A sleeping giant.
Every once in a while a game comes along that I cannot stop thinking about. Stories: Path of Destinies was that game when it launched on PlayStation 4 back in 2016. Almost two years later Xbox One owners are finally getting a chance to see the brilliance of this indie title. What makes Stories so special isn’t its mechanics or idea, but more in how everything around it is executed so perfectly. The story is interesting, the combat is fun, and the areas are small enough that multiple playthroughs never hit that level of fatigue so many games suffer from.
The premise is simple: Stories follows the adventures of Reynardo as he unravels the secrets of his quest. Each total playthrough is measured in single digit hours, but the design is that players come back over and over to unlock new threads. Each path has its own branching storylines and what-if scenarios. Make one decision and it plays out entirely different than another. It isn’t original by any stretch, but its execution is flawless.
MSRP: $14.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $14.99
This is highlighted by the narrator. He tells the tale and voices all the characters. His precision is uncanny. He will highlight upgrade paths, comment on empty broken jars, and even make quips about deaths. His nuance is perfect and it feels like he is sitting right next to me as I plow through the game. It must have taken so much work to make that, well work. Think Bastion and you get the idea. He really sells every encounter and makes every character interesting even without them having their own voice.
Combat feels akin to the Arkham games with a simple attack that flows between enemies. There is also a parry and a host of dodge mechanics that can be upgraded over time. Chaining combos is the name of the game, and while it is never required, stringing an entire arena of enemies into one flowing combo is deeply satisfying. When I died, I knew it was on me, and that is the pinnacle of combat design.
There are also new swords to craft and gems to socket. These new swords open up alternate paths that lead to more goodies. The game does an excellent job of drip feeding all the progression and upgrades. I wanted to keep playing, no I needed to. It was an addiction. Crossing off all the different paths just felt great. This is one game I strived for 100% in and loved every single moment of that journey.
Bringing the game to Xbox comes with no real upgrades. Sure it supports 4K resolution, but it would have benefitted from HDR for sure. The colors in the world are so vibrant and varied. There is no additional content, but at least Xbox gamers can now discover this incredible title. Do not pass it up, do not sleep on this one, Stories is one of the best games I have played this generation, indie or not.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
