Scattered Verse review – “Gateway to the mystifying realm of poetry”

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  • Learn to love poetry through platforming
  • Revel in charming aesthetics, wonderfully unique for every stage
  • Most importantly, you can make your stickman look dapper with hats!

As a once-dormant reader, I now find myself enamored with the poetic world, all thanks to Scattered Verse and its ingenious platformer format. A creation born from the mind of Tony Dong, this game has turned my prosaic pastime into a captivating adventure that even had me deciphering verses by the likes of Jalaluddin Rumi!

If you’re like me, quickly scanning literature such as poems or short stories just to scrape by, I salute the diligent readers who delve deeper into these works. But fear not, fellow casual readers like my past self who often nod off during “Charge of the Light Brigade,” our literary journey is set to transform with today’s article.

From teacher-turned-developer Tony Dong, with dynamic duo Mark Samani and Meg Short as composers, comes Scattered Verse. It poises itself as an ice-breaker for the obscure world of poetry, done through the format of a platformer. Available currently on the App Store with a Google Play release teetering on the horizon.
As Cao Pi has put it in his maxim: “Writing is the great affair of managing a state and the wonderful business of achieving immortality”. In the Old World, when the first bud of civilisation bloomed, wordmanship was a prized skill, as it defined your status and respectability.
Verily, some stages are an odd bunch, pointing to Jalaluddin Rumi’s This Is Love. There are whales and stingrays you can ride to reach further parts of the stage. As to the choice of these aquatic animals, it opens up to ample guesstimations. Could it be an allusion to the author’s birthplace Baran which is known as a port town? Hit me up if I turned out right on the money.

Ahead in your journey, there are intermediate phases focusing on abstract ideas such as Struggle or Ascent. These stages not only extend the gameplay but also serve as subtle indicators of what’s to follow for the poem. The stages leading up to Countee Cullen’s “From the Dark Tower” incorporate themes of Search and Darkness, and all previous stages. Even if you’re not familiar with the poem, you can often make educated guesses based on your intuition.

Despite their simplified versions, they still maintain a unique style that embodies the abstract idea they symbolize. If the subject matter revolves around nature and forests, you can anticipate greenery. Some of them may include extra features. For instance, Search operates similarly to navigating through the dark Rock Tunnel in Pokemon Leaf Green without a flashlight, significantly restricting your visibility.

Flabbergasting and flippant ways to grasp poetry

There are many elements to take into account. It includes grappling with water and wind physics, as well as clinging to ropes and swinging from them. You’ll also be bouncing on mushrooms to get to higher ground.

As a player immersed in this seemingly harmless game, I’ve encountered challenges: those pesky urchins. My avatar might not vanish from sight instantly, but colliding with one can cause my letters to scatter and slow me down significantly. Moreover, carelessly arranging or combining stage elements can turn the joyous experience into a frustrating one, such as the swarms of urchins that sink in the lake during the stage Quiet.

In some situations, handholding elicits both admiration and criticism. Scattered Verse employs this technique judiciously. There’s no hint box to guide you when you’re stuck; instead, you’re left to figure things out yourself. However, it’s reassuring to know that if a letter is incorrectly inputted, the red font color will be your only clue.

In summary, Scattered Verse truly excelled in their musical compositions, offering a rich collection of peaceful ambient tunes that foster a sense of meditation. Listening to it is much like enjoying a tranquil walk through your neighborhood park or finding yourself immersed in a serene Zen environment.

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2024-11-22 17:18