Felix the Reaper: Difference between revisions

'''''Felix the Reaper''''' is a 2019 puzzle game developed by Kong Orange and published by [[Daedalic Entertainment]]. Players assume the role of Felix, a masked [[grim reaper|reaper]] within the Ministry of [[Death]]. In each of the game's [[level (video games)|levels]], players must navigate player character Felix through a series of spatial puzzles without coming into contact with the light of the sun, which requires players to manipulate the environment using various gameplay mechanics to provide pathways for Felix to reach the end of the level and fulfill his duties. Felix's goal in each scenario is to instigate deadly and often contrived accidents to claim a non-player character's life using elements within the level's environments.

''Felix the Reaper'' is a 3D puzzle game divided into five chapters, with each chapter containing up to six levels. Players assume the role of Felix, a masked [[grim reaper|reaper]] within the Ministry of [[Death]]. Each level involves a scenario where Felix must instigate a set of circumstances that ultimately leads to the death of a non-player character in a gruesome, yet comical, manner as pre-ordained by the Ministry of Death.<ref name="Kotaku"/> The levels are played out on floating landmasses which are segmented into tiled blocks arranged in grids, and littered with people, animals and various objects like trees, barrels and platforms.<ref name="Kotaku"/> Aside from serving as obstacles, they cast shadows over the game world based on the direction of the sun in the sky, which is an important mechanic as Felix must remain in the shadows in order to reach the conclusion of each level.<ref name="Kotaku"/> Players may manipulate the angle or placement of the generated shadows through elements like switches, then control the sun to shift shadows cast throughout the level, which then creates the necessary pathways for Felix to traverse the terrain.<ref name="Kotaku"/> Felix can sometimes pick up objects, people, and animals which could cast shadow pathways for him. Players may also clear optional objectives, such as a completing a level under a set number of moves.<ref name="Kotaku"/>

Developed by Kong Orange, a Danish independent studio with staff members who have worked as historians, ''Felix the Reaper'' is their first large-scale original title.<ref name="Engadget"/> Kong Orange was formed in 2012, and its team members began actively worked on Felix the Reaper since 2016.<ref name="Engadget"/> The game has undergone a number of internal iterations, including one that emulated the gameplay of the [[Hitman (franchise)|''Hitman'' seriesvideo game franchise]].<ref name="Engadget"/> Felix's red tie and suit is a subtle reference to series protagonist [[Agent 47]].<ref name="Engadget"/> Authenticity is important for the developers, who worked with professional dancers to properly create Felix's dance moves, and hired nine musicians to work on the soundtrack.<ref name="Engadget"/>

The design aesthetic of ''Felix the Reaper'' explores the concept of the [[DeathPersonifications (personification)of death|personification of Death]], specifically the ''[[Danse Macabre]]'' concept, an art style from the Late Middle Ages in Europe that portrays skeletal figures engaged in dancing.<ref name="Engadget"/> Representations of death are also depicted to be skulking in the shadows.<ref name="Engadget"/> These aspects influenced the design of the Felix character, such as his aversion towards sunlight and the shade-based gameplay mechanic at the core of the game.<ref name="Engadget"/> An important theme concerning Felix the Reaper is love, specifically a theme of love that cannot be reciprocated.<ref name="VB"/> Felix is constantly driven by an urge to dance because he has fallen deeply in love with another being, personified as the Maiden, who works at the Ministry of Life.<ref name="VB"/> Because of the nature of their respective work, thematically Felix and the Maiden are never supposed to meet, but he is convinced that she will fall in love with his dancing once they finally meet.<ref name=VB>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/12/05/felix-the-reaper-shows-off-deaths-killer-dance-moves/|title=Felix the Reaper shows off death’sdeath's killer dance moves|author=Stephanie Chan|date=December 5, 2017 |website=[[VentureBeat]] |access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> The game's narrator, who provides instructions to Felix and comments on his actions throughout each level, is voiced by English actor [[Patrick Stewart]].

