Moonlight – PC Review – by DarkLunarDude

DarkLunarDude
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Genre: Indie 2D Platformer
Developer: MonkeyMaw
Publisher: MonkeyMaw
Release Date: Feb 05, 2016
Moonlight is a indie platformer created and developed by MonkeyMaw. This simple in concept and design platformer released earlier this year to a resounding success, utilizing music that is atmospheric rather than in your face and easy to learn controls that make the player feel at home in the game’s world.
The story for Moonlight is simple at its core and also interesting as a overall experience for the player. You play as Kinubo, a little moogle looking creature that has one goal on his mind at all times, getting to the moon. This is not a simple task however, as he has arrived at a new village where no one cares for his presence, as they tend to stick together. It is your goal as Kinubo to meet these people, one by one, and earn their respect by completing various task that they give you to reach the moon or die trying. As I said before, the story is a simple one and while I do feel like simple stories can be a cop out for some games, Moonlight uses this to its advantage and builds the world around it. It creates this feeling of being that outcast who then has to earn his way into a new society, to great success.
The platforming and puzzles used in Moonlight  are well rounded, be it somewhat challenging but easy enough to master with enough practice. Your platforming consist of mushrooms that act similar to trampolines, the traditional flat surfaces and unique to Moonlight, bubbles. Bubbles are similar to the mushrooms in that they do act like trampolines, but they also have the added effect of being able to bounce at all angles on the topside of them, so if you hit it sideways or at an angle, you will bounce back that same direction. The puzzles in Moonlight are somewhat of your standard fare, with the moon twist on them, a few of them using the bubbles as stepping stones along the way, so mastering the bubble jumps will help you immensely.
With the presentation of Moonlight, we are given a 16 bit to 32 bit style graphics setup with music that is more to set the tone of the area and game, a nice change of pace to most games done in this style. Visually, Moonlight feels like one of those older style platformers with less risk and more of a focus on story. The character sprites are mostly cookie cutter, the given exception here is the use of different hats on some of the sprites, as well as a few color palette swaps to signify importance or gender. Backgrounds here are really well done, limited as they are as it constantly shows you the prize you seek, the moon, in all its glory.
Musically, Moonlight keeps its soundtrack simple with very classical style in soundtrack and a sort of whimsical touch with the sound effects. The soundtrack of this game is very calm and relaxing at all times, something im very happy to see as it helps sets the mood and tone for the game with a big use of piano riffs and some jazz instruments thrown in to play off the soft palate. The sound effects however, tend to be more playful which is a really nice touch and contrast to the soft melody used as a backdrop. Most effects range from blips when you jump as you will hear it the most but the cling of grabbing an item or the blop of jumping on a bubble are subtle touches that just make it more of a experience.
Overall, Moonlight feels like a platformer with heart and while it stays true to what made platformers strong, it eliminates the risk factor, allowing the player to relax and enjoy the game. The simple but effective story, well placed and fair puzzles, excellently done platforming, older pixel visuals, vibrant background, subtle and soft tones used for the soundtrack and playful sound effects to counter them feels right on par with the few flaws it does have.
 
Pros:
  • Simple but effective writing
  • Fair and well placed puzzles
  • Excellently done platforming
  • Good use of the pixel art style
  • Vibrant backgrounds
  • Soft and subtle soundtrack
  • Playful sound effects
 
Cons:
  • A few harder to solve puzzles
  • Bubbles take time to master
  • Relatively short playtime
 
DarkLunarDude gives Moonlight a Drastik Measure 8.7 out of 10 (87).

For the price of $2.99 on Steam, Moonlight is a easy to recommend pick up for those who love platformers. The games laid back nature and easy to understand story make it a good time, regardless of how short it ultimately it.