A Breathtaking Adventure of Light and Wonder
For me gaming has always been about escapism and relaxation. I increasingly can’t be doing with vast, complicated open worlds that demand so much from the player, taking up hours upon hours of their time.
So imagine my delight when Keeper was announced.
Keeper is a slightly mad adventure game which immerses the player in an alien world and offers little in the way of explanation. Actions speak louder than words they say, and that is certainly the case here.
The Unlikely Duo
When it comes to the narrative, Keeper very much takes a soft touch approach. You’re thrown straight into the action and discover the world alongside the titular lighthouse, without any scene setting or preamble. There’s no speech either in Keeper, instead the fantastic animation does the talking.
In the shadow of an ominous corruption that spreads its tendrils across this long-lost island, a forgotten lighthouse sparks into life and strikes up an unlikely relationship with a plucky little seabird called Twig. Together, they journey through all sorts of weird and wonderful places as they head towards the centre of the island.
As you can probably appreciate, the lighthouse is a little unused to its new form at first, that being sprouting legs. When it is trying to walk, seeing it stumble and fall side to side, as if drunk, is utterly endearing and an early example of how inanimate objects are given a personality all of their own in Keeper.
This is mostly achieved through the light, or eye, of the lighthouse that often expresses its feelings. It’s this which is imbued with a special power that acts as a powerful force to cleanse the corruption and is the main way to clear the path forward in Keeper.
Puzzles and Progress
Twig isn’t just a passenger, but instead a crucially important companion who will support in solving puzzles. Your fearless feathered friend very much acts as the arms, picking up items, turning cogs and even pecking powerful orbs into place in ancient machinery (which is simply adorable). The puzzles in Keeper are largely straightforward and rarely tricky, but are always satisfying as you watch dormant parts of the mysterious island fire back into life. There’s a particularly pretty section which dabbles with time travel and provides one of the many “wow” moments in Keeper.
Exploration is a risky business, but the lighthouse is a resilient adventurer. Damage sustained causes a sort of metamorphosis at certain points in Keeper which mixes up the gameplay and keeps things feeling fresh. Whether by land, sea or air it has a will strong enough to keep going against seemingly insurmountable odds.
Presentation Masterclass
It’s clear to see just how good looking Keeper is. The eye popping use of colour brings the environment to life and there are numerous vastly different areas you’ll journey through. One of the things I love most about Keeper is how from one single frame to another, you are transported to what looks and feels like a brand new world, teaming with indigenous life. Moments like this are what make the game very special.
There are even a handful of opportunities to pause and survey your surroundings which take the form of lookout points as you play. The fixed camera (nope you can’t adjust it at will) does a simply wonderful job of showing off the beautiful world in Keeper. Some of the shots are simply breathtaking, capturing angles from above, below and pretty much every direction possible. You could easily be watching an award-winning animated film. It’s a shame then, that at certain points the framerate slows to a sluggish pace before picking up again. It’s a tiny flaw, but noticeable when you’re so transfixed with how good everything looks.
It’s not just the looks that impress in Keeper, but the soundtrack too. In a game which hasn’t a single spoken world, the music is instrumental in setting the tone and matching the mood of the events taking place. Whether it’s an action packed chase scene or a whimsical sense of discovery as you set foot in an unexplored world, pretty much all bases are covered here. As beautiful as Keeper looks, it was the soundtrack which impressed me the most. It’s the best video game score I’ve heard in years.
As you explore the (admittedly) linear path forward, certain nooks and crannies hide the opportunity to restore various shrines which detail different parts of the island’s history. As ever, this can only happen when the creeping corruption is burned away. Restoring these structures is what makes up the bulk of the achievements on offer too, although they are all marked as “secret” so there’s no sneaky clues to find.
A Short, Sweet, and Exquisite Experience
It’s fair to say that Keeper falls into the “experience” category of games. What I mean by this is that most of the usual trappings of gaming are stripped away. There are no collectibles to hunt down, nor a health bar to worry about, you simply strap in and enjoy the ride. This then enables you to truly appreciate the splendour of what has been created.
This means that Keeper isn’t a difficult or challenging game, that would be missing the point of what Double Fine are trying to achieve here. However, this choice may not suit all players, it really depends what you are looking for.
The one downside with Keeper is that despite its beautiful brilliance, the adventure is done and dusted pretty quickly. It took me about six hours, with plenty of stops to take in just how gorgeous the diverse island is. In fairness, it will only cost you £24.99 to purchase and it’s worth every single penny. Still, it doesn’t prevent you being left wanting more by the time the credits roll.
Keeper is a short, but very sweet, exquisitely crafted experience which relaxes, intrigues, impresses and delights at every turn. This is about as relaxing as gaming gets, and I loved it.
Important Links
Your Next Game Pass Obsession? The Breathtaking Odyssey of Keeper Awaits! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/your-next-game-pass-obsession-the-breathtaking-odyssey-of-keeper-awaits/
Grab Keeper from the Xbox Store (via Game Pass if you like) – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/keeper/9ncjwhhmvhr0
