Away is a rather odd game that mixes a 3D world with 2D animated characters. The world is pretty nice and offers quite a few areas for the player to discover and explore. It is rather interesting to see a game that blends the two styles so nicely. Away is all about a young boy out to explore the world and maybe find his parents. Though he first must take down an evil conglomerate that is tearing his home apart. He lives with his grandparents and after a pretty decent anime opening, is thrust into a weird world. Thanks to his dog Max; he is given a weapon a nice stick. This stick will be the boy’s main weapon and it is strangely powerful.
The game itself is in the first person, though usually the player will be simply swinging the main character’s stick. The world is filled with a multitude of dungeons and enemies who are out to take this poor boy out. Luckily, this boy has the means of making friends in this chaotic world. He’s going to need all of the help he can get to out of this mess and takedown Labiworks. Players will collect stars and open door to new places. It’s similar to Mario 64 but only in that sense. There are no other homages to that game. Though it does put a smile on my face having to use stars to open doors. There aren’t as many doors to unlock but behind them lie characters and some interesting knowledge.
Another thing to note is that this game is a roguelike game. Meaning for those uninformed, that if the player loses they must start over. Though this is a lighter roguelike so players will retain all gold and stars when they die. It just brings them back home and starts the journey anew. Players must prepare to die a few times as sometimes the enemies are simply just too much. If the player dies, they will also gain new stat boosts. As they fight enemies they will level up, but not in the traditional sense. This game has capsules that will open depending on the amount of experience gained. Gain enough and another capsule opens. These capsules make dying feel worth it, so defeat a bunch of enemies, die, and come back for more!
This game is all about making friends and using their powers to fight. The young boy finds and eventually buys magic cubes called friendship cubes. These cubes allow him to make the denizens of this world his friend. The cool thing about this game is that anyone he talks too can become his friend. Though some have certain needs that need to be met before they will acquiesce. When the boy possesses a friendship cube he just has to go and talk to one of the weirdos. This will lead to a conversation and if he says all the right things that character will join his entourage. He can only have up to three friends with him so its best to choose wisely. Some of these characters are quite overpowered, and the player ought to fill out their team accordingly.
For example, there is a small bat-like creature that the boy will meet rather early. This bat can drop hearts, which is a great blessing, especially since this a roguelike game. Player’s can also pick up a gun-toting robot mercenary who charges 500 gold, so he might also come in handy. The player must be aware that these characters only have so much power. As they use their abilities they deplete their energy, and soon enough go on their way. It is important to use their power wisely and to swap back to the main character when possible. It’s good to always have at least one of them just in case.
It’s also good to note that if the player dies they just have to present the character with the cube to have them join again. The question portion happens once with each of the strange beings. Players then simply just have to walk near with a precious cube and they will have a new party member. Be sure to stay away from anyone you don’t want in your party with a cube on hand, it might take a while to get another. The dungeons in this game are also important as they are how the player progresses. They must enter these randomized dungeons and pull levers to open Labiworks gates. These gates are needed to delve deeper into Labiworks and to take them down. Sadly dying does reset the levers so the player has to pull them all and move on every time. It’s one part of the roguelike idea I’m not fond of. The music quietly plays over the magnificent landscapes. They aren’t as clean as some games but are vaguely cartoony and fit the vibe of the game. Combined with the animated drawings the world is rather full of life. It’s nice to explore this world and to see what is hidden away.
Away is at its core a coming of age adventure about friendship. Without friends, this young boy doesn’t stand much of a chance. It’s up to the player to choose which weirdos follow him on his grand journey. The choice is up to the player, will he help the boy or leave to fend for himself in his weird world?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided