Yono and the Celestial Elephants

1. Yarun64

   Jun 16, 2021

   10

   Honestly, for an Indie videogame, Yono is one of the cutest and well done videogame inspired by Zelda gameplay style. I really enjoyed it, IHonestly, for an Indie videogame, Yono is one of the cutest and well done videogame inspired by Zelda gameplay style. I really enjoyed it, I know the game is simple, but it's perfect to get the stress out in a bad day. For me this videogame is amazing.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
2. Ellaleigh

   Mar 8, 2021

   10

   A perfect fun little game with a very cute story and world. I picked this because I love elephants and it looked cute and relaxing- somethingA perfect fun little game with a very cute story and world. I picked this because I love elephants and it looked cute and relaxing- something I can always use more of these days. For me this was a breath of fresh air in a world of games that always feel the need to be a little bit punishing or a little bit dark/grim. This was light and happy and the perfect blend of puzzles and story- I just wish it was longer! I really liked what the creator did with the usual puzzle dynamics- the incorporation of the elephant trunk with air, water, peanuts, and chili peppers and all the ways they were used was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the unique blend of societies (humans, happily undead bonewights, and free robots) and the theming of each area. One of my favorite aspects was the different skin designs you could buy- someone definitely put some thought and creativity into the artwork for those as well as some Easter eggs paying homage to the games Yono and the Celestial Elephants took inspiration from. Not a hard game but perfect for relaxing while still challenging your brain a bit and getting a good dose of serotonin from all the baby elephant cuteness! There definitely seems to be room here left for a sequel or two and I really hope the creator makes one! There is so much potential in the puzzle dynamics and world of this game that I’d really love to see explored and expanded on! I hope this isn’t the last we see of Yono the Celestial Elephant! … Expand

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4. beladsgar

   Dec 26, 2020

   9

   So, first let me clarify that recently I have only been playing the Nintendo Switch as my primary console as of late. When I first cameSo, first let me clarify that recently I have only been playing the Nintendo Switch as my primary console as of late. When I first came across, Yono, with a huge discounted tag, I had to buy it for two simple reasons (both being equally as simple and fun as the game itself). First: my daughter absolutely loved the cute and colorful graphics. Second: the lighthearted gameplay and Zelda inspired charm makes this game a no-brainer for anyone that enjoys family gaming! This is THE perfect example of an introductory level game into the world of puzzle solving for your young gamer. Not to mention it’s fun for the whole family! The best part of the game while playing, is uncovering the lore behind Yono and the Celestial Elephants. As simple as the game plays and feels, unlocking the story as you go, makes it a great adventure for any age. Definitely give this game a try if you have a young one looking to join in on the fun!… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
5. Daedalusfalls

   Sep 3, 2018

   8

   I have a weakness for cute things, and Yono and the Celestial Elephants is an extremely cute game. Everything from the art style to the soundI have a weakness for cute things, and Yono and the Celestial Elephants is an extremely cute game. Everything from the art style to the sound design is adorable. I just beat this game today, and I had a great time playing it. It's not a difficult game, although one or two of the puzzles took did take me a few tries to figure out. The combat is fairly basic, but it is serviceable, and not difficult. The story is well written, telling a tale of love, war and life. For the price, I think the game is the perfect length. It took me maybe 4 or 5 hours to complete, and the ending left me satisfied. I did encounter one bug where if I rammed the wall in a certain place, Yono would fly up into the air! It was in no way game breaking, and considering this is an indie game from a small studio, I found it to be very well put together. If you are looking for a relaxing puzzle platformer, then you will probably enjoy Yono. I hope they make a sequel, as I would pick it up in an instant.… Expand

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6. arh3399

   May 10, 2020

   8

   This is a cute fun little game. Its a series of simple puzzles with light combat scattered through. New mechanics are continually added soThis is a cute fun little game. Its a series of simple puzzles with light combat scattered through. New mechanics are continually added so the puzzles don't get too boring. Its about a 4 or 5 hr game, but they provide some interesting backstory that you can unlock by collecting letters scattered throughout the game. I would definitely recommend unlocking them all because they are pretty interesting little stories. I picked up the game for 50% off on the eshop and am very happy with my purchase. There were a few little glitches here or there but nothing game breaking. The controls can be a little weird in some of he tighter traversal, but you aren't heavily punished for falling off anything. All in all a fun quick little game that pretty relaxing to play.… Expand

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7. GBG_Jason

   Oct 12, 2017

   7

   My first time seeing this title was during a Nindies presentation. I saw a cute elephant with an isometric camera and at one point a chickenMy first time seeing this title was during a Nindies presentation. I saw a cute elephant with an isometric camera and at one point a chicken riding on his back. While I loved the look of the game, the chicken is what did me in. The game had me on charm alone – but could the rest of it hold up to that initial awe?
   
