14 DAY TRIAL // 
We have a problem that only a solid light pulse can solve. I need to get some extra fuses, activate some machinery, re-direct the beam, use it to take out a few enemies, and then shift it again to power a certain mechanism. I know exactly where I need to go and what I have to do but for the moment the focus is on a torn piece of paper and its guardians.
The light will not get in here and there are three metallic enemies around, able to create an electric field around them. It kills on touch and expands rapidly. The trick is to find the exact spot where protagonist Antar can stand still between the two of them. Once they calm down, I plan to pick up the paper, execute two quick jumps, and get away before they react in anger.
I’ve failed exactly two times and currently wondering whether I want to try again. The save point is simply too far from this small puzzle and I’d rather push the main narrative along. But if I pick up this piece and another, I know the location of, I will have a full page and I’ll get a unique reward before this level’s end.
Saviorless is developed by Empty Head Games, with publishing from Dear Villagers. I played on the PC via Steam and the game is also offered on the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 5 from Sony. The title offers classic platforming and puzzle-solving, as well as combat-focused sections.
The main character is Antar, a kid with a passion for storytelling, determined to reach something called the Smiling Lands. A legend claims anyone who gets there can become a Savior, a force for good in the world. A trio of storytellers seems to be in charge of Antar’s destiny, claiming that only one story can be told and that its end state is fixed and a cataclysm might arrive if anything changes.
The narrative also features shorter appearances from Nento, a capable hunter with a taste for herons, who uses violence to solve all his problems. And, finally, Antar’s Savior will appear and will show off its power. It’s a nice way to give players a wider variety of mechanics to engage with but only one of the stories is truly interesting. The game’s universe is mysterious and it’s interesting to pick up extra lore from notes and via gameplay.
When in control of Antar players are unable to fight anyone and must rely on their platforming and puzzle-solving skills to make progress. Our hero is young but has an effective jump and the ability to push a limited number of objects around (crawling is sometimes needed but feels superfluous). There’s no option to roll to dodge enemies and if something dangerous touches the character, it’s back to the previous checkpoint for another try.
Players need to complete jumping puzzles, sometimes featuring crumbling platforms. Antar can swing between ropes, avoiding enemies while trying to reach levers that open up new paths. Players also have to trick opponents into environmental kills, pick up fuses from their corpses, and then use them to use light beams to activate machinery. Each world features unique gimmicks and opponents but all feature pieces of paper to pick up.
Complexity increases as Saviorless progresses, and the good news is its puzzles never veer toward obscure solutions. There are also bosses, who use both direct fire and the environment to strike our characters. These sequences required some experimentation, meaning deaths, before I got a clear idea of how to avoid getting hit and then retaliate. I don’t love that Saviorless places checkpoints before the short intro special enemies get because there’s no option to skip them entirely.
The game shifts to Nento at certain intervals and the hunter has a direct attack which powers more traditional combat sequences. This character has a health bar, and gamers need to learn enemy patterns, focus on avoiding incoming damage, and then mash their own attack button to eliminate opponents. When Antar becomes the Savior, the idea is to quickly eliminate enemies before taking on the role kills you.
Combat is easily the weakest part of the game, but players will spend most of their time with Antar, solving puzzles and platforming. The game could have used better placing for its checkpoints, especially for levels that require a lot of precision. But both veterans of the puzzle-platformer space and newcomers will have fun exploring this fantasy universe.
Saviorless is a good-looking experience, with hand-drawn artwork, but its locations can sometimes feel stuffy and devoid of life. It starts off on a grab note, with a lot of gray and brown, but then shifts to more interesting visuals and more colorful spaces. Antar herself is visually uninteresting, with some slight hitches in her animations. Her enemies tend to have simple looks and there’s plenty of body horror thrown in, especially when bosses make an appearance.
The short interludes centered on the storytelling trio are good but the small introductions for bosses feel unnecessary, especially if players need to sit through them a few times in a row. I like the soundtrack and its mix of melancholy and energy, but the main theme can become repetitive. The rest of the sound design does not stand out.
The Good
- Solid platforming and puzzles
- Unique art style
- Page collecting mechanic
The Bad
- Combat doesn’t feel great
- Some weird checkpointing
- Levels sometimes repeat challenges
Conclusion
The impressive art style is another draw and it’s worth playing through the narrative, even without getting all the torn pages, simply to see how the developers bring this fantasy universe to life. Saviorless is a solid debut title from an indie developer and its mix of ideas is good enough that I look forward to seeing what Empty Head Games delivers next.
Review key provided by the publisher.
