S&S Review: Child of Light

Title: Child of Light
Format: PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, Wii U, Vita
Release Date: 4/29/2014
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Price: $14.99
ESRB Rating: E10+
Child of Light is an excellent turn-based RPG developed by Ubisoft Montreal. It is the definition of beauty in many ways - a gorgeous art style, a complex combat system, strong characters, and a great story blended cohesively to create one of the best games so far this year.
Story and Presentation:
The presentation in Child of Light is breathtaking. UbiArt, the engine used in the Rayman series is used in Child of Light. The world of Lemuria is dark, dangerous, and unique. Each area is distinct in their own way. From dark forests to expansive plains, Lumeria glistens in depth. Being able to fly around Lemuria allows the player to appreciate the detail that exists in Child of Light. The music in Child of Light beautiful, too. There is a darker, more serious tone in Child of Light and it has an orchestral score. The music helps create the setting and immerses the player into Child of Light's world.
Child of Light boasts a strong cast and a memorable, dark story. The main protagonist, Aurora, wakes up in Lemuria not knowing what has happened. She is separated from her father and must return to her father in Austria. Aurora has to recover the sun, the moon, and the stars from the dark queen, Umbra, in order to rid Lemuria of darkness in hopes that she will be reunited with her father. The characters in Child of Light are likable. Each character has a different plight that must be resolved and Aurora grows as a person when she helps the people she encounters. Aurora in the beginning of Child of Light is scared and weak, but as she helps the characters and tries to save Lemuria, Aurora becomes stronger. Aurora trusts herself and her companions more and more as the 12-15 hour long story progresses. The story is told like a fairy tale; the dialog is poetic and unique. The conversations among the characters are charming and enjoyable.
Core Gameplay:
The gameplay in Child of Light is more complex than most RPGs. The gameplay is in the form of turn-based combat. Child of Light's combat system is fairly deep, though it can be easy, even on the expert difficulty. At the bottom of the screen there is a bar that shows which character will attack next, whether it is a hero or an enemy. The characters have a wait time and must reach the end of the active time bar before they can attack or cast a spell. If you attack an enemy before they reach the end of the casting section, their attack will be interrupted and the enemy will be pushed back on the timeline. Certain actions cause characters to have shorter or longer wait times to cast. For example, a character using a potion will cast their action much more quickly, as opposed to a character using a spell, which will take longer and risks the enemy interrupting the action. This active time system makes sure the player thinks one step ahead at all times so they can perform the best actions and win the battle. A crucial part of the combat is Igniculus, a character who can slow down enemies so the protagonists can strike first. After winning a battle, characters gain experience and level up, which allows for skill points to be spent among various skill trees.
Child of Light has numerous side quests the player can pursue. These quests vary from finding a lost companion, to trading items among non-playable characters across Lemuria. Players can find chests, hidden caches of gems, and stardusts, which are items used to improve the stats of the characters. Crafting occuli allows the characters' stats to improve. Each occuli has a different effect and has different uses. Occuli can help players defeat a tough enemy.
Final Thoughts:
Child of Light is an extraordinary RPG that defines beauty. The presentation is phenomenal with gorgeous art and a great orchestral soundtrack. The characters are strong and the story is memorable. Child of Light has an excellent combat system, and the game has fun side quests and crafting that extend the life of this excellent title. Child of Light is one of the best games this year and an excellent, easily accessible RPG that I recommend to anyone.
+ Gorgeous art 
+Great characters and story
+Deep combat system.
- Lack of difficulty.
S&S Rating: 9/10