Genre: Puzzle
Developers: East Asiasoft Limited, Double Mizzle
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S
Publisher: East Asiasoft Limited
Initial release date: October 30, 2024
The only puzzle games I play these days appear to be from Eastasiasoft’s publishing archive, with SokoPenguin, a Sokoban-focused and ice-themed game, being the most recent example. That game wasn’t terrific, but the latest offering, Skater’s Solstice, appears to continue the icy trend with an ice sliding puzzler.
Should you put on your skates and go obtain Skater’s Solstice, or should you ignore it?
Slip and slide with Skater’s Solstice.
Double Mizzlee created Skater’s Solstice, a top-down ice sliding puzzler. It’s similar to their earlier game, Shivering Stone, in which you move blocks across a cold landscape. The key difference here is that you’re sliding a skater all over the place, looking for an exit from each stage. The notion is so simple that a tutorial seemed unnecessary, but I’ll describe what it comprises nevertheless.
There are fifty stages in total, each with two objectives: reach an exit point and gather up to three stars that are dispersed throughout. You must direct the skater up, down, left, or right in order to help the unidentified character complete the tasks listed above. The skater will glide in the direction of input until they strike a wall or obstruction, at which point they will be able to move again.
Given the enormous number of stages offered, I anticipate diversity through the introduction of new gameplay aspects. Unfortunately, it is not the case. On the adventure, pop-up spikes appear as a dangerous hazard for the skater to avoid, and portals appear to move them to different portions of a stage, but that’s all there is to it. Sure, the stages grow in size and complexity as the number of obstacles and hazards increases, but this creates a completely other difficulty.
As the frosty stages expand in size, with more locations to care about inside the same stage, the majority of the world you’re exploring is off-screen. So you’re basically moving while blissfully uninformed of what’s coming next and teleporting without knowing where you’ll finish up. Furthermore, the large sliding distance and inability to see the entire stage make it extremely difficult to timing moves so that any spikes on the path are retracted at the exact moment they are passed over. Both difficulties result in a large number of level resets, which, while quick, are nevertheless frustrating to encounter.
The stages increase.
The difficulty varies significantly from start to finish, and this is primarily due to poor design choices. A stage could be completed in less than thirty seconds, while the next could take more than ten minutes. The saving grace is that collecting the stars is only an optional objective, so you can simply make your way to the exit if you like. Getting to the exit is usually a simpler way, which relieves some stress.
In terms of visuals, the young skater sticks out clearly in their winter gear. Less appreciation can be given to the ice settings, primarily because after you’ve seen one, the rest are just as boring to look at. A few trees copied and pasted around the perimeters, together with some snow to separate the icy sections, are insufficient to create an attractive environment.
On a more positive side, Gamerscore enthusiasts will be pleased that obtaining the full 1000G will not take long. Even without a guide, completing all fifty stages and related achievements will take you just over an hour. When you consider the low price, there’s no doubt about its attraction in that regard.
Promising, but quickly descends into a slippery slope
Skater’s Solstice, on the other hand, has a potential puzzle concept that deviates too quickly. While it has a reasonable amount of stages, the ideas run out quickly, and there aren’t enough new aspects to keep you interested. Even those that are implemented introduce defects into the proceedings, reducing the level of enjoyment that can be gained.
Unless you’re looking for achievements, Skater’s Solstice doesn’t have much to offer, so explore elsewhere for some puzzle-solving pleasure.
Review Overview
Gameplay: 84%
Controls: 86%
Aesthetics: 87%
Content: 80%
Accessibility: 82%
Value: 83%
Overall: 84%
A THRILLING RIDE WITH STYLE AND SOUL!
Summary:
“Skater’s Solstice” blends high-energy skating mechanics with a compelling, relaxed setting, allowing players to explore sunny streets and perfect their abilities. The gameplay is tight and responsive, recreating the excitement and challenge of real skating with gratifying tricks and fast navigation. Players can easily navigate the game’s urban playground thanks to the straightforward controls. The vivid imagery and relaxed soundtrack add to the aesthetic appeal, resulting in an attractive, sophisticated universe. For fans of unique skating games, “Skater’s Solstice” is an exhilarating and engaging experience.