   Starting Yono and the Celestial Elephants, you’ll come to realize that this is a game that wants to tackle the adventure genre that Zelda defined. However, it’s more along the lines of Oceanhorn (review available on the Garage Band Gamers site), both in appearance and simplicity. Playing for an hour, I turned to my wife and said “you know who would love this game? Our kid.” This is a game that an adult can enjoy, but I think a younger audience would appreciate it much more.
   
   Aside from the picture book visuals which are an absolute joy, the game’s music is very cheery, and the gameplay itself is easy to pick up. You’ll head-butt enemies to death, break blocks, and knock things over with one button, while blowing dandelions and spraying water you sucked up out of your trunk with another. The action button will allow you to talk with citizens, but it’s also how you’ll put items/animals on your back and use/throw them depending on the situation. That’s essentially it control wise, other than a lock-on. You’ll come across some other things that serve as “power ups” for puzzles outside of water, one of which is peanuts.
   
   Speaking of puzzles, that is the bulk of the game. Whether it be moving blocks or figuring out who lost their top hat at the top of a column, there are a lot of puzzles to solve. And in the event you need to fast travel to complete one, each city has a train station allowing you to traverse to any town you’ve already discovered. It’s also here that I thought of my unborn child though. Maybe it’s because I’ve been playing puzzle games for years, but everything seemed so simple. I didn’t have to sit and think about anything I came across – even the bosses, which were the only ones with any sort of urgency for completion. Not a bad thing by any means, but something to consider if you’re hoping to wrack your brain for hours on one puzzle.
   
   There are lots of collectibles to be found while on your adventure, which includes letters to unlock pages of lore, heart pieces to increase your life, and coins to purchase new skins. If you’re a fan of lore, you are in for a treat with this, as the game has much more depth than you might think at a glance. Learning about the elephants and their purpose of keeping the peace on the planet every so many centuries at a time is quite fascinating. The extra hearts will help in making you a tank, but much like the skins, are completely unnecessary. However, if you’re a fan of skins, this game has a TON, and they are really cool if you get all the things they reference. If you can’t be bothered though, you can bypass all of this and just continue with the game’s main path.
   
   While the game’s music is upbeat and well produced, the other sounds in the game are less so. Each character has a type of noise they make when you start talking to them, and some of these can be grating after the first couple of times hearing them. Some sound effects also sound a bit crushed – by that I mean they sound like they weren’t optimized and were recorded through a Styrofoam cup phone. Hopefully this is something that can be patched, as it constantly pulled me from the experience. The fighting is also very lackluster, as you’ll head-butt your enemies until they die without regard for your own life. With how easy it is to come across hearts, there’s really no reason to do anything but hit attack until you win. It would’ve been nice to see a bit of variation in battles, like a dodge being necessary before attacking, or needing to do more with your trunk abilities. It may even be better without the basic combat at all. More bosses would’ve definitely been preferred over any amount of regular combat.
   
   If you are looking for an entry level puzzle adventure for your kids, I highly recommend Yono and the Celestial Elephants. With the stunning aesthetic and simple game design, they should have no problem becoming immersed. If you’re looking for something along the lines of a new Zelda, you’ll likely be disappointed in the fighting that’s offered. If you just want to relax with some puzzles and beautiful visuals though, with a chicken in tow, you’ve found the game… Expand

   • 2 of 2 users found this helpful
8. bumbleB

   Jan 15, 2018

   4

   This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I downloaded this game based on the visuals alone - anything this cute has to be worth a spin in my books. And it is cute, your little elephant guy is adorable, he can plonk little animals on his head, when he sucks up water with his trunk he goes all fat until you sploosh it out. Unfortunately there's not much more to this. I got a few hours into it until I started playing something else and haven't picked it up since. If there's anything approaching a storyline I haven't found it yet. At first I thought it would be a "find the missing princess" deal but [spoiler] mere moments after being informed of this crisis, your companion reveals herself to be the aforementioned monarch-to-be and it's like well, that one resolved itself quickly.
   The game starts with Yono descending from the sky with a vague aim of making the world a better place. You learn that elephants are a semi-mythic animal in this world, who appear very rarely and have temples and worshippers dedicated to them. The world itself is a bit different to your usual fantasy fayre, with populated with humans, zombies, robots and others. Your misson seems to be to get these various peoples to sort of get along a bit better which is kind of nice in this increasingly fractured world.
   The puzzles aren't too challenging and neither is the combat. You boof creatures with your head to attack, and suck up water and squirt it out to perform various tasks, as well as the usual switches, pushing blocks around and moving platforms you find in adventure puzzle games.
   A lot of the quests are pretty standard. One tavern owner asks you to clear his basement out of creatures that have infested them and says you can keep anything you find down there as a reward - I feel like every adventure game ever has featured this sidequest.
   I was hoping for a fun and enchanting adventure, unfortunately this title failed to deliver for me. As others have noted, might be one for the kids.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful

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