A Spirit-Shifting Journey Reborn in Unreal Engine 5
We seem to be getting remasters and game touch-ups on an extremely quick turnaround these days. Lost Ember was a game originally released in 2019 by German-based Mooneye Studios, launching on the old Xbox One. It received a fairly good response across the board from reviewers, and we liked it a lot.
But now, the developers have rebuilt the game using Unreal Engine 5 and improved the visual fidelity. They have also included a post-game piece of content that introduces a new map and a whole host of quests to complete. And it’s all come together in Lost Ember: Rekindled Edition. Let’s get our spirit animal on.
A Tale of Two Souls
This is a story-driven game, and the narrative is compelling, emotive, and absorbing. The narrative follows a lost soul in the shape of an orb, travelling around a beautiful countryside, lost and desperate. He finds a wolf and asks for help in guiding him to the City of Light, which feels like a version of Heaven. The wolf and the soul travel around the wilderness, unlocking memories of the past that connect the two spirits together.
The tale of a lost civilisation, and how two tribes were split apart and at war with each other, is a brilliant one. It shows how the poor were trampled by the rich, leading to rebellion and death, and follows the leader of the rebellion as they are hunted down to an unforgettable conclusion.
The story is told visually through memory flashbacks, but also by the voice of the floating lost soul. You have a choice at the start of the game to switch this voiceover off if you prefer a more ambient narrative, but that would be a shame because the dialogue is important to the overall story arc and is well delivered by the actor.
Inhabiting the Wild: The Spirit-Swapping Mechanic
Lost Ember: Rekindled Edition is a fairly linear journey, but it has a brilliant mechanic that ensures it is capable of standing out from other titles. You see, at any point, if you can see another animal, you can swap from the wolf into that creature. Sometimes this is important to progress the game, but at other times, you just do it for fun. For example, at one point you need to progress through water, so you turn into a fish; another time, you become a mole to tunnel under hard-to-reach areas. My favourite moment was playing as a mountain goat near the end of the game, climbing up rock faces and ramming obstacles out of the way.
This mechanic is great; it is wonderful to inhabit different animals for a while, and it serves as a superb puzzle-solving tool.
Navigating the Linear Wilds
Structurally, Lost Ember is quite linear despite giving the impression of an open world. You explore different biomes blocked by pink barriers that need to be broken to advance to the next area; you simply need to find memories to unlock. These appear in the shape of red smoke, so you can see them from afar. But there are other things to discover too; mostly secrets and collectibles, such as hunting down all the different types of mushrooms or artefacts from the lost tribe.
The New Open-World Expansion
With the extra content available in the Rekindled Edition after the main game is finished, you are placed in a completely open world with a new map. Here, playing as the wolf, you can look for different memories and quest lines to uncover stories in any order you like. Alternatively, you can just inhabit the different animals, exploring the world as a wombat or a fish once more. It is relaxing and a nice addition to this new remaster.
Visually, Lost Ember looks amazing at times, and the new engine shines during set-piece moments and when viewing the lush landscapes. I liked the designs of the different animals and the lighting effects, and the flashback sequences are done beautifully, with artistry and panache. There is, however, some clipping in certain sections, and it feels jagged at moments with a hint of visual lag. It was nothing that spoiled my enjoyment, but it is there, so be warned.
The audio soundtrack is amazing and beautifully composed, transitioning effortlessly from frenzied sections in the water to more emotive moments. I think the voiceover work is excellent, though there are some sound balancing problems at times.
The Definitive Way to Rekindle the Spirit
If you haven’t played Lost Ember before, the Rekindled Edition is the best way to jump into the game. For those who have, it’s great to be reminded of the narrative journey once more, this time with improved visuals. Furthermore, the new open-world area is an excellent addition, offering a more relaxing experience without the pressure of the story.
This is far from a perfect remaster, and it can be a bit rough around the edges, but there is little to dampen the enjoyment of Lost Ember: Rekindled Edition.
Important Links
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lost-ember-rekindled-edition/9NQ0X0S684TL/0010
