There's a lot to love here. Everywhere you turn, there's something to appreciate. The music, which I've yet to mention, is stunning, and easily the best soundtrack to come out of the Supergiant Games' studios. I don't have a vocabulary to describe the audio, but I will admit to leaving the game to idle for no other reason than to write by the tune I've selected.
And there are always little things to interact with, little clever things that Supergiant Games has done with the way that information is presented, little choices in their approach to design that impress. Even the skill trees and the way you can assist your coterie of misfits, the inscrutable language used by the general populace. It is a good game.

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And thus it's all too easy to fall in love with Pyre. It's immediately attractive. Its songs dance in your head long after they debut. And before you know it, you find yourself driven to get better at rites and perform at the top of your game. Likewise, you can't help but reflect on your partners in the Downside--those you trained, as well as those you neglected. Supergiant Games has created something special that lives on in your heart. And against great odds, it's invented a sport that could have stood on its own without the story it's attached to--but it's so much better because it is.

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Supergiant Games continue to burn brightly as an independent studio, with Pyre being their latest imaginative and fantastical adventure. It casts aside many of the trappings of an action RPG from Bastion and Transistor in favour of something more akin to a real time tactical game, wrapping its fast paced and often fraught battles up in a world and cast of characters that gradually draw you into its cyclical tale.

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It feels disingenuous to even try and write words about Pyre, another Supergiant masterpiece. I don’t feel that my prose can even begin to match the resplendent beauty that permeates this journey through the Downside. If only that I could stand there in front of the Scribesgate once more listening to the Lone Minstrel and the Gate Guardian sing the hymn as the Rites commence once more. For as amazing Pyre was, I’ll just have to find myself exiled once more to find freedom in the flame.

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Pyre understands the primal thrill behind executing a dangerous slam dunk and the dueling probabilities of luck and dexterity necessary to make it happen. With Pyre, Supergiant Games’ passion for systems-driven trials of skill and fondness for vibrant, wistful fantasy converge in the Mutant League NBA Jam daydream role-playing game I never knew I always wanted.

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Despite some of these hiccups, it’s difficult not to enjoy being part of this strange world and participating blindly in its customs. Although I wasn’t quite as attached to the characters as I had hoped, I did appreciate the medley of personalities and felt the world and its customs were admirably orchestrated within everyone’s backstory. It might not be for everyone, but Pyre delivers on its fun gameplay in a way that beautifully illustrates the struggles of redemption and what it means to gain true freedom.

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Pyre backs up its eye candy with some pretty impressive world-building and fun gameplay, particularly in Versus Mode. Though the battles in the main campaign don’t offer too much of a challenge, the controls still make it feel great when you drive your team into your opponent’s goal.

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It’s lovely immersing yourself in a game as strikingly different and authentically unique as Pyre. It’s an audiovisual delight, with a mesmerizing painterly art-style which is further complemented by some excellent, tactical gameplay. It’s got a strong identity, and I really hope it finds its niche, while resonating with those who’ve fallen in love with Supergiant Games’ previous titles, Bastion and Transistor. Simply put, Pyre is a magical symphony of the senses.

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Pyre's campaign is repetitive and its combat never quite clicks, but a touching and thoughtful story makes it worth sticking through to the end.

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Pyre is a diamond in the rough. Its sense of adventure and novel Rites are ultimately held back from realizing their full potential by a campaign that feels drawn out, static teammates, and easy enemy AI. There’s plenty to love here, and Pyre will most definitely worm its way into the hearts of many, but it doesn’t quite top Bastion as Supergiants’ crowning achievement.

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Pyre is interesting enough to play multiple times, but it can also be played just as a one-on-one sport. In the game’s versus mode, which pits you against either an AI opponent or against a friend on your couch. In the story, there’s a lot of narrative pressure to do well in the rites. Against another person, I was a bit freer to just enjoy banishing my enemies, or passing the ball down the court, or flying over an aura blast. When I played against Kotaku editor-in-chief Stephen Totilo in the office, he banished me just as I was about to score on him and I shouted, “you motherfucker.” Pyre is good in many ways. It’s even good enough that it made me call my boss a motherfucker.

