To say this yr has been chock-full of weird premises can be an understatement, particularly within the indie area. Nonetheless, even with all of the unorthodox mechanics, go away it to Double High quality Productions to show it may well nonetheless ship a really distinctive situation not like the rest on the market. An journey title advised with none phrases, starring a sentient lighthouse that wanders round a seemingly ruined island with sentient wonders of the mechanical and organic form, the place your solely companion is a seabird? Suffice it to say, I used to be in, however nonetheless skeptical. In spite of everything, as intriguing as premises like Headlander and RAD have been up to now (each additionally directed by Lee Petty), their execution failed to actually stay as much as the identical.
That’s not fairly the case in Keeper, fortunately, and even when it isn’t precisely breaking the mould so far as titles within the style go, there’s nonetheless an extremely vibrant and mysterious world to discover with some enjoyable and unorthodox puzzles. And that’s with out factoring within the visuals and music, with artwork course channelling that signature Double High quality really feel whereas nonetheless feeling distinctive.
The story begins out in a simple sufficient style. A flock of seabirds is pursued by a mysterious swarm, and certainly one of them is separated, dropping all the way down to the island and selecting a dilapidated lighthouse. Simply when it appears the top is close to, the latter springs to life, flashing its gentle and dispersing the swarm, or no less than inflicting it to retreat. From that second on, the 2 journey collectively, and actually, issues solely get weirder from there.
“It’s to Double High quality’s credit score that every of those entities is brimming with character, and even when you don’t instantly work together with a lot of them, they nonetheless play a component within the puzzles.”
However the lighthouse is about as baffled by its sudden sentience as we’re. It groans and creaks from its stationary place, crumbing in a heap earlier than inevitably gaining legs and the reward of motion…earlier than unceremoniously tipping over once more on account of its sheer heft. Even because it learns steadiness, that heft is all the time obvious all through, whether or not it’s dashing rapidly or skulking by darkish caverns. In a way, it’s virtually consultant of the lighthouse’s temper. It may take a little bit of getting used to, particularly whereas transferring round and orienting the sunshine, however it feels pure after a degree.
Nonetheless, it’s the mysteries of Keeper that can push you to progress ahead. Why did the lighthouse abruptly awaken? What is that this mysterious energy that enables it to control the surroundings? What is that this island, and who’re its denizens? How influential was the seabird in its awakening, and simply what’s that big beacon on the mountaintop that the lighthouse is seemingly compelling in direction of? What precisely is the swarm, and why are they so incessantly chasing after the seabird? What occurred to the remainder of the flock? These are solely a handful of questions that come to thoughts, and Double High quality is more than pleased to throw a couple of extra whereas maintaining you guessing.
As a result of it’s a wordless narrative, you’ll need to piece issues collectively by yourself…or not, if merely barreling by environments and taking on this planet is extra to your liking. Keeper is as a lot of a vibe as it’s a narrative, due to its surreal surroundings. There’s a post-apocalyptic component to the island, virtually as if its prior civilisation was lengthy since worn out, however then you definitely encounter a number of the stranger beings that inhabit it. The rocks which can be additionally wandering round on 4 legs. The sentient tree that actually wants these three blue orbs to allow you to by. The door seems simply completely depressed as a result of its symbols are misaligned, and it’s represented by a single eye.
It’s to Double High quality’s credit score that every of those entities is brimming with character, and even when you don’t instantly work together with a lot of them, they nonetheless play a component within the puzzles. Your main features as a lighthouse, no less than initially, embody strolling round, dashing by obstacles and shining a light-weight (which could be targeted to sometimes burn by sure elements of the surroundings, amongst different issues). The seabird additionally helps out, whether or not it’s clasping onto levers and turning them, retrieving objects, shaking fruit from timber or pulling objects. It’s all easy sufficient and simple to know, particularly from the outset, till you keep in mind that shining a light-weight on these sentient rocks causes them to abruptly drop down, breaking something beneath them, which is useful for retrieving an object within the surroundings.
“That selection is apparent within the environments as nicely, which vary from in depth lush greenery to shadowy catacombs the place a darkish presence resides within the island’s underbelly for some unknown objective.”
Ultimately, you’ll manipulate different searchlights to clear a path for the lighthouse and even shift between the realms of the lifeless and dwelling (no less than as I perceive it) to show the seabird right into a spirit that phases by partitions, restoring its corporeal state to truly manipulate the switches. It’s solely a teaser for a number of the really weird mechanics to return, however it additionally highlights Keeper’s confidence in its gameplay selection. Even so simple as it may well really feel at instances with all of the mulling about from one level to the following, and even when these puzzles aren’t particularly tough, they nonetheless really feel distinctive and, extra importantly, don’t overstay their welcome.
That selection is apparent within the environments as nicely, which vary from in depth lush greenery to shadowy catacombs the place a darkish presence resides within the island’s underbelly for some unknown objective. Even when some components will creep sure gamers out (warning to these affected by arachnophobia, if it wasn’t apparent by now why), Keeper is solely awash in unbelievable particulars and surreal findings. That is additional aided by the music, which alternates between upbeat and kooky to dire and foreboding relying on the placement. And even with the dearth of spoken dialogue, the animation work is robust sufficient you could really really feel the camaraderie between the lighthouse and the seabird creating in actual time.
In fact, it’s price mentioning efficiency and optimisation on PC. An Intel Core i5-11400, 32 GB RAM and an RTX 4060 – nicely above the minimal necessities, however nicely beneath the beneficial. Regardless of this, I nonetheless managed to run it in 1080p with all graphics settings at Excessive and with DLAA enabled. Body Technology is accountable for guaranteeing the body price stays at a comparatively constant 60 frames per second all through, with minimal drops. And that’s saying one thing, given the sheer quantity of element, lighting, shadows, and results current all through, even with this animated artwork type.
“Keeper doesn’t attempt to overwhelm you with its environments and storytelling a lot as ease you in, providing some unbelievable environments, attractive visuals and unbelievable music alongside the way in which.”
With so many unbelievable video games launching this season, to not point out the opposite two main choices that Microsoft is publishing this month alone, Keeper is unquestionably liable to being swept below the rug. The comparatively modest $30 value belies an expertise that isn’t too lengthy, and which may generally really feel a bit too linear at factors (although you often have some freedom).
Nonetheless, for many who keep it up, there’s a sweeping narrative to discover, one which goes past your common quest to avoid wasting the world, specializing in unlikely friendships in opposition to weird odds. Keeper doesn’t attempt to overwhelm you with its environments and storytelling a lot as ease you in, providing some unbelievable environments, attractive visuals and unbelievable music alongside the way in which. Once more, it’s not precisely pushing the journey puzzle style ahead, however by way of execution, particularly relating to Double High quality titles, it’s a hit after which some.
This recreation was reviewed on PC.
