Arise: A Simple Story

Arise: A Simple Story is a delightful mix of stunning visuals, sounds, and engaging story. But there's also a satisfying game underneath to enjoy too.

Arise: A simple Story is a wonderful and colorful journey that shows us that video games can be more than plain entertainment, and they can actually give us some lessons for life.

The work of the Spanish developer Piccolo Studios has used its resources to the fullest and offers in this title an example to follow for the path of video games.

Piccolo Studio's debut is a game that will linger in your mind for a long while, a simple adventure in its form, but with a message as beautiful as painful. One more example that videogames are a great medium to transmit a message and, as Journey and similar games, they are playable poetry. If you like this kind of offering, go get it without hesitation.

Arise combines the picturesque appeal of Journey with the challenges of a classic jump-and-run.

Arise is an incredibly powerful story despite it being so simple. It invokes emotions that I would rarely bring with me when playing a video game, and it is refreshing to know that there is a game out there focused on bringing us a heartwarming experience. There are so many elements in the game that work well together, from the color palette, lighting, music, gameplay, and ease of controls. Even without much dialogue or long, extensive cutscenes, Arise is able to tell us a simple story that is vibrant and rich, bringing us an unforgettable and emotional experience.

The exquisite art direction and soundtrack make this journey one of the most magical of the year. A little jewel, that despite some imperfections, shines with a dazzling light.

Arise: A Simple Story is true to its name and offers both function and form, which is why I'm so anxious to see what Piccolo Studio has next in the pipeline.

Arise: A Simple Story is a moving story about a man that relives the joy and the anguish of his past. Piccolo Studio's opera truly knows how to touch the soul of a player.

Arise: A Simple Story is worth a go and worth your time and attention. It carries a heavy-hearted story that is backed by stunning visuals and few flaws.

The title occasionally feels derivative and lacks a tightness in the controls, but generally, Arise is largely filled with strengths that result in exactly what it promises to deliver: a simple narrative that also happens to be incredibly moving.

A pretty picture concerned with memory and mortality that strides through its emotional beats with confidence. A 3D puzzle platformer that trips where so many others have before. [Issue@#171, p.94]

While I wish the actual platforming were a bit stronger, Arise: A Simple Story is still a lovely experience which I recommend you try. Frustration over dying a handful of times passes quickly when you’re enveloped in such wonderful sights and sounds. It's just an experience you'll get nearly as much out of watching as you would playing.

In some ways, Arise: A Simple Story is perfectly named because it forgoes traditional dialogue or text-based narration for visual storytelling. However, through the inventive environmental game design that pushes the narrative forward to its well-realized and emotional conclusion, there is a complexity to Arise that left me misty-eyed by its affecting story of love and loss.

Those who enjoy 3D platformers with a twist will love their time with Arise: A Simple Story and its gorgeous world.

Arise: A Simple Story, while being a simple game, has an immense amount of things going for it. Its time manipulation mechanic is well implemented and makes you want to explore each stage thoroughly. Its beautiful, soothing and very well made. I am sure most players will find something they like about this quirky little title, I for one, found a lot to like about it.

Arise is exactly what we expect from the indie scene: something special that can’t be found in AAA. Its gameplay isn’t its biggest strength, but it all works towards conveying emotions –and that’s where it shines.

Arise tells a simple story that will take a direct hit to your heart. Don't you dare miss it.

By making a point of keeping things simple, Arise: A Simple Story excels in all the right places. Basic 3D platforming is elevated by the introduction of time manipulation, transforming the beauty of its locations into an interactable piece of art. And when its visual design is already this stunning, it makes for an experience that delights every sense imaginable.

Arise: A Simple Story is well worth the $20 and six hours you'll spend playing it. Even though it can't seem to avoid problems that plague your typical indie game, the artwork and level design are beyond worth the small investment.

A title that is much better for its narrative than for its platforms. Luckily, everything works thanks to its music and its graphics section.

Arise’s main attraction is its story - a pleasing artistic experience. Each level symbolizes a moment of our character’s life, not only in the narrative sense, but also thematically and aesthetically. As a video game, on the other hand, Arise doesn’t add up to much, as the objectives aren’t clear enough and its controls are less responsive than they should be.

Arise: A Simple Story mixes its narrative-driven adventure with puzzle-platforming in some ways that can be deemed successful. The time-altering mechanic gives the game some variety throughout its four to six-hour runtime, never overstaying its welcome. Paired with its beautiful art direction and well-told story, there is definitely a reason to pick up Piccolo Studio’s new game. However, there isn’t any facet of Arise: A Simple Story that strikes deeper emotional chords; it just lacks any personality. In turn, it does make it very approachable with themes that are easy to understand. You may not need any tissues as you endure the old man’s tale, but if you’re into narrative-driven adventures, Arise: A Simple Story might be for you.

The level design changes between exceptional and mediocre which is rather disappointing for a 6-hour long game. It was a pleasant experience overall but its potential dwindles before it has a chance to make a proper impact. [01/2020, p.79]

The time-scrubbing mechanic in Arise is interesting and the many of the levels have a compelling concept. It also offers several visually striking moments and in certain places, it delivers on its emotional content. Unfortunately, it also has too many muddy, unclear visuals for a work of its brevity, and the core platforming disappoints. I wish I could give it a full-throated endorsement, but in the end this is a well-worn theme and Arise: A Simple Story falters in too many places to be truly notable.

Arise: A Simple Story draws the player's attention with a beautiful art and sound design but quickly fails to keep it due to repetitive gameplay mechanics.

Arise: A Simple Story is a beautiful, moving experience I couldn’t stop swearing at. The game delivers a lovely yarn and some clever level design, but clunky controls and an infuriating camera leave this platformer stranded in purgatory. Arise’s story may be worth your time, but only if you’re the patient type. Simple as that.