Winged review – “Beautiful art, but challenging gameplay”

  • Very cute graphic style
  • Difficult levels
  • Not enough explanation within the game

With great anticipation, I yearned deeply to take a liking to Winged. Being captivated by its enchanting, scarcely found artistic style, it piqued my interest significantly. While runner-type games can sometimes be unpredictable in terms of quality, I approached this one with an open and optimistic heart. The concept of narrating storybooks via a little running character truly intrigued me, so I was eager to explore it.

In Winged, a captivating mobile platformer, you dash ahead while occasionally bumping into wings that bestow unique skills upon your character. One pair of wings allows for double jumps, another functions like an extra life by shielding you from harm, and the third propels you slightly faster. You can strategically dodge and dive into the desired wings as they appear. Additionally, there are interactive buttons serving as lives within each level, and various pages of books hidden for collection.

My first issue was with the hazards. Though other characters are clearly meant to be avoided, there are things like spikes and wheels with dangerous bits, that really blend in with the background, making it very hard to see. There are also pitfalls, which instantly kill you, which sometimes are nearly impossible to avoid. As a full adult, I struggled through levels, and when I let my daughter have a go, she had even worse luck.

Playing Winged can feel rather stiff, lacking much leeway for jumping and maneuvering around obstacles. In the initial boss fight, there’s no clear guidance on how to overcome them, which results in an endless loop of the level with the boss constantly attacking you. The experience of playing Winged is often marked by frustration, despite its appealing visuals.

As an enthusiast, I must say, there’s a plethora of storybooks to amass in here, books that serve as the foundation for the game zones. Yet, these books are tucked away in the library section, which somehow feels disconnected from the main platforming adventure. Additionally, there’s an option to personalize your character by unlocking various items, but the interface for this seems a bit cumbersome. Instead of simply marking what I’m currently wearing, it checks everything I’ve ever interacted with, which can get a bit overwhelming.

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2025-03-07 17:30