Even the smallest mountains can make for a difficult ascend, as weather conditions and other things get in the way of your journey to reach the top. Fortunately for Solstice Snow Globe‘s protagonist duo, the climb ahead isn’t overly taxing or challenging, and yet, it is guaranteed to be quite a journey. How can I say that last bit with such certainty? Christmas magic, that’s how!
But seriously, I played through the game and multiple times at that. Now, about that fabled “ancient construct that we call the Solstice Snow Globe”. Actually… no. No spoilers. It’s not like a playthrough of Solstice Snow Globe will take up much of your time, after all, so rather than ruin the surprise – and by extension, fun – well, how about that art style?
It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a sucker for pixel art, no matter the resolution or genre, and this one’s just such a groovy sight. From the trees that scroll in the background as you walk ever onward to the tiny particles of snow, and of course, how well animation is handled, small details seemingly never ignored. Oh, and just look at those bunnies! Don’t you just want to grab a copy of the game and find out what their deal is or why they’re even there in the first place? Surely you’re also curious as to what it’ll all lead to, right? Well, you should be.
What initially caught my eye, however, were neither bunnies nor the curiosity of an explorer/mountain climber, so much as the promise of romance and winter magic wrapped up in a warm blanket that makes up this wordless less-than-five-minute journey to the top of a small mountain. Did I walk away disappointed? Not at all. Did the puzzles stump me? Ha! Ahem. I mean, no. Would I recommend Solstice Snow Globe? Definitely, and the fact that it’s available without a price tag (opting for the commonly used pay-what-you-want) means the only potential barrier to entry is the lack of Mac builds.
So, what are you waiting for? Those girls will never reach the Solstice Snow Globe without the guiding hand of a player, you know!
Solstice Snow Globe is available on itch.io, for free (pay-what-you-want).
