The unique new game Rhymer combines traditional Scottish ballads with fantastical alien elves to create an immersive experience for the player. Developed by Scottish-born game developer Firdaus Kairan, the game merges traditional themes and music from the country’s folk tradition with a modern alien and fantasy world.
Players take on the role of a Rhymer, which is a kind of bard-like figure, and they are charged with bringing peace and harmony back to the world. The rhyming lyrics of the songs act as the soundtrack to the game and the stories of the various characters are told through sung and spoken words. The world of Rhymer consists of three alien worlds: ice, forest and desert. Each world has its own unique environment and set of challenges.
In each part of the game players must accomplish tasks, often by playing mini-games. These mini-games involve matching up related words, chanting to unlock doors, or playing a song on a musical instrument. As you progress through the game the difficulty increases, as does the reward for completing tasks. The prize for completing each part of the game is an elf. These aliens do not serve any real purpose in the game but they bring an extra charm and layer of complexity to the game.
The visuals of Rhymer are created using cel-shaded animation and hand-painted textures. This gives the game an eye-catching, painterly look which combines elegantly with the traditional Scottish music. The game also makes use of sun-shades which bring a unique feeling of light and colour to the game.
Rhymer is an immersive game that seamlessly combines traditional Scottish ballads and alien elves. It is a game which encourages exploration and creativity, and invites players to explore its unique world in a way which is both approachable and entertaining.