Arise: A Simple Story
{{Short description|2019 video game}}
{{Lead too short |date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Arise: A Simple Story
| image = Arise A Simple Story cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| developer = Piccolo Studio
| publisher = {{plainlist|
- Untold Tales
- Techland
}}
| designer =
| programmer =
| artist =
| composer =
| series =
| engine = Unreal Engine 4{{cite web|url=https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/developer-interviews/arise-a-simple-story-uses-its-art-direction-to-tie-its-story-and-gameplay-together|title=Arise: A Simple Story uses its art direction to tie its story and gameplay together|last=Thang|first=Jimmy|work=UnrealEngine.com|date=2020-03-19|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2020-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331104759/https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/developer-interviews/arise-a-simple-story-uses-its-art-direction-to-tie-its-story-and-gameplay-together|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Booth |first1=Anthony |title=Arise: A Simple Story Reveals Switch Exclusive Additions In New Trailer |url=https://screenrant.com/arise-simple-story-switch-exclusive-additions-new-trailer/ |website=ScreenRant |access-date=3 July 2024 |language=en |date=23 April 2022}}
| platforms = {{plainlist|
}}
| released = PS4, Windows, Xbox One
December 3, 2019
Nintendo Switch
April 28, 2022
| genre = Puzzle-platform
| modes = Single-player
}}
Arise: A Simple Story is a puzzle-platform game developed by Piccolo Studio and published by Untold Tales and Techland. Players guide a recently deceased man through the afterlife as he relives memories of his life.
Plot
After an older tribesman dies and is placed on a funeral pyre, he relives his memories in the afterlife. Players guide him through various puzzles representing his good and bad memories.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2019/12/2/20987127/arise-simple-story-review-xbox-one-ps4-windows-pc-piccolo|title=Arise: A Simple Story is frustrating, but worth the journey|last=Campbell|first=Colin|work=Polygon|date=2019-12-02|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2023-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320234805/https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2019/12/2/20987127/arise-simple-story-review-xbox-one-ps4-windows-pc-piccolo|url-status=live}}
Development
The game's art style was influenced by Studio Ghibli and early Disney animated films, especially Fantasia. The artists used Clint Eastwood's minimalist acting as a model for their character and attempted to convey as much emotion as possible through body language. The puzzles were designed to be reminiscent of the protagonist's mental state and age. When reliving youth-oriented memories, the puzzles were made more active and exciting, while memories from older age took into account the challenges of performing ordinary tasks. Similarly, the art style is vivid during good memories and bleak during bad memories.
It was released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on December 3, 2019. The Nintendo Switch version was released on April 28, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/arise-a-simple-story-launches-28th-april-on-switch-with-exclusive-features|title=Arise: A Simple Story Launches 28th April On Switch With Exclusive Features|last=Hagues|first=Alana|work=Nintendo Life|date=2022-04-22|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2023-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320234811/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/04/arise-a-simple-story-launches-28th-april-on-switch-with-exclusive-features|url-status=live}} The game sold well in its first week on the Switch store. The publisher, Untold Tales, attributed this to positive reviews from professional reviewers, being featured on Nintendo's official social media, opening with a discount, and positive word of mouth from players, who made connections between Arise and other games that sold well.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/blogs/a-switch-game-discovery-success-tell-us-more-|title=A Switch game discovery success? Tell us more...|last=Carless|first=Simon|authorlink=Simon Carless|work=Game Developer|date=2022-05-11|accessdate=2023-04-12|archive-date=2023-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329223935/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/blogs/a-switch-game-discovery-success-tell-us-more-|url-status=live}}
Reception
Arise: A Simple Story received positive reviews on Metacritic.{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/arise-a-simple-story/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Arise: A Simple Story (PC)|work=Metacritic|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2019-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223010907/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/arise-a-simple-story|url-status=live}}
|2={{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/arise-a-simple-story/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Arise: A Simple Story (PS4)|work=Metacritic|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2020-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614095702/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/arise-a-simple-story|url-status=live}}
|3={{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/arise-a-simple-story/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|title=Arise: A Simple Story – Definitive Edition (Switch)|work=Metacritic|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2022-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007034505/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/arise-a-simple-story---definitive-edition|url-status=live}}
|4={{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/arise-a-simple-story/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one|title=Arise: A Simple Story (XB1)|work=Metacritic|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2020-08-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826071803/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/arise-a-simple-story|url-status=live}}
}} Reviewing the Xbox One version, Polygon and Game Informer criticized the platform puzzles as frustrating, though they both praised the game. Matt Miller wrote for Game Informer, "Even with some stumbles, Arise is a game that knows what it wants to communicate, and does so with delicacy and sensitivity."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/arise-a-simple-story/arise-a-simple-story-review-beauty-in-heartbreak|title=Arise: A Simple Story Review|last=Miller|first=Matt|magazine=Game Informer|date=2019-12-10|access-date=2023-03-20|archive-date=2020-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222025302/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/arise-a-simple-story/arise-a-simple-story-review-beauty-in-heartbreak|url-status=live}} Liam Croft of Push Square called the PlayStation 4 version "an experience that delights every sense imaginable".{{cite web|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/arise_a_simple_story|title=Arise: A Simple Story Review (PS4)|last=Croft|first=Liam|work=Push Square|date=2019-12-02|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2023-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324152101/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/arise_a_simple_story|url-status=live}} Will Aickman reviewed the Windows version for Adventure Gamers and wrote, "A few presentation issues aside, it’s a moving, thought-provoking experience that tells a complete story with scarcely a word."{{cite web|url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/40203|title=Review for Arise – A Simple Story|last=Aickman|first=Will|work=Adventure Gamers|date=2020-05-01|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2023-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326174203/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/40203|url-status=live}}
It won best adventure game{{cite web|url=https://winners.webbyawards.com/winners/games/general-games/adventure?years=2&awards=0|title=Adventure Games (2020)|work=Webby Awards|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2023-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321001037/https://winners.webbyawards.com/winners/games/general-games/adventure?years=2&awards=0|url-status=live}} and best art direction{{cite web|url=https://winners.webbyawards.com/winners/games/features/best-art-direction?years=2&awards=0|title=Best Art Direction: Games (2020)|work=Webby Awards|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2023-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321001039/https://winners.webbyawards.com/winners/games/features/best-art-direction?years=2&awards=0|url-status=live}} at the 2020 Webby Awards. Arise received a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition during the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2020&idGameAwardType=94|title=2020 Awards Category Details|work=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|accessdate=2023-03-20|archive-date=2023-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130202303/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2020&idGameAwardType=94|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://arise-game.com/}}
Category:Nintendo Switch games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Unreal Engine 4 games