Sticking to the roots of anything can be a good thing, especially when those roots are watered and replanted with renewed vigor. Riverbond by Cococucumber is a game that sticks to its roots but waters those roots in such a profound and passionate way that it becomes a great experience for all types of players, especially younger ones.
Riverbond has a simple premise. In this large land of mystical beasts and creatures, there are evil guardians and armies that wish to disrupt the land. What these guardians do isn’t terribly evil, namely taking chicken eggs or using all the water. However, these guardians must be taken down as their evil has befallen the land. As a special hero chosen to fight this evil, players will use various weapons, wit, and skill to defeat them.
Riverbond was clearly crafted lovingly and passionately where heroes embark on an isometric voxel world where the lands, allies, enemies, and bosses are all bursting with character. The vibrant color makes an impactful impression with a style that is strong and in stark contrast to other games in the genre. Riverbond enhances this presentation with attention to detail as well. Other games may adopt voxels and pixels, but Riverbond finds a means to truly bring out extra details through its use of color, lighting, and sheen. Riverbond is a visually stunning world, utilizing an often-seen style in a unique and impressionable way. While Riverbond initially impresses with its visuals, where it shines most is in the gameplay.
While playing Riverbond, I began to reminisce on the games that got me into games. Super Mario Bros, Sonic The Hedgheog, Star Fox, and others came to mind while playing. The connection sparked as I began to notice that Riverbond shares an important component with those all-time classics, an open approach and accessibility. Most games can be a tall order for first-time players, even for those with a lighthearted approach. Riverbond performs the remarkable in creating a game that is easy to control, easy to learn, and fun to play. However, most remarkable is the fact that Riverbond manages to accomplish these mechanics, while also creating the feeling and momentum of reward and accomplishment.
Riverbond has players select a character, a weapon, and a boss to defeat. Weapons include ranged weapons like laser pistols, but also melee weapons such as lollipops and lobsters. In addition to using one of these weapons, players have a special area-clearing ability that can be used once per charge. Using these can greatly damage enemies and bosses. To further enhance the gameplay, up to three additional players can join for 4-player couch co-op.
Riverbond becomes an absolute blast to play, especially for those that want to sit back, relax, and have fun without having to worry about things like statistics and weapon profiles. Smashing up various enemies and seeing them burst in voxel glory is unending fun, and using the various silly weapons is icing on the cake. Each encounter is fun and exciting, and the quests are humorous. Riverbond is self-aware and has humor woven into the general silliness of this adventure, making each quest a lighthearted, exciting endeavor. This is further emphasized in the gargantuan boss fights with Guardians that usually take up an entire screen. These Guardians are an absolute joy to fight, requiring skill and speed, a well as persistence, to fully defeat.
Riverbond certainly has its gameplay magic, and it was proven as I brought in my 6-year-old niece to play the game with me. Riverbond has also has a wide selection of fantastic characters and cosmetics to use, including appearances from other games, such as Juan Aguacate from Guacamelee! and The Kid from Bastion. My niece picked a small pink onion-looking character and I chose The Kid from Bastion. She quickly learned the controls and what to do and, together, we went through waterfalls and plundered pirate ships. Throughout the experience, we laughed and cheered and urgently called out to each other as we played. Moments like that are absolutely unforgettable, and when they succeed, it is the sign of truly heartfelt game design.
We managed to conquer two Guardians. Seeing her glow about the game, fighting the evil minions and running about the stage was fantastic.
The only drawback I can make with Riverbond is that playing with others is kind of a necessity. One can play entirely by themselves, but playing with at least one other person greatly enhances the gameplay experience. With several players, Riverbond becomes wildly entertaining and exciting, as that sense of community and camaraderie is thrilling to behold when embarking on a quest and taking down foes. However, solo players will undoubtedly miss out on that excitement. Riverbond is a solid game, even for solo players, but if prospective players are considering acquiring Riverbond, consider buying it with the mindset that the adventure is better with friends.
Riverbond is a great adventure experience, that is bolstered by its genuine and sincere gameplay mechanics. Its sharp voxel visuals and isometric presentation is met with a simple but fantastic set of mechanics that is not only great for all players, but absolutely unforgettable for younger players. With a bevy of quests to embark on, there is plenty to explore in Riverbond.
Whether you’ve conquered many other quests already or have a young adventurer yearning for their first, Riverbond is a great adventure for the casual and the experienced.
More information about Riverbond can be found on the official Nintendo listing or through the Cococucumber website. Riverbond is also available on Xbox One, PS4, and Steam. The game retails for $19.99 USD. A digital Switch copy was provided for the purpose of review.
