Can a Video Game Clone Ever Live Up to the Original? - Oceanhorn Review
When thinking about the evolution of gaming and the video game industry, some treasured titles come to mind we all know and love. Titles that helped push consoles into mainstream pop culture, have become staples of brands, and have developed cult-like followings. Among these entries that have certainly woven their way into the gaming hall of fame would be The Legend of Zelda.
I’ll never forget it. It was 1992, and my mom had just bought me a Super Nintendo for Christmas. The first game she decided to buy alongside the new console was The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and I was glued to my screen for weeks to come. Fast-forward a decade or three later, and we see that the same franchise has not only inspired TV series, movies, and graphic tees of a hilarious nature, but also developers looking to create Zelda-like adventures of their own. Such is the story of Oceanhorn, a title very similar in its gameplay to Zelda but unique enough that it’s not just another cookie-cutter rip-off.
Published through FDG Entertainment and developed by Cornfox & Brothers, Oceanhorn was initially released for iOS in 2013 to pretty positive reviews. And I get why. Oceanhorn, in and of itself, is a good game. Although this action-adventure epic takes its cues from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and A Link to the Past, I missed the initial hype in 2013 and was looking forward to hopping in.
Oceanhorn immediately highlights its beautiful visuals through an opening cinematic that sets the story in motion. Playing as an unnamed protagonist, my task was to find my father after he took it upon himself to kill Oceanhorn, a giant monster, and terror of the seas. Waking up the next day, I found myself on Hermit's Island, which is home to two people—the protagonist and a hermit—and serves as an introductory tutorial zone.
Oceanhorn is certainly nothing special narrative-wise. But when the gameplay is considered, the combination of pot smashing, heart meters, and dungeon trekking reminded me immediately of Zelda. My first task was finding my father’s sword and shield, which led me on a journey to find a key hidden away in a dungeon, where I solved my first basic puzzle. Hermit Island was fully equipped with a completion rate, so I knew exactly how many extras and goodies were on it.
After gathering some equipment, I was off on my first adventure on the open seas. This is where Oceanhorn really picks up. Much of the game involves island-hopping, and it’s here where I could get an exploratory sense of the world.
The combat and gameplay aren’t too complex. A leveling system leads to unlocking new abilities and items you can equip. It's nothing as hardcore as your typical RPG regarding classes and stat building, though. Bosses usually are at the end of dungeons, and there are even side quests and minigames to play. It’s got all the essentials that we’ve come to expect from this type of game.
With all of those elements put together, Oceanhorn is undeniably a good game, with a decent story, interesting locations, and distractions enough for the completionists. But in my playthrough, I couldn’t help thinking that there was nothing that really stood out. It looks great on the surface, but nothing about it was particularly memorable, despite the cool graphics and dungeon raiding.
Actually, scratch that. One aspect of Oceanhorn did stand out: the epic music and voice acting. The score sets the game’s tone as it shifts from lighthearted and cheery to dark and menacing. It's worth listening to even if you're not playing the game. I have no doubt that ear-pleasing excellence is due to the talents of boss-level musical composer Nobuo Uematsu, who you may know from his work on the Final Fantasy series.
So, is Oceanhorn worth playing? Yes, absolutely. Just go in knowing that in many respects, it doesn’t particularly stand out from the dozens of other action-adventure RPGs with better narratives and unique gameplay. I don't blame Oceanhorn. After all, this title did come out in 2013, and at the time it was a big release for iOS. For me, though, in a modern context, it just feels like a stepping stone while I’m waiting for the next big Zelda game.
SCORE: 3 STARS OUT OF 5
PLAY IF YOU LIKE:
• The Legend of Zelda series, especially The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. If you enjoyed all the island-hopping and sword swinging of Nintendo’s epic fantasy series, you'll be right at home with Oceanhorn.
• Swordigo. If you played this popular mobile action-adventure dungeon explorer, you’ll probably appreciate the similar themes found in Oceanhorn.
💬 Was Oceanhorn just another Zelda clone? And can you name some other games that are clones of famous titles? Let me know in the comment section, and I'll respond to your posts!
CHECK OUT SOME OTHER RECENT REVIEWS FROM TAPTAP:
How Opening The Refrigerator Can Lead to Far Worse than a Bigger Gut - Chefy-Chef Review | TapTap
https://www.taptap.io/post/1602280
If You Like Artsy Games with Zero Hand-Holding, Then This Is a Game for You – Feist Review | TapTap
https://www.taptap.io/post/1600466
A Simple Racing Game That'll Turn You Into A Highway Speedster - Pako Highway First Impressions | TapTap
https://www.taptap.io/post/1599326
Mentioned games
