Cocoon

Akin to Inception but with more otherworldly bug-like…things, Cocoon eases you in delicately enough with its world hopping, power unlocking, and puzzles. However, beyond the halfway point, you’re suddenly dealing with earth-shattering bosses, ascending through multiple levels of worlds while carrying others on your back and leveraging portals to enter and exit. It’s an experience unlike any other, delivered in roughly five to six hours and leaving you with more than a few questions when it’s over.

Xbox Game Pass’ already impressive catalog of games is going to become much more exciting, considering the bevy of games in line to join the service. The first of those games, which will be coming to Game Pass over the next few days, have been confirmed by Microsoft.

On December 5, side-scrolling action shooter My Friend Pedro and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker will join Game Pass. The next day, pinball title Demon’s Tilt and musical adventure game Wandersong will be added to the catalog. Finally, December 12 will see the release of eFootball PES 2020, Overcooked! 2, The Division (the first one), and Pathalogic 2.

That’s a pretty solid selection of games. PES 2020 is a pretty recent release too, so anyone who’s been on the fence about giving it a go now has a good reason to. Meanwhile, My Friend Pedro and Pathalogic 2 are both great games, while Overcooked! 2 is excellent if you have someone to play with.

Of course, yesterday, we also saw the release of Halo: Reach via The Master Chief Collection, which is available through Game Pass as well.

"It means the most to us to hear how the game has helped folks get through a hard time and stayed with them long after playing. It feels like we made something special that helped a lot of folks."

To start off- Wandersong received very good reception from critics and fans alike when it released earlier last year. Congratulations on that, and how pleased were you with what you read and heard?

Very very pleased! It means the most to us to hear how the game has helped folks get through a hard time and stayed with them long after playing. It feels like we made something special that helped a lot of folks.

Wandersong has been praised for its emotional unique aesthetic and the emotional journey it takes the players on- were there any particular games or other media that inspired you during development?

I was really inspired by the storytelling of Steven Universe, Over the Garden Wall, Homestuck, and Undertale. The aesthetic was inspired by Kirby’s Epic Yarn and the webcomic Cucumber Quest, but I added a lot of my own style to it.

The way Wandersong contrasts its bright tone and aesthetic with its conceptual setting is something else that has stood out to players- how important (and difficult) was it to get that balance right?

Very important! I wanted the game to be optimistic and honest, which is a very hard balance–most people see those things as paradoxical. We always rode a thin line between joy and melancholy. The super saturated aesthetic and dark undertones were a huge part of that.

"You play as a walking musical instrument, making up music anywhere and anytime, and exploring a vast world and seeing how things react to your music."

For those of our readers who will be playing Wandersong on the PS4 for the first time, can you give us a brief explanation about what the game is all about?

It’s a musical adventure game! The universe is coming to an end and you’re a bard doing your best to help people by singing. You play as a walking musical instrument, making up music anywhere and anytime, and exploring a vast world and seeing how things react to your music.

Can players expect to see any new features in the PS4 version of Wandersong, or is it more of a direct port?

The biggest new feature is the DualShock, which feels like it was made just for Wandersong. We made it light up in rainbow colors and make singing sounds when you play.

Wandersong is a game about music, and a game with a very vibrant and colourful visual style, and in spite of that, it’s a game that makes concessions to both, deaf and colourblind players, which is a laudable and admirable thing. How hard was it to get that balance right though, and was it something you were adamant on doing?

We were really adamant on this, because we want the game to be accessible and comforting to all kinds of people. To be honest it wasn’t that hard, either–just a philosophy that we approached the design with. We always indicate hints with color, sound, and direction so gamers of any ability can understand what to do. This clarity is great even if you are perfectly capable of seeing color and hearing.

Do you have any plans for launching the game on Xbox One as well?

Nothing to announce at the moment!

"We want the game to be accessible and comforting to all kinds of people."

Are you taking advantage of the PS4 Pro’s extra power to deliver better visuals or performance? If yes, then in what ways?

We were able to improve the anti-aliasing. But the look of the game is quite defined and simple, so not much has changed besides that, graphically.

What is the resolution and frame rate of the PS4 Pro version?

1080p, 60 fps.

What about the base PS4?

Same.

Get ready to fill your heart with the sound of music – Greg Lobanov’s unorthodox platformer Wandersong is coming to the PlayStation 4. Currently available for PC and Nintendo Switch, the title will be available on January 22nd for PS4. Check out the launch trailer below.

Wandersong sees the mysterious Eya preparing to reset the universe with her song. It’s business as usual for her, but an optimistic bard takes it upon himself to save the world. You’ll play as this bard and collect pieces of the Earthsong, using different melodies to interact with different parts of the world.

There’s plenty of running, jumping, and puzzle solving to be had in this adventure. Wandersong’s art-style also ensures that every musical note has a corresponding colour, sound, and direction. No punishment is given for being unable to progress – the player can simply keep trying until they get it right. The critical reception for Wandersong has been quite good, so it might be worth checking out for platforming fans on PS4.