Howl

Fun little indie game

Se termina haciendo aburrido si buscas ser completista, el 4o acto lo he hecho sin preocuparme de la profecia por terminar cuanto antes.

Howl, developed by Mi’pu’mi Games GmbH and published by astragon Entertainment, is a striking fusion of turn-based tactics and puzzle design set within a haunting medieval world devastated by a supernatural plague. Its premise is immediately captivating: a mysterious “howl” sweeps across the land, twisting anyone who hears it into feral, wolf-like monsters. Only the Prophet—a deaf young woman—can cross these cursed lands unharmed, giving the narrative an intimate and mythic quality as she embarks on a journey to save her brother and rescue the remaining unturned citizens. This setup allows the game to explore themes of isolation, determination, and heroism in a folk-tale world that feels both ancient and eerily fantastical. The heart of Howl lies in its clever twist on turn-based gameplay. Instead of alternating actions with enemies, the player must plan a full sequence of moves—up to six steps in advance—before watching both hero and enemies act simultaneously. This design transforms each encounter into a kind of strategic riddle where anticipating enemy movement becomes as important as executing your own. You must decide not only where to strike or defend, but when to wait, retreat, or try to lure an enemy into a dangerous position. The resulting puzzle-like flow is both intellectually satisfying and refreshingly distinct from typical tactics games. Every level feels like a carefully crafted challenge where success hinges on mastering enemy patterns and thinking several turns ahead. As the Prophet gains access to more abilities, the complexity deepens elegantly without overwhelming the player. Smoke Bombs obscure vision and create opportunities for escape or ambush. Shadow Step offers a short-range teleport with tight situational uses. Specialized arrow types—explosive, chain-lightning, and more—expand tactical possibilities and allow you to reshape the battlefield in dramatic ways. These tools aren’t just upgrades; they fundamentally change how you approach levels. The game shines brightest when you revisit puzzles to complete optional objectives, such as limiting your number of turns or rescuing all villagers. These secondary challenges encourage experimentation and reward mastery, adding significant replay value. One of Howl’s most memorable qualities is its visual identity. The entire experience is presented in a “living ink” art style that evokes illuminated manuscripts and hand-painted storybooks. Characters and environments appear as if drawn onto parchment, with animations that feel fluid yet restrained, reinforcing the game’s folkloric tone. This aesthetic choice doesn’t merely look beautiful—it enhances storytelling by making the world feel like a tale unfolding across the pages. The atmospheric music and understated soundscape contribute to the mood, establishing a sense of melancholy and tension as you traverse abandoned villages, haunted forests, and plague-ridden outposts. Although the setting and narrative premise are rich, the storytelling itself is delivered sparsely, often in short illustrated segments between levels. For some players, this minimalist approach enhances the fairy-tale tone and leaves room for imagination; for others, it may feel underdeveloped, especially as the Prophet’s personal arc and the world’s deeper mythology receive only brief exploration. The journey is compelling but intentionally restrained, relying on atmosphere rather than extended dialogue or exposition. The finale, too, arrives with the kind of simplicity that suits a fable but may leave those craving narrative complexity wanting more. Howl is largely a game about refinement and replay, and while this structure excels for puzzle enthusiasts, it may feel repetitive to players expecting a more traditional tactics campaign. Replaying levels to perfect your solutions or complete all optional objectives is a core part of the experience, and the game is at its best when approached as a series of intricate logic challenges rather than a combat-driven adventure. Nonetheless, for players willing to embrace its cerebral rhythm, the gameplay loop becomes deeply rewarding. Overall, Howl stands as a creative and beautifully executed entry in the puzzle-tactics genre. Its innovative simultaneous-turn system, evocative art direction, and fairy-tale atmosphere set it apart from more conventional strategy games. While its narrative is understated and its replay-driven structure may not appeal to everyone, it offers a gripping, methodical challenge wrapped in one of the most visually distinctive presentations in recent memory. For players who enjoy turn-based strategy that prioritizes planning, foresight, and elegant design, Howl delivers a thoughtful and memorable journey through a cursed medieval world. Rating: 8/10

Love. Let me tell you how much I've come to love this game since I began to play. There are 100 billion neurons within my brain and body. If the word 'love' was engraved on each nanometer of those hundreds of billions of brain, it would not equal one one-quadrillonth of the love I feel for ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up folktales. For this. Love. Love. I don't really do detailed reviews much, but ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ this game is so worth the playthrough. I won't spoil much, but the fact it has some great puzzle gameplay, simple yet great storytelling, and an amazing art style and music to fit the game's aesthetic. Please give this game a playthrough. It will be worth your time, aside from some frustrating segments here and there. I have 10.3 hours on this game, most of it spent on fully completing everything and unlocking all the achievements, which shouldn't be too hard to do. You might spend on average 3 hours on this game playing the base campaign alone, though do note to at least try to unlock every ability and max level them so you can survive the more difficult segments. Just note: You are playing a puzzle game. If that isn't for you, best skip. If you love puzzle games, great. Pick this game up. Worth the playthrough, and it honestly needs more attention.

wonderful game, great mechanics with a lot of room to finesse your own playstyle and tactics. simple but engaging story and really beautiful soundtrack. loved every moment of this game

A fascinating little tactics game with simple but fun game mechanics, beautiful art style and an intriguing story line. Plus the game has 4 whole chapters, which is far more content than what I expected from a game of this price!

I really love the idea behind the gameplay. It makes for an interesting story. The music is good as well and I'd have so many things to say about the graphisms. I must admit that sometimes I have difficulties reading the layout of some parts of the maps, but the game isn't punishing and I just try it out to see if you can step on the tile or not.

Ein schönes Spiel für entspannende Abende. Super chilliger Soundtrack!