xeneth.design

     One of the things I've been loving about playing through the fantastic souls-like Another Crab's Treasure is the way that a different aesthetic approach prompts me to think critically about what I'm playing from different angles. So many action role playing games of this type share the same dark trappings of ruined gothic kingdoms; it's mentally refreshing to see similar mechanics draped in colorful, cartoony art direction. A refreshed mind wields fresh eyes, and I was struck by the fact that I hadn't really thought about how many treasure chests, item containers, and different models of loot in game worlds have quietly been replaced with a simple particle effect; shining beacons of light that efficiently say "there's something here!"      The earliest item glint examples I can recall were in 16-bit Na rrative Pa rty RPG s of the 90s, where they usually served as a way to hint at the presence of missable/optional rewards or Easter eggs. In a sea ...

       You're playing a video game. As you navigate your character through three-dimensional space using the left analog stick on your controller, you're in constant conversation with the level designers; everything from lighting to the density and quality of props is drawing your eye, guiding you toward where the designers want you to travel in order to progress. The well-trodden path beneath your avatar's feet stands out against the more heavily leaf-strewn grass textures and scattered foliage ahead; in the same direction, a break in the fence geometry. Dark wooden slats contrast against the moonlit route forward. This is where they're telling you to go. Except, you've played enough games like this to know that they're NOT actually telling you where you should steer your character, the designers are telling you where the critical path is; where the rest of the level leads. Unintuitively, because the ones shaping the space know that you're aware of this, th...