Howl | Switch Review

Do you want an introduction to a tactical turn-based style of gameplay? Are you already a fan of the style and looking for a quick hit? Readers, do I have a game for you! Our friends at Mi’pu’mi Games have created an artistic gem that is somehow both challenging and soothing at the same time: Howl. 

Howl tells a medieval tale of a young heroine during the time of a great howling plague. Anybody who hears the Howl will turn into an aggressive wolf-like beast who will perpetuate the plague until all who remain have succumbed to this curse. Our heroine has managed to evade the curse because she is deaf. Her brother wasn’t so lucky and she yearns to discover if she can rescue him. She is also a prophet. 

She can plan out her moves in 1 to 6 steps and see if her plan of action will result in success or death. Each level contains a beautiful board-game-like map in a top-down view. Your purpose is to survive until you reach the flag on the opposite end of the map using an unlockable repertoire of upgrades and your own ability to plan. Despite some levels of frustration, the game did not disappoint.

Settings and Gameplay

Let’s say that you’re going to read this review and feel a tug to play this wonderful game. Let’s start you off on the right path by choosing the correct settings. Even Mi’pu’mi Games recommends turning on “Assist Mode.” Assist Mode helps by showing you how each enemy on the screen will react to every step you plan. Each enemy type has a different move list. Some can only move once in reaction to each of your steps. Some can move twice. Some can only attack when right next to you while others can attack from 2 squares away. 

Having this assist mode turned off would have ruined the game for me and turned a 3-5 hour delight into an almost 10 hour study in frustration techniques. That is not to say that having Assist Mode turned off is bad for everyone. If you are itching for an additional challenge, keep it off! 

You start the game with the ability to plan out 3 steps in each round. The game does a fantastic job of explaining the gaming mechanics: How each round works, how the enemies respond, and your attack methods.

At the beginning, you are able to take one of four actions in each step: move, shoot an arrow, force an enemy back, and wait. Each level has a par of how many rounds it should take you to finish. You can quickly earn the ability to plan out more steps in each round and earn more moves to your set of actions through upgrades.

In every  level, you earn confidence and skulls. Confidence is earned by rescuing survivors or by completing the level at the suggested number of rounds. If you go over the suggested number , you lose a confidence point (up to 3) for each additional round it takes you. Skulls are earned by destroying enemies. Confidence is important but skulls are the game’s most vital currency. Skulls unlock paths to upgrades AND the upgrades themselves. Confidence allows you to level up your upgrades so that they are more effective. 

During my gaming, a bug presented itself when I found that the upgrade screen was locked. I would have to back out of that screen and re-enter for it to function properly. It was a slight annoyance with an easy workaround. Bonus points, Mi’pu’mi Games’ active Discord community gave me a quick and easy path to report this bug. The studio’s rep replied  “I’ll bring it to the developers” within minutes.

There are four chapters with approximately 15 maps in each. You can try the quickest path to the chapter finale since you aren’t required to complete every map. However, once I arrived at Chapter 3, I found that I needed to power up my upgrades in order to proceed more successfully. Thankfully, the game permitted a return to previous chapters to complete the maps that I left behind in the spirit of time-saving. I even found an upgrade that I overlooked which was, in my eyes, vital to beating the final boss. Don’t skimp on your upgrades, friends. Get them all!

Atmosphere and Music

Since you are playing a prophet, your adventure is actually being scribed using what the developer calls “living ink.” This means that the prophecy that you are writing will come true once the scribing is complete. When your plan on any given level results in death, the game coyly suggests “A Failed Prophecy?” This living ink artistic style results in a beautiful palette of brown fields, sinister looking enemies, bright red attack stains, and green trees in a foreboding forest or village. I found myself taking a few extra moments of my level pre-plan to appreciate the care and dedication of the developers in creating an atmosphere so engrossing. I also felt some original Legend of Zelda vibes in the game maps. I am curious if others will feel the same way.

The narration was simple but effective. You are pulled into the story of our prophet and her desire to find her brother while hearing small tidbits about each location. This style holds the gameplay in the forefront while keeping the player invested in the story.

The MUSIC! The game is filled with a soothing acoustic guitar. I imagined sitting around a campfire while a parent, grandparent, or loved one plays while telling the stories of their childhood. The longer I played the game, the more I found the music was repeating. But I never once stopped loving it. The music fits perfectly with the game and makes me want to seek out the artist to find other songs or contributions to other games. 

Final Verdict

Howl is a must play for fans of medieval tales or tactical turn-based style gaming. The price was fantastic for the value provided. I did not feel that the game ever overstayed its welcome. I was pleased when I met the final boss. I said out loud, “A perfect length for the price point.” Howl is challenging yet not unruly. It was a joyful and satisfactory way to spend a few weekend hours. I highly recommend it!

To hear me talk more about Howl, be sure to listen to the November 29, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.

This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Howl provided by HomeRun PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PC via Steam.