Skyborn (PC) review "Rushed aspirations."

Claret Spencer is a cutie. No, really. I caught a glimpse of her dark, focused eyes and stoic expression and wanted to know what it was that had her attention. She's the hook, make no mistake. That was 2014, and then a bundle came along, and I decided it was time to dive in.

Claret is a human mechanic in a world that lost a war against a winged race called 'Skyborn,' by whom the humans are oppressed and essentially enslaved. She's got the knack and a healthy respect for machines. You learn quickly that she prizes them over social or political stature. So much so that her brother, Jake, makes the bonehead decision to have her married off for "her own good."

He's not brave enough to tell her that, though. Fortunately for us and the story, she's the impatient, independent type. So much of what she is you expect her to be; a capable fighter, beautiful and intelligent, focused and driven, direct and caring. The rest happens much too quickly, even though there are a couple of nicely timed plot twists before you fall in with the token rebel force.

Skyborn is an RPG Maker-developed title that plays a lot like one. By that, I mean that Dancing Dragon has programmed some interesting systems to keep you awake during and after combat, but there are some flaws inherent to the engine. For instance, Enemies slowly traverse the map as you do but can be difficult to engage, having a small landing zone on each map square for you to interact with.

Some map backgrounds are mirrored noticeably, and some animations have distractingly few frames. There is no overworld, so you travel from map to map, where transitions are cleverly arranged to disguise this fact. It's like a role-playing game on rails: You will progress as long as you get to the next screen intact. No world map is required.

The characters, conversely, are far less static. Each has a distinct personality, and the dialogue is detailed without being verbose or boring. Occasionally, clever lines and spontaneous actions keep things moving right along. Reactions before boss battles and other events lack post-scene follow-ups and feel unnatural. Every. Single. Time.

Characters are also varied, if only partially original. If there's anything to say about this band, the developer did not appear concerned about stereotypes. So, while he touched upon the essentials, he brought each a healthy dose of individuality. For example, Sullivan, the stuffed-shirt aristocrat, is highly pragmatic and kind, not your typical charming rogue.

Regrettably, he's not much of either, though he is, as you'll read, "pretty." That actually speaks to Skyborn's main issue. It's good. As in "inoffensive." Claret and Sullivan get along after the initial sparks in their relationship, and then, nothing. For a fantasy RPG, Skyborn isn't very dramatic. It all is quite lively and also emotionally flat.

An introduction may have been rote or even technically impossible, but it would have prepared me for the setting. The orchestral music leaves a little to be desired thematically: Light jazz didn't suit the lava-drenched cave and its strangely scrolling background. It did not transition well to the desert that followed.

I'm going to say it: Combat is far too easy. While adjusting the difficulty at any time is possible, that isn't the issue. The developer's job is to give you the tools you need, but they're much too effective in this case. Corwin has both "Cure" and "Circle of Healing," but when the latter is so affordable and powerful, there's no point in using the former.

MP regenerates every turn, and EN (Energy) builds up with physical attacks, which means you're balancing physical attacks and skills ... many of which have no cost. Even Final Fantasy Mystic Quest made magic harder to use. It takes the challenge out of combat when you can spam physical attacks and the occasional skill to wipe out enemies. Bosses will be the only source of frustration, I'd love to say, but that's just not true.

Granted, I'm a veteran, but I would like to have seen the stats lower and the enemies a bit tougher. Am I oppressed, clawing out of the mud, or am I the elite who can take on the world? As I said, it all happens too fast, and you're barely given time to allow any of it to sink in before you dash through the next dungeon and its attached, auto-completing quest.

Incidentally, this great, well-written journal tracks your progress, but you would only see it if you hunt for it. Details like this flesh out the world, but I also need to have my attention brought to them with even a simple prompt that can be easily dismissed. Meanwhile ...

Skyborn almost revels in its lack of tutorials, even though it provides a tutorial room. Somehow, nothing any of the scholarly NPCs say leaves any impression. In fact, the game breaks the rules that need to be clearly communicated.

Of what do I speak? Having the main character back away from a path with an exclamation point supposedly reserved for sidequest givers when none are given until the fifth hour of play? Then, there was another instance of a room not linking to the previous in backtracking, presumably because it was never tested. I've brought it up with the developer, who attends his games, so we'll see that resolved.

There's no getting away from the fact that this is an Indie RPG. Inconsistencies abound, such as foliage you can walk over in one area being a barrier in another. The entire game needed guidance, and the lack thereof has more of a dramatic impact on the professionalism than the emotion in the story's dramatic elements.

I like the characters, and the brevity of the storyline could be a saving grace, but you need more than passable when you want to get involved in a good story. A pretty face and healthy figure will only get you so far, and it's a good thing that Skyborn has some substance.

Augments are a good example of a system well implemented. Claret and her trusty multi-purpose wrench enable you to add bonuses to nearly any equipment you choose. In fact, basic items for augmenting are very cheap, and there are no risks at all; you're encouraged to experiment until you find the balance you're looking for. You'll even pick up powerful augments that you can apply anytime.

Crafting, alternately, is so far wholly pointless. While you can make any weapon or armour you can buy, that's also the main problem. There's no point when everything is so affordable. It's also too easy to waste valuable materials with guesswork and no way of pre-planning your use of them. It's optional, and crafting materials are often better used as augmentations.

How about graphics? RPG Maker games have a penchant for beautiful, high-resolution character art, but Skyborn's enemy portraiture varies in detail significantly. Everyone is easy on the eyes and well-designed, even the horrifically scarred Chaska. The things that Skyborn does well are marred by everything that doesn't get right.

Skyborn delivers a fast-paced storyline with lively characters and good writing. The combat is solid, and the music is competent, if forgettable. It's a relatively small investment and is easy to learn. The cast is likable and smartly written. Ordinary items like "red delicious" apples are a nice touch.

Combat is dreadfully simple and strategically facile. RPG Maker makes combat annoying to initiate at times. Map design, while inventive, rewards you with experience for little effort, lessening the overall challenge. Music is overly laden with reverb and needs distinctive, memorable melodies. Crafting could be more useful.

Now that Dragon Dancing has made its series available in a bundle, it's worth picking up all four RPGs in this series. This game will run on anything Steam will; its system requirements are very low. If you hesitated, now is the time to snap up this one.

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Community review by hastypixels (October 23, 2016) Wisdom comes from effort and mistakes.