One of the most promising game developers in Oklahoma continues to flaunt its game design chops. From Soy Sauce had really shone when it completed its IndieGogo funded game Spheroid earlier this year. Now it is back with a game jam game that shows just how great they can be.
Glass Wing was released a couple of weeks back as the result of FSS’s efforts to compete in a month long game jam put on by 64 Digits. As a result of this, FSS created a retro inspired 3D platformer with just the right mix of Ocarina of Time and Metroid Prime style platforming.
Glass Wing stars a young woman by the name Mayfly of the Glass Wing race who is kidnapped from her home so that a demon may harvest her wings for their magical properties. Barely escaping from her captor, Mayfly must traverse the dangers of this unfamiliar realm as she attempts to restore her lost wings and return home.
The game contains a number of great features from the very beginning. The game starts in a non-traditional menu system in which you control Mayfly in order to load a saved game or start a new game by simply crossing a bridge and choosing one of two paths. From there, you must use your skills at running and jumping to traverse various levels, find your wings to expand your ability set and various tools to help solve the puzzles found in each level. Of the abilities available to the player as you progress, you can find a high jump, gliding, morph ball, and a spin strike. Each ability allows you to reach more and more areas to explore.
While the story is pretty basic and the game is fairly linear, the fun of traversing the game is always present. While some of the platforming can be brutally difficult, it is extremely rewarding once you figure out what you are supposed to do and how to do it.
There are also plenty of monsters in the game doing their best to block your progress. However, the game does not encourage you to engage the monsters in combat. While you may find tools that you think could be used as weapons, your most powerful tool is you analytic thinking skills. Don’t think of the items as weapons, but keys to open new areas.
Probably the best thing about the game is the attention to detail. While you may not think that a 3D game made in 1 month could have much detail, this game proves you wrong. The character of Mayfly and her abilities are really well designed. FSS also put in a lot of effort to make the opening cinematic the best it could be with an incredibly imposing monster and an excellent voice over. It really gets you excited to start playing the game.
As for the ending of the game, you really must put all your skills to the test in one final desperate attempt to escape from the demon hunting you. The final level is incredibly intense, and incredibly difficult. But beating it is extremely rewarding.
The game is not without its flaws though. Even after several updates, users are still reporting some issues. However, FSS is listening and has made several major improvements to the most frequent and major issues. I myself am still experiencing a couple of issues that FSS has not been able to reproduce, but they are doing their best to make the game the best it can be. [Update: Version 2.6 has fixed all the major issues I had been having.]
This game also marks an end of a stage for FSS. This is the last game they will create using Game Maker and its 3D engine mod. They are currently working on switching to Unity for its cross platform capabilities and better support.
A demo of Glass Wing is available from its 64 Digit’s page. You can also buy the full game on Itch.io or Steam. So definitely pick this game up and give it a play through. I don’t think you will regret it.
