Slavic mythology isn’t quite as popular as something like Greek or Arthurian tales, but you’ll probably know their stories much more than you think; that of Baba Yaga perhaps, or The Tree of Life. In fact, Slavic tribes in the past covered a huge part of Europe, and these stories were passed down from generation to generation.
There is a strong connection to nature in these tales, and this is where Selfloss hangs its creative hat. A game full of wonder, whales, and an old man’s journey through myth and legend.
Selfloss is a self-described “emotional adventure game”, set in a Slavic fantasy world that is full of worshipping sea creatures. You play the role of an old healer called Kazimir who starts the game in a tragic and hopeless situation. He then grabs his healing staff and heads out on an adventure to find a cure for his soul.
But then comes an infection, destroying the world and all its animal inhabitants – the Miasma – that he needs to cleanse. The story is told through minimal text and encounters with gods and creatures alike, playing out through an amazing world that is ripe for exploration and spending time in. Honestly, there is wonder and adventure around every corner.
You control Kazimir around the world by walking, utilising a small run, grabbing onto small ledges to climb up to new places. He has a simple attack that helps get rid of enemies, but is never all that powerful. Your main weapon and puzzle solver is the staff itself, and by holding it, pointing in any direction with the right stick, you project a shard of light. This has many purposes, from destroying Miasma growths blocking your path to unlocking doorways and puzzles. You can also detach the staff, controlling it remotely – something which you might need to do in the more trickier puzzles.
Combat consists of using the staff against enemies, some of which will be gone with a pointing of light in their direction. Others get taken down with a pulsed attack, freezing the foe so you can then jump in with LB in order to kill them. There are boss battles that require the use of the staff light attack too, but whilst the combat works fine, there are times and moments where it isn’t as fluid as I would have liked.
The other side to Selfloss is the brilliant puzzle-solving and how fun the different elements of this are. You will spend a lot of the game in a little sailing boat, pottering around the different locations. This ship will take you to various places, as you dock and explore. And then there are also times that see you fishing, making the most of a little mini-game. At other moments you’ll find yourself chased in the boat by a huge creature. And then there is a whole rapids level. For all the ideas, Selfloss works great and is extremely enjoyable.
Visually, it is wonderful. Selfloss has an isometric feel to how it is presented, fitting in brilliantly with the amazing environments and fantastic light effects found throughout. The soundtrack is superb too, created by the amazing Arigto who gives the emotive hit to the game; a key ingredient. Expect beautiful haunting melodies and amazing shifts in tone that are able to add to the already rich layers of the game.
Coming in around nine hours or so, there is a fair bit to Selfloss, and that time will move up or down depending on how quickly you can solve the puzzles or get through some of the harder combat sections. I loved exploring this world, taking in Selfloss’ original take on Slavic legends and myths. And there’s no doubt that the main character is a brilliant choice, as is the use of the staff of light as a major gameplay mechanic. It’s a shame then that the combat sections are more annoying than enjoyable.
If you’re after an emotional journey to a fantastic land though, Selfloss could be just the ticket.
Start a mythical journey of healing with narrative adventure Selfloss – https://www.thexboxhub.com/start-a-mythical-journey-of-healing-with-narrative-adventure-selfloss/
Buy Selfloss on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/selfloss/9nfzkszx1xnq
