Review Quench (Nintendo Switch)

Thanks to Axon Interactive for the review code

Let’s go on a pilgrimage

Quench on the Nintendo Switch is a story driven side scrolling puzzle game set in a paper-craft style world. You are introduced to a herd of elephants who’s leader is known as Shaman. Just like many other animals the herd must make their once in a lifetime pilgrimage. This means they must walk from the Elder Tree in the West to offer gifts to the Elder Tree in the East.

As things never go smoothly in stories there is a problem: the Elder Tree has only sprouted one fruit. Is this a bad omen for the animals? As the fruit drops from the tree it transforms in to a large white bird somewhat like a Stork. Meet Shepherd, who processes a great power, a power to change the weather in the environment around the herd. In this way it aids them by removing obstacles in their way on their pilgrimage to the Eastern Elder Tree. And you are the one controlling Shepherd.

The tools Shepherd has to help

One at a time, you are shown how to use the powers you have as you go through the first level. You learn how to use Rain to grow plants and turn dry and dusty areas into green and lush Groves for the elephants to travel through and rest at. Rain will also heal the herd and put out any fires in the elephants’ path. Groves are important to find, as they give you powers after they are revived. The power you receive is shown by the marking on the Sigil Stones that sit in a Grove.

Of course rain isn’t the only power you have, wind, quake and lighting also come in to play. Wind is used to remove sand that has spread across the animals path. This is important, as sand can drain the herds health and slow their movement. Lightning will burn brambles away, can also zap enemies and revive a member of the herd. Quake will remove boulders that are blocking a path and slows down approaching enemies.

Multitasking for Shepherd

As the herd moves from one Grove (checkpoint) to another, you scroll across the map to decide which is the best path for the herd to traverse safely and meanwhile, remove any obstacles in their way. Once you have cleared a path you can start the herd moving along keeping an eye out for any other threats that may appear, like smoke beasts which are an infected dark version of animals that attack the herd on sight.

Sometimes there is more than one herd of animals that need your help, so it’s challenging to work out which is the best path for the herds to safely cross. It’s your choice how to use your limited amount of powers wisely to clear away the sand or remove the boulders and other obstacles such as flood and fire. The levels are not timed and there are no penalties for failing other than restarting even if you lose part of the herd you can still finish the level with only one animal.

The Good and the Bad

Quench is a relaxing game with fitting music and sound effects. The paper-craft style of graphics is pleasant to look at most of the time. You can control the game using the Joy-Cons or through the very intuitive touchscreen controls. I preferred the touchscreen which is great for quickly picking a power to stop an approaching enemy in their tracks.

Unfortunately Quench suffers from frame rate issues particularly when you scroll across the map, which resulted in making the game feel slow and clunky and made the paper-craft graphics distorted.

Conclusion

The frame rate issues are a pity as I enjoyed the idea of Quench. Using the weather based powers to help guide the animals and the story of overcoming differences to restore the world are a great idea. However, the game is let down by the frame rate issues it suffers from.

This didn’t make for the enjoyable gaming experience that should have been. If an update is made to remedy the frame rate problems, I would go for an I like it. For now, it results in a score of…..Not Sure!