I’m not a fan of a scarf. I don’t mean the game, but the clothing piece used in winter weather. For one thing, wearing a scarf always feels like I’m being strangled by an unknown assailant. Then there is the constant backtracking to locations, hoping to find where I lost/dropped it. Honestly, it’s an item of clothing that is low down on the love list.
But Scarf, the game, is one that I am very fond of. You see, the titular scarf in this game is one that never leaves your side. It is in fact, a sentient being. Let us wrap up and dive in.
The story of Scarf weaves some new mythology, all while borrowing themes of light versus dark and what it means to be a hero. The game starts with a little creature being born from light. Beings called the ‘cruel ones’ have destroyed the cosmic dragon and ripped her threads to open portals to different worlds. Your job – as the hero of the hour – is to travel through these portals, gather the threads and return them. Do so and you’ll be able to restore the cosmic dragon.
And there’s a number of biomes on offer too. There is an ocean world, a desert world, and a forest world to explore. But the main focus of your journey is the scarf; a dragon child who gives you special abilities.
I enjoyed the story of Scarf. It comes with some nice bits of writing, especially in regards the history of the mythology it’s creating, and the little secrets throughout the levels. It does feel a bit rushed at times, even though there are two endings – both a good and a bad one. The bad one is a bit of a downer but in order to see the light and see the positive ending, you will need to hunt down all the collectibles. And that is a shame.
But Scarf is all about the journey. Working as a platforming, puzzle adventure, there isn’t any combat to worry about or anything that can attack you. You can die by falling off things, or by going near water, but the checkpointing is very generous and you normally pop up relatively near where you will have died.
In the early moments of Scarf your little hero person can run and do a little jump. But with the scarf, they can do a lot more. The abilities gather the more you progress through the game so first comes a double jump, then the ability to glide, and then the skill to catapult across huge chasms, making the most of the power of the scarf. There is also a grappling skill – but that is certainly my least favourite; a bit hit-and-miss.
Puzzle wise and you’ll find a healthy bag of rewarding, uncomplicated, things to do. The usual bag of pressure pads and moving blocks are here in all their glory. But there are some more interesting ones too, mostly involving a crystal that parts the waves so you travel underwater, or a wind machine that helps shift lilies across the water. The whole experience will take you some five hours to complete and I enjoyed every moment. Scarf certainly kept my interest high.
Scarf’s visuals come with a style that is very much like Journey on the PlayStation. Sometimes the textures aren’t perfect close-up, but it’s very good at scale and the characters and world-building are excellent. A special mention goes out to the little paintings that you can collect throughout the world. These are not just brilliant to look at but help build the visual storytelling and mythology. The soundtrack has a lovely epic feel to it as well, complete with a sweeping orchestral score and beautiful moments to go with the gameplay.
If you like your games to come with a slower, more relaxing pace, then Scarf will happily tick boxes. The world is a pleasant one and the gameplay is simple, but it all comes together to deliver enough of a challenge. Some may think that Scarf is a bit too whimsical and boring, but that is all a matter of taste. Personally, I’m not a fan of the multiple endings, and there are certain gameplay elements – like the grapple – that need work, but for a solid five-hour long experience, this Scarf was one that I loved wearing.
