The tale of Little Red Riding Hood is clearly haunting game studios this year. Six months ago, a peculiar interpretation of this story was released in the genre of “meditative horror” – the sensational one in narrow circles of The Path. Now we have to get acquainted with the meditative-arcade version. Moreover, created by the luminaries of the industry – otherwise Lucas Arts and you can’t name it.

This time, gentlemen, the developers wanted some variety. They are tired of releasing funny, good adventure games year after year, which, by the way, very quickly become classics. Endless variations on the Star Wars theme also got boring. Why not try something new: for example, a game with almost no plot, no dialogue or humor, a game built solely on atmosphere?

cap? Not a cap? What’s the difference, the main thing is with pompoms!

We hasten to reassure (or disappoint) everyone who was going to rethink the old fairy tale of Monsieur in a new way Perrault. From "Little Red Riding Hood" there is only… a cap on the main character. Indeed, quite a scarlet shade. With pompoms. And perhaps the very idea of ​​traveling through an unfamiliar, fantastic world, safe only at first glance.

The girl’s name is Sophie. It all starts prosaically: the heroine falls asleep over a book, in her dream acquires a characteristic headdress and finds herself in the territory of an imaginary world, where strange creatures on exorbitantly long legs roam, terraces hang in the air, and flickering fireflies are scattered throughout the surrounding space. Our young explorer steps forward fearlessly, exploring her surroundings. The player’s goal is to provide the girl with a safe and comfortable journey. Anything can happen along the way: abysses with prickly flowers, aggressive frogs, and simply inconvenient sections of the road that are difficult to reach without special equipment. The minimum task is to guide Sophie through the bizarre landscapes to the finishing point in each location – a mailbox with a postcard from a certain Nana. The maximum task is to collect all the glowing lights along the way.

Scenario Lucidity reveals itself gradually. At first https://bwin-casino.co.uk/ it may seem like there is no storyline at all. But this is not so: as we progress, we begin to understand where the heroine is going, why she needs to go there, and what really poses the most serious threat to her on the way.

One step, two steps

However, let’s grumble. Gentlemen from Lucas Arts, apparently, they were very impressed by The Path. Otherwise, why would their new project be so close to creation? Tale of Tales not only in spirit, but even in letter? For example, one of the common features is indirect control of the character’s actions. IN Lucidity we do not lead little Sophie by the hand (leg, collar – underline what is necessary), but create conditions for her to progress. We install ladders, springs, planks, fans and bombs on the ground and in the air in a timely manner so that the girl has somewhere to step next. We are allowed to place “sports equipment” almost anywhere, with one limitation – you cannot “climb” onto static objects. If desired, the girl can be guided up to a certain level through the air – along the created ladders and planks alone. True, we will collect few lights with such tactics.

The heroine does not stop: once she has set off on a hike, she will steadily move towards her goal until she reaches. Or – will not fall into another unpleasant pit. As a last resort, you can always return to the beginning of the location and go through the unsuccessful part of the path again. Moreover, there is no other way out: falling on a sharp thistle or overly active communication with fish, mantises and dragonflies will certainly lead us back to where we came from. Towards the middle of the game, an all-consuming darkness is added to other threats, following on the heels of.

At first, play Lucidity pretty easy. But the apparent simplicity of the gameplay and the childish naivety of the environment are deceptive: the further we move, the more complex spatial problems we have to solve, and the gloomier the general mood becomes.

Champion – spring climber

Alas, with physics and other laws of nature, the situation here is somewhat fantastic. The very principle of placing devices is partly similar to Crazy Machines, and the way Sophie interacts with these objects is more reminiscent of the actions of a climber in extreme conditions. A baby can, without strain, climb to such a height in relation to her own height that neither a child nor even a cat can climb. Although we pay tribute to the abilities of children and cats in this area and recognize that no climber can compare with them.

Okay, let’s leave aside the laws and dogmas of strict science. That’s not why the garden was fenced. Despite how hackneyed the word “atmosphere” is in relation to games, it is difficult to find another concept to describe the essence and main advantage of an arcade. The developers acted with simple means. It is enough to combine laconic, but very stylish and very magical graphics with beautiful music – and voila! The kingdom of dreams lives and breathes, and we are already inside it.

And again I have to think about The Path because a lot of Lucidity really echoes that unusual adventure game. This is the collection of luminous objects throughout the forest, and the fantasy of the world, and the silent reflections of the heroine, replacing dialogues. Even the fonts and marks on the map are similar. And Sophie’s character is very reminiscent of the youngest girl from The Path. Finally, the principle of gradual departure from the area of ​​​​light, childish and almost safe sleep into the vale of a dark and eerie nightmare also unites both games.

There are projects in the world that you don’t want to find fault with. Yes, things are sad with physics, yes, there is a certain similarity with an already existing successful horror. But nevertheless, Lucidity draws you in, immerses you in an alternative reality, captivates you. Cause that’s why we play games. And perhaps this is partly why we live.

Pros: a solid, well-structured atmosphere; verified dramaturgy; stylish graphics; high quality music.
Cons: conventional physics.