The Spirit and the Mouse Review (aeugchad)
I've never been the type to find games very relaxing. I've been told I play Stardew Valley like my entire family is being held hostage. So when I say this game filled me with a feeling of peace and tranquility, that means something.
Just to get this out of the way, I'm a rodent-lover through and through; mice and rats are my favorite animals, so I'm obviously a bit biased here. But even disregarding that fact, this is still a really good game that I feel most people would enjoy. The controls are a bit jarring initially, mostly because you have no jump and have to gain height via climbing small ledges, but the game is designed around that, and once you get the hang of it you won't even miss it. The peaceful atmosphere of this little French village at dusk, paired with the incredibly relaxing soundtrack, feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket.
You may be wondering what could possibly be the motivation of this mouse. Put simply, she just wants to help people. Throughout the game, you help a wide variety of spirits called kibblins (whom I would die for), which in turn allows them to help humans with their problems. The stakes are low, but enough to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, and I'm man enough to admit the ending got me a little choked up.
While I wouldn't quite call the game a collectathon, there's still plenty to find in Sainte-et-Claire. The main reward for exploration is lightbulbs, of which there are over 130. Normally, a guy like me would hear that and have a panic attack, but trust me when I say you'll never have to worry about using a guide and going one-by-one trying to find the last one in an area or anything like that. The whole game manages to keep a balance where tasks never feel frustrating, but completing them is still satisfying.
Put simply, I adore this game. And the fact that it's this high quality despite being made by such a small team is truly incredible. I hope the fine people at Alblune keep making games for years to come.