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SPOILER WARNING: For several hours, Pyre hold back a major twist about how it plays. I am spoiling that in this review, since it greatly influenced my take on the game, as it dominates the final two thirds of action and is ultimately Pyre’s most important gameplay system. Review-reader beware!

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Pyre is a diamond in the rough. Its sense of adventure and novel Rites are ultimately held back from realizing their full potential by a campaign that feels drawn out, static teammates, and easy enemy AI. There's plenty to love here, and Pyre will most definitely worm its way into the hearts of many, but it doesn't quite top Bastion as Supergiants' crowning achievement.

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Despite some of these hiccups, it's difficult not to enjoy being part of this strange world and participating blindly in its customs. Although I wasn't quite as attached to the characters as I had hoped, I did appreciate the medley of personalities and felt the world and its customs were admirably orchestrated within everyone's backstory. It might not be for everyone, but Pyre delivers on its fun gameplay in a way that beautifully illustrates the struggles of redemption and what it means to gain true freedom.

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sflufan said:

It feels disingenuous to even try and write words about Pyre, another Supergiant masterpiece. I don’t feel that my prose can even begin to match the resplendent beauty that permeates this journey through the Downside.

Then perhaps another person should've written the review if this person didn't feel they were up to the task? It's this type of prose that pretty much sums up all that's wrong with game reviews.

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Supergiant Games continue to burn brightly as an independent studio, with Pyre being their latest imaginative and fantastical adventure. It casts aside many of the trappings of an action RPG from Bastion and Transistor in favour of something more akin to a real time tactical game, wrapping its fast paced and often fraught battles up in a world and cast of characters that gradually draw you into its cyclical tale.

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AstroLad said:

i wonder if this will suffer from what TO ME PERSONALLY their first two games suffered from -- which was just not drawing me in at all in the first few hours and me having barely any idea what i'm supposed to be doing. well at least transistor. barely remember bastion tbh

IMO

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sflufan said:

It feels disingenuous to even try and write words about Pyre, another Supergiant masterpiece. I don’t feel that my prose can even begin to match the resplendent beauty that permeates this journey through the Downside.

Then perhaps another person should've written the review if this person didn't feel they were up to the task? It's this type of prose that pretty much sums up all that's wrong with game reviews.

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Psychoward said:

uh, I can understand not liking them but how on earth were you confused on what to do? the games are pretty simple and straightforward

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Trey said:

This review by ACG is very solid. It goes into depth about the many facets of design the game makes work.

And while not a negative review, the USgamer take is a balanced read on what that author felt the game stumbled on.

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Psychoward said:

has anyone commented on the vs. mp yet?

I don't really have the time or money for this game but if the versus is good I'd like to get the game when people are still playing...

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Psychoward said:

has anyone commented on the vs. mp yet?

I don't really have the time or money for this game but if the versus is good I'd like to get the game when people are still playing...

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Ryne said:

Despite the good reviews, I don't think I'll buy this at launch. The game doesn't look like something I would enjoy so I'll pass until it's at a cheaper price point to give it a shot.

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ACE 1991 said:

MP is local only.

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More_Badass said:

MP is local only

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AstroLad said:

i wonder if this will suffer from what TO ME PERSONALLY their first two games suffered from -- which was just not drawing me in at all in the first few hours and me having barely any idea what i'm supposed to be doing. well at least transistor. barely remember bastion tbh

IMO

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jim2point0 said:

This is how I feel. I'm mostly bothered by the combat system which has been described as competitive 3-3 wizard basketball.

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XANDER CAGE said:

Excited for this but not gonna lie, even more excited to grab the soundtrack whenever that's out.

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Mdk7 said:

Any idea about the length?

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Trey said:

tomorrow.

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Mdk7 said:

Any idea about the length?

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DrunkShogun said:

Really should get back to transistor. Plan to buy this. Is there a decent single campaign because I'm unlikely to care for the multiplayer side of it.

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Pyre is good in many ways. It’s even good enough that it made me call my boss a motherfucker.

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More_Badass said:

Devs have said their focus was single player, and a comment from the Steam Discussions said the campaign is around 13-15 hours

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Dartastic said:

Is this coming to Switch?

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