Atone: Heart of the Elder Treeis a new indie RPG from New Zealand-based video game developer Wildboy Studios. The game is the company’s very first release, and in it, players must work to restore balance to the world of Midgard. Steeped in Nordic lore and mythology,Atone: Heart of the Elder Treetakes players on a unique narrative journey filled with magic and mystery.
The game takes place in the human realm of Midgard, which has fallen into strife and division since the Gods abandoned it. Players follow the story of Estra, a young woman who must follow in the footsteps of her forebears and fight back against a darkness taking hold of the realm. Here’s what players should know about the game before they dive in.
1Settle In For A Story
Atone: Heart of the Elder Treehas a heavy emphasis on narrative, and the game’s central story is quite complex. The long tutorial level begins with Estra’s past and tells the story of how her once-happy childhood becomes a beleaguered ordeal. However, all is not revealed in the beginning. Players should prepare themselves to unravel the story bit by bit instead of in one fell swoop.
RELATED:Indie Games Releasing In 2023 You Should Know About
Moreover, not everything that players hear will reflect the truth, so they should keep a discerning mind as they learn more about the world. Much like theNorse mythology it is inspired by, the game is no stranger to trickery and disguise. It is up to players to make sure that Estra is not led astray.
2Explore The World
ThoughAtone: Heart of the Elder Treehas many facets to its gameplay, it is primarily an adventure RPG. As is the case with most games in the genre, the world in which the game takes place is rich with narrative detail, and it can be easy to miss elements of the story. Players wanting to get the most out of the game should be sure to explore as much as possible.
Like many of the best RPGs, the game hasan incredibly immersive world. Players can interact with much of what they see. Many of these interactable elements will reveal details about the world and the characters in it.
3Find The Maps
Though the world ofAtone: Heart of the Elder Treemay not be as expansive as many other RPGs, it can be easy to get a little disoriented with where players are. Theart style of the gameis incredibly distinctive and vivid, and the detail in the environments can be rather overwhelming for the eyes.
RELATED:Best Indie RPGs Of The Last 5 Years (According To Metacritic)
Dotted around the place are tall stone pillars that contain maps for the current locale. These maps can make it much easier for players to figure out where they need to go. Be sure to interact with these maps, as they’ll be useful in completing all objectives.
4Make Wise Choices
Along the path of Estra’s journey, she will be faced with many difficult decisions to make. Choices inAtone: Heart of the Elder Treematter greatly, and players should be sure to make them carefully. Theconsequences of these choiceswill have a great impact on the game, and players will need to deal with the consequences they bring.
In addition to divergences in Estra’s actions, there are choices to be made in conversations with other characters. These choices in dialogue will decide the information that players will receive, and can be the difference in unraveling a key mystery or hitting a roadblock.
5Solve The Puzzles
To progress through the story, players will need to solve puzzles at various stages along the way. The answers to these puzzles may not always be obvious, so players will need to keep a sharp mind. The puzzles can involve remembering symbols that appear in the environment, rearranging jumbled images, unlocking secret codes, and much more.
RELATED:Games That Deconstruct The Puzzle Genre
The difficulty of these puzzles will increase as the game progresses, so players will need to remain patient and pay close attention to the world around them. Mistakes can be costly, as not every puzzle will allow for multiple attempts. Time and care should be taken, especiallyin the climax of the game.
6Keep The Beat
One of the more unique features ofAtone: Heart of the Elder Treeis itsapproach to the combat system. Unlike a typical RPG battle, the game trades standard melee attacks for a rhythm-based system. Players will need to time their attacks with the music and follow the prompts for success.
The mechanics of this combat system is not unlike that ofGuitar HeroorDance Dance Revolution. Keeping the beat and paying attention to the directions will help players to succeed in their fights. Aiding them is the synth-heavy score that features a different song for every fight.
7Choose The Right Mode
Difficulty settings are essential to success in most video games, andAtone: Heart of the Elder Treeis no different. Once players have completed the tutorial level, and taken Estra as far as the town of Borj, they will be given the opportunity tochange the difficulty settings of the game.
Atone: Heart of the Elder Treehas three main modes. Story Mode allows players to automatically win every fight and disables the rhythm game mechanic, Normal Mode enables the rhythm mechanic with two active buttons, and Hard Mode adds two extra buttons to the rhythm mechanic for a total of four.
Atone: Heart of the Elder Treeis available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC.
