journey to the Center of the Earth and it’s in this narrative that the game truly comes to life and shines.
Essentially, the game follows a pretty simple gameplay template. The game is split up into nine episodes. Each episode will have the exploration/platformer sections and then be finished with a “run like your life depends on it” section. Whether you’re running from a rock threatening to squish you or a T-Rex wanting to eat you – the principle is the same.
Each level or “episode” also has a bunch of collectables hidden throughout. Finding them unlocks concept art and storyboards relevant to where the collectable was found.
But the best thing about Little Orpheus is, without a doubt, the way that the voice actors bring the narrative to life and make the game a joy to play and a delight to listen to. Gunnar Cauthru voices the game’s protagonist, and South African actor Paul Herzberg lends his voice to the general. And between the two of them, it’s hard not to fall in love with and recommend the game.
