Hello and welcome back to my blog!
Indie games have been on a roll for some time. Last year was one of the best for indie game lovers, as we saw many interesting games. This year started well, too. I came across a unique climbing game on Steam which grabbed my attention. It is called Cairn.
The premise is very simple: climbing a big mountain. In fact, it is all about climbing, where you control the placement of each limb, and any mistake can be very fatal. What grabbed my attention in the first place was its unique visual style and atmosphere.
I will showcase its beautiful art style with this post.
It is not trying to be ultra-realistic (which is a great thing for an indie developer), but focuses on a clean, stylised look that makes it feel immersive.
You will get disappointed if you are looking for action here. This is more of a relaxing climbing game made with one purpose. You have to manage your hunger, thirst and battle with weather conditions.
It is a big journey, so whatever you take with you and whatever you find on this trek are the only things that will help you. There are a lot of resting places where you can enjoy the view, cook your food, bandage your wounds and regain your energy.
The weather conditions make it even more challenging. Climbing in the rain becomes twice as challenging as you struggle to get a good grip on the rocks.
I wasn't expecting too much from this game, but it surprised me in a good way. Even though I said it is very relaxing, it can get very tense quickly as well. A wrong judgment of the route and you can end up in the middle of a smooth wall with no stamina to spare. Or an untimely rain can make your job very tough.
The constant hunt for material so you can eat something and not be hungry can be an annoying thing for some. But I like that part. The inventory management can get tiresome as well.
But there are enough things to keep you engaged in this journey. I found multiple caves, dead bodies, lost backpacks, a fishing spot and cave painting? These things keep it interesting.
My favourite part of the game is the sunsets and sunrises.
Look at those colours, aren't they pretty? The day-night cycle and the dynamic weather conditions make this climb very interesting. They did a great job with the lighting, and this unique art style gives it a great touch.
I didn't even complete 20% of the climb yet, I think. And I am loving it. It is not just holding a button and watching the climb animation. It involves a lot of strategy, like route planning, inventory management, resource management and the climb itself.
Have you played this game? Let me know if you like those shots as well, and which one is your favourite?
Thanks for reading…
Until next shot…
