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Finished Child of Light? Where to turn next

by GH Staff

Child of Light was a spectacular achievement for Ubisoft Montreal. It was beautiful and delicate while being full of fine details. Its gameplay mechanics were traditional while still being exciting, and its story and characters went straight to that place that flutters when you watch David Attenborough documentaries. The fact that it was made by many of the same developers who worked on Far Cry 3 is a credit to their talent and flexibility. For many gamers Child of Light was an experience before it was a play through. So where does a gamer go next to get the same quality blend of gameplay and admirable emotive power? Where do you find a game that even shares Child of Light’s creative flair?

We tried to think where else in gaming you could find similar, if not exact, reproductions of these qualities. Some of our choices bare strong resemblances to Child of Light, others are only reminiscent of some of its themes or mechanics. This is in no way to be seen as an exhaustive list but merely a few ideas for those looking to bridge the gap between Aurora in Lumeria and the next great touching video game masterpiece.

No Ni Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

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A partnership between Professor Layton creator, Studio Level-5 and popular anime outfit Studio Ghibli was always going to be something decent. But it’s unlikely, even with their formidable reputations, that many guessed how amazing No Ni Kuni was going to be. Released for the PlayStation 3 last year, it seems fitting to have it on this list because just like Child of Light this game was conceived as a love letter to the tradition of JRPGs. And just like Child of Light, No Ni Kuni managed to implement the traditional (and largely worn out) elements of RPGs and innovate them to create a game that is both familiar and exciting.

The premise is part Pokemon and part Final Fantasy, and at the same time all its own. Just like Child of Light it’s most compelling element is what it does to your heart rather than your brain. It’s beautiful as well, of course, and why it may not have Child of Light’s painterly flourishes, the Studio Ghibli signature style works exceptionally well into the game. Oliver and his companions are as expressive and accessible as the most famous characters from the studio’s films. This is a title for true RPG fans and really goes some way to redeeming the whole genre of some of its more persistent faults. Beautifully engrossing, and a reminder of how good fantasy should be handled.

 Ico/Shadow of the Colossus

ico and Shadow of the colossus

For a while there was a real argument for Fumito Ueda being the most important game maker in the world. Though he hasn’t done much of note since, the two games he made for the PlayStation 2 will no doubt cement his place in gaming history for centuries to come. For those that don’t know, these two games are mentioned together because while they were initially released separately and years apart, they are now available as the Ico & Shadow of Colossus Collection; HD rendered remakes for the PlayStation 3. Simply put, if you haven’t played either of these games go out and get them now.

In terms of mechanics they share very little with Child of Light but what the games have in common are an unusual tenderness and sensitivity. Both games are minimalist masterpieces, parred down to the verge of being dull but, instead, are capable of breathtaking compassion and interest. Ico sees you in control of the titular lead as you and young maiden Yorda attempt to flee a fortress. Shadow of the Colossus, its spiritual sequel, sees you as a warrior battling ginormous beasts in an attempt to revive a loved one. These games represented something of a high watermark at the time; creative and inspired, they managed to go straight to the heart while utilising a cleverly aesthetic muted palette.

Grandia II

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Child of Light’s enjoyable battle system shares remarkable similarities with many JRPG’s but none more so than cult classic Grandia II. For a long time Grandia held the trophy for revolutionising the way RPGs operated. Though it is far from its only draw Grandia II’s clever battles utilised timing and limited movement to great effect. The game was a high point in the series that balanced a great story with likeable characters and a seemingly huge world. Originally released for the Dreamcast (yeah, remember them) all the way back in 2001, Grandia II eventually found another home on the PlayStation 2, though glitches made it a far inferior version.

The story follows mercenary Ryudo as he gets embroiled in a plot involving the church and a long ago war between the Gods. He is joined by a cast of well written, deep characters who help with the stories compelling nature. No doubt this game will be showing its age but this is a solid JRPG full of all the crucial elements that make the genre so popular. It is a shame that the Grandia series never reached the same heights as they did here but for those interested in the traditional canon of JRPGs this is a must play.

Ōkami

Okami

The first thing that strikes most people when playing Child of Light is its beauty. There are many attractive games on the market, especially with our new high powered consoles, but there is a difference between a game that is easy on the eyes and one that has a unique aesthetic. Ōkami, developed by Clover Studios back in 2006 falls into the latter. Its sumi-e inspired, cel shaded graphics were a huge part of its initial popularity, and though the game was initially received with little fanfare it slowly built a cult following that culminated in its re-release for the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3.

The game features the player as a white wolf, an avatar for the goddess Amaterasu, on a mission to heal the earth and defeat a dreaded demon. The game just oozes style and just as Child of Light works so hard to build the sense that you’re in a fairy tale, playing Ōkami makes you feel like you’ve fallen into a Japanese shinto painting. This innovative style also housed a solid game frequently compared to the Legend of Zelda series due to its balanced playing style. As a game it had both looks and brains making it well worth a play through for newcomers and returning fans alike.

Final Fantasy IX

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We can’t talk about RPGs without talking about Final Fantasy. The studio has single handedly guided the genre from infancy to the modern day and although it may not be having the best time at the moment, it has a phenomenal body of work to fall back on. Whether Squaresoft or the more recent Square Enix, the studio will always be synonymous with Japanese RPGs. Choosing a title from their back catalogue is always contentious, no matter what the reason, but for the sake of this article 2000’s Final Fantasy IX seems to be the best choice. Not only is it a great game with a beautiful steampunk, fairy tale world, but also in its explorations of characters and humanity it mirrors much of Aurora’s development during her adventure. You look at Final Fantasy IX and you can imagine that characters like Zidane and Vivi could seamlessly appear alongside Aurora and her other companions.

Final Fantasy IX explores the common Final Fantasy theme of war but it is rooted on the human level. The game is about love and truth as much as it is about boarder wrangling and tactics of state. Although not everyone agrees, for many FF IX represents a high point in the series; it’s big, complex and compelling while being wrapped up in an endearing package. Though they may not be directly similar it’s clear that Ubisoft Montreal must have been influenced by these giants of the genre, making it even more important that if you loved one you should try the other.

 

A list like this could certainly go on forever. The beauty of being a hardcore gamer is that there is always another discovery around the corner. There’s always one more classic game tracing the lineage back from the modern to the inception of the genre. With that in mind other notable games that could have made this list are Chrono Trigger (because it is arguably the most important JRPG ever made), Muramasa: The Demon Blade (due to its beautiful painterly artwork), Limbo (because of its intense atmosphere and interesting art style) and Flower (due to its innovative, mind freeing gameplay).

Of course there’s plenty more but hopefully this will go some way to help staunch the hollow feeling left behind. What do you think? What game had you nearly in tears or open-mouthed at the beauty of it? Let us know.