"Child of Light" was a game I never really expected to show up on my radar. While I had heard a good amount about the game over the years, it was never one that I had actively sought out in hopes of playing it. Near the end of 2020, however, the game showed up on a Nintendo eShop sale, and since I had some eShop credit left over, I thought I would give it a try. I didn't know I'd be stepping into a turn-based RPG (a genre I'm not usually too fond of), but I'm very happy to report that I had a good time with this game.
"Child of Light," right off the top, absolutely wowed me with its beautiful visuals. I adored the storybook aesthetic of the game, and I thought it was very whimsical and pleasing to look at. The game itself also had a rather somber, emotional story that I thought was elevated by a wonderful cast of characters. Top all of that out with some very lush and minimal but nevertheless lovely music, and you've got a game that absolutely looks the part. Gameplay-wise, it also delivered for me. I thought the game did a wonderful job mixing 2D platforming with puzzle and turn-based RPG elements, and I think it served as a perfect entry-level turn-based RPG. The strategy is absolutely there, but it feels very easy to get into, making this appealing for even gamers that aren't fond of the genre. A lot of that strategy also comes from Igniculus's slowing of the cast meter. This makes the battle system take on an ATB (active time battle) system, which aids it and makes things more fun.
All that said, the game is far from perfect. While the story is somber and lovely in its own way, it does get a little bit too cliché at points. I understand it's because the game is based on a fairytale, and therefore, that's to be expected, but it could've been tighter at some points. No area proved that more than the dialogue; every character speaks in rhyme in the game, which is fitting and kinda cute at first, but it definitely gets very repetitive as the game wears on. Furthermore, the boss design can get very repetitive, and at points might feel a bit too easy to beat for some, especially since you won't need to use many of your party members to do it.
Even so, "Child of Light" was a surprisingly fun little time. It might not rank up among my favorite games, but it was certainly a memorable adventure, and one I definitely have to give some credit to; as someone that doesn't really enjoy turn-based RPGs, this game helped me to appreciate the style a little bit more. It didn't necessarily make me want to seek out more games like it, but what it did do was help me go back to some other turn-based RPGs and enjoy them even more than I had beforehand. For that, I actually have to thank "Child of Light," and I also definitely have to recommend it to anyone that's looking for a nice entry-level turn-based RPG.
Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"