Available on PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck, PS4/PS5)
Do you enjoy puzzle platformers like Ori and the Blind Forest, but are too overwhelmed by its size and depth? Well, Oscuro Blossom’s Glow might be a good substitute for that!
Oscuro Blossom’s Glow is short, taking about 2-3 hours of actual playtime to finish. There are three worlds to go through (I know that sounds like a lot, but bear with me), with multiple stages throughout. Filled with puzzles and mechanics that are all flower and bug-themed!
You play as Selene, a young girl who has the ability to absorb and emit light from special flowers. You use this ability to navigate the surroundings to chase after the Dark One, who has taken light from the trees that give these planets life.
Throughout the game, you encounter multiple bugs and other forms of life, and it’s up to you to test if they’re friend or foe, help or hindrance.
I enjoyed this game a lot. There were moments that I felt incredibly frustrated, and I do have my criticisms, but overall, I think it was a worthwhile game! Most of the puzzles are intuitive enough that I didn’t have to take too long to think about them. But even those that I struggled with, once I understood what was going on, felt really satisfying to solve.
What really drew me into this was the art style. It’s like a storybook! With hand-drawn art and amazing textures. The music also helps with the immersion. I felt my heart pumping through several parts of this game.
One thing I disliked was when specific plants needed to be lit, and it would glow so bright that I couldn’t see Selene anymore. The glare would cause me to walk right into danger. Then I would have to redo the whole portion again because it only takes one hit to die. There are no HP bars or hearts. There are checkpoints, but the game will not indicate them. So it’s really just a matter of dying and finding out.
Other than that, I found the game incredibly fun. There are two endings to choose from, and you can easily just see what happens in the other ending (should you change your mind) by selecting “continue” in the main menu and making a different choice. Of course, you can only do that once you actually finish the game. None of the choices prior to that moment matters; it’s just one decision at the end. So there’s no need to go back and replay a whole lot.
This game doesn’t have the option for a no-bug mode. So if you’re squeamish and don’t like creepy crawlies or moths, you might want to skip this one.
Oscuro Blossom’s Glow is well worth its price, taking into consideration its length, aesthetics, and actual gameplay. There are a couple of other reviews that mention glitches and bugs (the computer kind, not the insect), but I didn’t really encounter any of those. So maybe it’s a case-by-case thing.
They do recommend playing this with a controller, so I’m not sure if there’s a massive difference if you use a keyboard and mouse. I had no issues with the controls whatsoever. The only complaint I have about the movement is not being able to jump further. I can jump high, but for some reason, the horizontal movement is lacking. It just feels like it would make more sense to build momentum and jump far, not high. But again, that’s probably a personal preference, and the puzzles are doable regardless. It just took me a little bit of adjustment.
Lately, I’ve been enjoying games such as these, those that allow me to find the magic in nature and healing. It’s nice to go around and see the difference I can make in these little fictional worlds. To have some sort of visual representation of helping the world come back to life. I’m thankful that there are devs out there who want to bring hope into the hearts of gamers. As if to say “Don’t lose your spark, there’s still time, be brave and light up the way”.
This is what makes stories by humans for humans so important. It’s only we who can truly see each other. Not just regurgitate words without feelings, but actually know how to inspire and instill hope. Oscuro Blossom’s Glow is a story that reminds us that though we may think we are, we are not alone. It’s with your magic that you can make a difference.
