Inked (video game)

Inked
Developer(s)Somnium Games
Publisher(s)Starbreeze Studios
Pixmain (consoles)
Nuverse (iOS, Android)
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows
  • 26 April 2018
  • Switch, PS4, Xbox One
  • 27 August 2021
Genre(s)Puzzle-platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Inked: A Tale of Love is a puzzle-platform game developed by Somnium Games and published by Starbreeze Publishing for Microsoft Windows.[1][2] It was demoed at the 2016 Reboot Infogamer convention in Zagreb[3] and released on 26 April 2018 via Steam.[4][5] An iOS and Android version was released in February 2021.[6] Versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One published by Pixmain were later released on 27 August 2021.

The story follows two protagonists; a rogue samurai called Nameless Hero, who is on a quest for his love Aiko, and Adam, a comic book artist.[7] The game uses an art style similar to papercraft visuals, but using a ballpoint pen[8] on a grid textbook for outlining.[9]

Reception

Upon release, the game received mixed reviews. It has an aggregated score of 67 on Metacritic, based on 15 reviews for the PC version.[10] It holds 78 for the Nintendo Switch version, based on 4 reviews.[11] Destructoid praised the aesthetic,[12]Nintendo Life in its review criticized its length, but praised its visuals, soundtrack, story and puzzles.[13] Pocket Gamer also praised the visuals, but found the puzzles tiring after a while.[14] Gamezebo complimented the unique look and puzzles, but complained that the camera could use more movement.[15] Destructoid stated it had high potential, but ultimately found the movement awkward.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Inked, puzzle platformer domaćeg razvojnog studija Somnium Games, stiže krajem travnja! - Reboot". 11 April 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Starbreeze doubled revenue in Q1 on Dead by Daylight sale". 9 May 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Djeca i odrasli čekaju u dugom redu na ulazak u virtualni svijet na sajmu". Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Inked: Rätsellastiges Abenteuer im Skizzen-Look für Ende April angekündigt - 4Players.de". 11 April 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  5. ^ "News - Now Available on Steam - Inked, 10% off!". store.steampowered.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  6. ^ Bashir, Dale (25 February 2021). "Pen-Drawn Romantic Puzzle Game 'Inked' Now Available On iOS and Android". IGN. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Mustesamurai haastaa luojansa huhtikuisessa Inked-seikkailussa – tältä se näyttää". 12 April 2018. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Screenshot Saturday Featuring Shakedown Hawaii, ABZÛ, Eleven More - Hardcore Gamer". www.hardcoregamer.com. 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  9. ^ Austin Wood (11 April 2018). "Solve lovely-looking puzzles as a pen-and-paper samurai in Inked". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Inked". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Inked: A Tale of Love". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Let Inked's incredible aesthetic draw you in". destructoid.com. 3 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Inked: A Tale Of Love Review (Switch eShop) | Nintendo Life". 17 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Inked review - "If only looks were everything"". 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Inked Review – A Sometimes Fiddly, Occasionally Brilliant Puzzler". 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Review: Inked – Destructoid". Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.