Lunar Axe is a point-and-click, puzzle and mystery game, with horror elements. It is based on Brazil’s history and real locations, and through the game, you can find collectibles that unlock references in the main menu so you can read and learn more about what inspired the game. The game is already available for PC. The version I am reviewing is for consoles, PS5 specifically. That version was released on April 18.
Gameplay
The game is from the point-and-click genre, so you control a mouse pointer with the console controller and look for things to interact in the scenario, puzzles to solve, or new places to go.
This game has no repeated puzzles. Every puzzle you do is unique to the situation you are facing. One thing that I must add is that some puzzles felt like a reach to me or just didn’t make much sense. I won’t mention them here not to give out spoilers but, besides that, the other puzzles were cool.
Lunar Axe has 3 buildings for you to explore. You can access them through a map you get after finishing the first building/level. There is however one major flaw. After picking up the map, the building you just finished is highlighted as one of the options to be selected as the next step. If you select it, you will be forced to do level 1 again for no reason. The game should, at least, warn about this fact if you pick the same level.
At the end of the game, there is a boss fight, which works through quick-time events. However, the fight doesn’t work very well, since if you only press the buttons as they appear on the screen, you will fail and get damaged. You need to predict the button and press it as soon as the prompt appears on screen, which is not hard, since the buttons are not random, but that can be frustrating, especially in the first tries. It’s worth mentioning that this game has different difficulties, and I played on Hard. This can be the reason why the boss fight was like this, but either way, it doesn’t make sense.
Graphics and sound
Lunar Axe’s design appears to be handmade art, and all the scenarios and images are well done and detailed.
The final boss fight especially caught my attention, since, being point and click, most of the game is static and the boss fight features a fully animated boss and weapon for your character, both with great design.
The game’s horror elements stay more in the sound and design fields. The game has eerie music playing in each scenario, which causes a sensation of discomfort and mystery. Also, the game features some scenes with ghosts, distorted screen effects, and weird noises. However, there are other focuses.
Narrative
Lunar Axe has a narrative based on real historical facts of Brazil and creates its own narrative. In the game you must gather three scattered pieces of the Lunar Axe to defeat a beast that was asleep underground and now, after centuries, has reawakened, and only the Axe can defeat it.
Longevity and Replayability
Lunar Axe is short. You can beat it in less than two hours easily, considering you don’t get stuck in any puzzle. Technically you can replay it to gather collectibles to unlock references and know more about the game, but there is not much.
That being said, it is a good and enjoyable short game. It’s not rushed and being short makes sure that everything you do is interesting and not forcibly long. It is a matter of what you seek in a video game.
Conclusion
Lunar Axe combines good puzzles, a good narrative, and a good point-and-click experience. If you are a puzzle enthusiast that seeks extremely complex and challenging puzzles maybe this game isn’t for you. The same can be said for someone looking for a deep and diverse history. But the game gathers the elements well and will be a good experience for almost anyone.