''Felix the Reaper'' began production as a Microsoft Windows PC title, though it was ported for same-day release for [[macOS]] as well as multiple video game console platforms: [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]], and the [[Nintendo Switch]].<ref name="Engadget">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018-08-25-felix-the-reaper-indie-death-puzzle-game-interview.html|title='Felix the Reaper' puts a playful spin on the danse macabre|publisher=Engadget|author=Jess Conditt|date=August 25, 2018|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> After it was released on all PC and console platforms on October 17, 2019, a mobile version of ''Felix the Reaper'' was released on the [[Apple Store]] for iOS the following year on July 15, 2020.<ref name="toucharcade_release">{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2020/01/10/felix-the-reaper-puzzle-game-ios-beta-sign-ups-shadow-puzzler/ |title=Challenging Puzzler ‘Felix'Felix The Reaper’Reaper' Is Coming to iOS after Debuting on PC and Consoles a Few Months Ago |last= Madnani |first= Mikhail|date=January 10, 2020|website=[[TouchArcade]] |accessdate=October 6, 2021}}</ref>

| MC = (PC) 71/100<ref name="MCPC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/felix-the-reaper/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Felix the Reaper for PC Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref><br>(NS) 67/100<ref name="MCNS">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/felix-the-reaper/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|title=Felix the Reaper for Nintendo Switch Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref><br>(XONE) 69/100<ref name="MCXONE">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/felix-the-reaper/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one|title= Felix the Reaper for Xbox One Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref><br>(iOS) 67/100<ref name="ios">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/felix-the-reaper/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|title=Felix the Reaper|publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref>

| PG = 6/10 <ref name=PG>{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/083622/felix-the-reaper-on-ios-review-lots-of-love-not-enough-game/ |title=Felix The Reaper review - "Lots of love, not enough game" |last=Dellosa |first= Catherine |date=July 24, 2020|access-date=October 6, 2021|publisher=PocketgamerPocket Gamer }}</ref>

According to the review aggregator [[Metacritic]], ''Felix the Reaper'' has received average or mixed reviews following its 2019 multi-platform release. The majority of critics praised the game's visual design, humor, character themes, and Patrick Stewart's performance as its narrator, but were divided with regards to its gameplay design. Adam Beck from ''Hardcore Gamer'' called ''Felix the Reaper'' one of the best puzzle games of 2019 and highlighted among other qualities it visual design, world building, music and Felix's appearance. Beck found the gameplay to be "highly challenging" but enjoyable and rewarding.<ref name="HCG" /> The Italian edition ''IGN'' noted that while the style and gameplay of ''Felix the Reaper'' do not intersect with each other, the game is still considered to be a solid effort by its developers.<ref name="IGN"/> Other sources were more critical of the game's perceived flaws. ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' considered the game "competent but insufficient and disparate", and that its ideas felt like it was stripped back from a broader original vision, as they did not feel properly fleshed out or meaningful linked.<ref name="Edge"/> ''GameSpot'' insisted that "no amount of visual charm or dark humor in its violent deaths" makes committing to the game worthwhile, as the "thoroughly enticing setting and premise" is undermined by mediocre and misguided puzzle mechanics that fail to build on the game's foundations in any meaningful way.<ref name="GSpot"/>

The game's 2020 mobile port also met with a mixed reception. James Wyndcliffe from ''TouchArcade'' was more positive in its assessment, calling ''Felix the Reaper'' a labour of love that delivered adequately on all three of its central promises, namely its dark comedy, interesting shadow puzzles, and Felix's appealing dance moves.<ref name="toucharcade_review"/> He acknowledged that the game has "rough patches" and its strengths are not "evenly distributed", but took the view that they are not insurmountable issues that detracts from the overall experience. On the other hand, Catherine Ng Dellosa from ''PocketGamerPocket Gamer'' opined that the developers provided a "rich, quirky, and tragically romantic world" for players to explore, but failed to create a more absorbing and compelling video game experience in ''Felix the Reaper''.<ref name=PG/>

[[Category:FictionVideo games about the afterlife]]

[[Category:Indie video games]]