Terracotta Review (PC)

very good
key review info
  • Game: Terracotta
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Terracotta

I stand in the Yin dimension, with no enemies able to harm me, and take a look around. It takes time because even for the Tao-powered main character time flows pretty slowly. I have a clear idea of how I can reach the end of the level but I’m unsure of how to avoid all the enemies that stand in my way.

My best bet is to move around and kite them until I can simply wall them off in a small area using my special energy walls. It’s time to switch to Yang and execute this plan. I lost a little health in the process but I successfully caged the spearmen. This allows me to carefully time a block, which gives me access to a token. I use that, in turn, to stun a guardian, giving me a few seconds to move past him.

turn to Yin to activate a special urn and then move to another section of the level, where I will have to use my Tao to power a mechanical crossbow and then find a way to activate switches while being constantly chased by enemies.

Terracotta is developed by Appnormals Team, with publishing in the hands of Freedom Games and plusDSgames. I played on Steam on the PC and the game is also available on the Nintendo Switch. The title has classic action-adventure mechanics and a unique setting.

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The player will become an actual terracotta warrior, the only one unaffected by a curse. All are bound to the Qin emperor they are accompanying into the afterlife. Only the player-controlled terracotta soldier can use the ancient power of the Tao, exploring two worlds as he tries to release his comrades by finding a way to undo the curse.

The universe of Terracotta is filled with ideas taken from Chinese history and re-mixed. There’s not much deep writing to enjoy but the narrative is simple and clear. Some extra clarity would have been appreciated in some special ability descriptions.

Mechanically, the title is an isometric action adventure that eschews direct combat. Don’t expect to attack other terracotta soldiers using light and heavy attacks and special moves. Our re-animated soldier is able to use Tao energy to protect himself from blows and to reflect attacks but he has no offensive weapons. It’s a nice change of pace and makes the entire world feel unique.

Gamers have to navigate the world, avoid taking damage, and solve complex puzzle situations. As they progress, new abilities are activated using special coins, offering extra options.

The big innovation is that the action takes place across two interconnected realms. Yin is dominated by the tomb of the Qin emperor, so it is built around stillness and careful thinking. This means enemies do not move, allowing players to strategize. When in Yin players are also able to create shapes and structures out of energy.

Yang is the afterlife, centered around movement and light. In this dimension, players need to move and react fast to avoid enemies (or hide behind erected barriers). The idea is to get a clear idea of the layout of a level, with its dangers and exit, while avoiding taking damage. Only then can the problem-solving begin.

The terracotta soldier can switch between the two at will and will have to constantly do so. Some passages only exist in one of them, allowing access to secret areas. But, more importantly, activity in both is needed to balance the energy and set other terracotta soldiers free before leaving each level.

Experiment inside both the Yin and Yang dimensions when an obstacle seems impossible. It’s also a good idea to create a protective barrier and simply stand in one place, looking at the environment and how enemies behave. Energy can be recuperated at any point, although I would have liked the option to only dismantle one creation at a time.

Terracotta is not an easy game. Enemies move fast and are deadly, especially if a group catches the player's character and attacks simultaneously. The puzzles are not hard to understand but implementing a solution can be hard. Spend as much time in Yin as possible. The game does a good job of teaching players new ideas and strategies.

But it does not offer any difficulty level selection or tweak. I understand that the developers want players to deal with a certain level of challenge. But they should introduce at least a mode that reduces or eliminates frustration, activated after a certain number of failures.

At least the save points are well-placed and don’t add to the misery of failure and death. But the game does have bosses, which feature both cool designs and an escalation in the difficulty level.

Terracotta's presentation is influenced by both nostalgia and Chinese history. The game, especially in the slow dimension, looks very much like a brawler from the late ‘90s, even if that does not necessarily match the gameplay. All the environments and the enemies are designed with Qin influences in mind, and the game is easily readable, with colors that pop to show players what they have to do. Levels can look a little bare bones but that gives players space to focus on the gameplay. The music is very good, underlining the action and reflecting its core cultural influence, but there’s too little of it, while the rest of the sound design is decent.

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The Good

  • Yin and Yang concept
  • Environment manipulation
  • Tao-powered puzzles

The Bad

  • Limited narrative
  • Needs difficulty levels
  • Frustration generator

Conclusion

Terracotta is a game for players who can appreciate its mix of tough puzzles, unique universe, and two-dimensional mechanics. The game slowly adds more complexity, which is a good thing given its overall difficulty level. It’s not recommended for newcomers but will appeal to anyone who needs a tough action exploration experience.

My biggest issue is that there’s no way to deal with the frustration of failure. There’s no choice of difficulty levels and constant death is not a great teaching tool. Terracotta’s gameplay innovations are good but players will need to invest time and energy if they want to experience everything that it has to offer.

A review key was provided by the publisher.

story 8
gameplay 8
concept 8
graphics 7
audio 9
multiplayer 0
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 

Terracotta Screenshots (21 Images)

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