The Vale: Shadow of the Crown

This is a title that not only allows people sometimes unable to experience gaming a chance to do so, but it also provides an incredibly unique immersion experience and a different perspective to sighted gamers. A solid, engaging RPG lies at the heart of The Vale: Shadow of the Crown, one that proves to be a truly insightful experience for those who can play it.

The Vale is much more than a videogame: it's an astonishing experience which reinvents some key aspects in video games that are taken for granted.

The concept behind The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is so simple and genius that it's a wonder that it has never been done before - though it's worth noting that this iteration is done incredibly well, gracefully sidestepping many of the potential pitfalls of its conceit. The combat has a few frustrations that could use some ironing out, but they don't detract from what is a compelling and unique video game experience.

So much of what The Vale does feels like a reinvention of the video game wheel, and not always out of simple necessity. I think the developers at Falling Squirrel are visionaries, and I can’t wait to see what they do next with everything they’ve learned about game design while making The Vale. This is a fully blind accessible game, but that doesn’t at all mean it's an experience only the visually impaired would enjoy. There’s nothing lesser or limited about The Vale. It’s a fully realized experience that could only work in an audio space, and I sincerely believe it's going to inspire a lot of people to reexamine their beliefs about what a game has to do or be. If this is the beginning of indie audio games, I can’t wait to see where the genre goes from here.

The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is an incredibly well-made experience for all kinds of players itching for a different kind of adventure. The writing of the world as you traverse it through Alex's shoes is fleshed-out and atmospheric. While the plot itself isn't unique, the design touches still allowed the world to become alive. The audio-based combat is challenging enough to make you use your brain as you listen for cues, without frustration. This is a game for those who want a new kind of narrative role-playing adventure and challenge, where you rely on your hearing, perception, and wits.