Despite some uneven gameplay, Empty Head Games' debut Saviorless utilizes its narrative and vivid aesthetics to craft an artistic experience worth seeing through
Saviorless is the debut game from Cuban studio Empty Head Games. Playing on PS5, it's clear that this is a passion project fueled by a desire to tell a meaningful story through the interactive medium of games. While the gameplay has some rough edges, Saviorless crafts an evocative hand-drawn world and uses its narrative to explore intriguing ideas about fate and free will.
You take control of various characters throughout the game's brief runtime of a few hours. The main protagonist is Antar, who navigates each level through basic platforming. Jumping feels a bit sluggish and imprecise, which can lead to some frustrating moments when timing is critical. Enemies like herons that manipulate the environment add a layer of challenge, though combat is rarely an issue outside of scripted sequences.
Controls are more solid when you play as other characters like the hunter Nento. Melee attacks flow better than Antar's jumping, and new abilities like double jumping help navigate trickier areas. These sections provide welcome variety compared to the platforming-focused levels. Overall, the gameplay achieves what it sets out to do but could have been tighter. Frequent checkpoints help alleviate frustration from any control or level design issues.
Where Saviorless truly shines is in its stunning presentation. Each hand-drawn landscape feels like an animated watercolor painting come to life. Vibrant foliage and structures populated by intriguing creatures make discovering new areas a visual treat. Animations are equally delicate and full of character. Subtle details enhance the fantasy setting, from feathers drifting by to particles emerging from broken objects.
Ambient music perfectly matches the serene yet unsettling atmosphere. Melodies have an organic, natural quality that flows between melancholy and something more ominous as the story progresses. Combined with the aesthetics, Saviorless immerses you in its world through sight and sound. It's clear a tremendous amount of care went into crafting this living picture book.
That world comes to life through Saviorless' narrative focused on fate and free will. The game begins with three omniscient narrators who have always told the same story of Antar without deviation. But when the younger narrators intervene, they introduce unpredictability that changes the familiar tale. You experience this story unraveling in real-time by playing as different protagonists unexpectedly intersecting.
These concepts also tie into Saviorless' thematic commentary on its own creation. Having overcome numerous hurdles to even exist as Cuba's first indie game, it acts as a statement about defying expectations through creative expression. Multiple endings allow reflecting on how narrative can evolve in new directions. While the story may not challenge or surprise, it provides an evocative vessel for the game's bigger ideas.
Despite some uneven gameplay, Empty Head Games' debut Saviorless utilizes its narrative and vivid aesthetics to craft an artistic experience worth seeing through. While brief at around 3 hours, it makes the most of that time to immerse players in its vision of fate and free will. Strong presentation carries moments where interactivity falters. If you are seeking an emotionally engaging journey more than tight mechanics, Saviorless delivers as one of the most visually striking indies in recent memory. I recommend this game. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 via a promo copy provided by the publisher. Saviorless is available on Steam, PS5, Epic & Switch.
