TUNIC (NSP, XCI) ROM + v1.0.3 Update

Tunic is a 2022 action-adventure game developed by Isometricorp Games and published by Finji. It is set in a ruined fantasy world, where the player controls an anthropomorphic fox on a journey to free a fox spirit trapped in a crystal. The player discovers the gameplay and setting by exploring and finding in-game pages of a manual that offers clues, drawings, and notes. The backstory is obscured; most text is given in a constructed writing system that the player is not expected to decipher. Tunic’s isometric perspective hides numerous pathways and secrets.

Designer Andrew Shouldice developed Tunic, his first major game, over seven years. He began work on it as a solo project in 2015, wanting to combine challenging gameplay with gentle visual and audio design. He was inspired by his childhood experiences playing Nintendo Entertainment System games like The Legend of Zelda (1986) and trying to understand game manuals for which he lacked context. Shouldice was joined during development by composers Terence Lee and Janice Kwan, audio designer Kevin Regamey, developer Eric Billingsley, and producer Felix Kramer. Publisher Finji joined the project in 2017 and announced Tunic at E3 2017.

Tunic was released for macOS, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in March 2022, followed by ports for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in September. It received positive reviews, especially for its aesthetics, design, and gameplay, but drew some criticism for uneven difficulty and potential for players to feel stuck. Tunic won the Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game award at the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and the Artistic Achievement and Debut Game awards at the 19th British Academy Games Awards.

GAMEPLAY

Tunic is an action-adventure game set in the ruins of a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, in which the player character, an anthropomorphic fox, navigates the terrain and fights off hostile creatures. The player is initially given no directions or instructions, and the majority of the text is in a constructed writing system, with only some words presented in the player’s selected language, such as English. The three-dimensional terrain is typically displayed from a fixed isometric view, though the perspective shifts at certain points.

The fox character moves around the world by running or dodge-rolling; after rolling, the fox can run faster until the player stops moving them. The player can freely explore the world, and there is no mandated path to follow. Although many areas require specific actions or items to enter normally, which creates a general order to the game, there are often alternate ways to gain entrance. The isometric view obscures numerous hidden paths and secrets.

The interface has meters for the fox’s health, stamina, and magic. Actions such as rolling consume stamina, which replenishes after a few seconds. Scattered throughout the world are chests, which contain collectible items, weapons, or coins. Items can also be purchased with coins from ghostly merchants found in a few hidden paths. Some items, such as potions, restore the fox’s attributes. Other items can be used in combination with coins to increase the fox’s maximum health, stamina, or magic. The tunic does not have difficulty levels, but players can toggle unlimited stamina or health in accessibility settings.

Several types of weapons can be found in the game, including a sword, explosives, and magic items. The shield can be used to block attacks at the cost of stamina. Magic weapons can use magic to fire projectiles, slow time, or grab enemies with a lash. Bombs can be used to cause explosions or bursts of fire, which can set enemies or the fox on fire. Enemies will chase and attack the fox on sight. Defeated enemies drop coins. The player can target specific enemies to automatically direct their attacks; this also shifts the camera, which can reveal hidden passages or objects. If the fox dies, they drop some of their coins and leave behind a spirit that can be recovered on the next playthrough to return them. The end of some areas contains a unique boss enemy, which unlike regular enemies must be defeated to progress.

Throughout the world are shrines with a large fox statue; kneeling at these restores the fox’s health, but also revives any defeated enemies. When the fox dies, they are restored at the last shrine they have knelt at. Some areas also include a teleport mechanism in the form of a golden platform, which allows the fox to access a realm called the Far Shore where they can exit through another golden platform in the world.

Present throughout the world are pages of an in-game manual. When the player collects the page items, the pages are added to the manual in the interface, which the player can refer to at any time. Like the in-game text, the majority of the manual is in a constructed writing system, and the player does not encounter the pages in order. The drawings, maps, diagrams, and handwritten notes in the manual pages give clues to the player as to how the game works and where to go next, such as showing the fox offering items to a shrine, which otherwise does not indicate that it can be used that way.

BE FEARLESS, LITTLE ONE!

Engage in diverse and intricate combat. Dodge, block, parry, and strike! Master the art of conquering a vast array of creatures, both colossal and diminutive. Along the way, uncover invaluable items to aid your progress.

• Traverse a perilous and interconnected world of shadowy forests, sprawling ruins, and labyrinthine catacombs
• Engage in epic battles against formidable bosses in subterranean depths, celestial heights, and other peculiar realms
• Collect the lost pages of the manual, brimming with vivid illustrations and invaluable hints
• Discover concealed treasures to facilitate your journey
• Unearth hidden relics, secret techniques, enigmatic puzzles, and… well, let’s just say, there are numerous secrets!
• Immerse yourself in the immersive sound design by Power Up Audio
• Enjoy an original soundtrack composed by Life formed