Little Orpheus Explained

Little Orpheus
Developer:The Chinese Room
Genre:Adventure, platform
Engine:Unity
Modes:Single-player
Publisher:Sumo Digital
Secret Mode (PC, console)
Composer:Jim Fowler
Jessica Curry
Director:Dan Pinchbeck

Little Orpheus is a 2020 adventure-platform game developed by The Chinese Room and published by Sumo Digital. The game was released on Apple Arcade on 12 June 2020 for iOS, macOS, and tvOS. Ports for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S were released by subsidiary label Secret Mode on 13 September 2022.

Gameplay

The game is a 2.5D adventure platform game, featuring cinematic platforming and environmental storytelling.

Development and release

The game was first shown in an Apple Arcade showcase at the Apple Event on 25 March 2019. The company's Twitter account posted a teaser with a cryptic message in the form of a telegram.[1] [2] Creative Europe had published the application of successful grants in August 2017, with a project "Little Orpheus" being awarded a maximum of grant €72 339 with 50% co-funding.[3]

Creative Director Dan Pinchbeck said the game's intent was described as applying the studios "arthouse background to traditional genres moving forward" and with a world filled with ridiculous "Soviet space technology, Russian mythology, and ancient creatures", like a homage to Ray Harryhausen movies.[4]

The game was released on Apple Arcade on 12 June 2020. A new game plus mode was released on 9 October 2020.[5] An update added episode 9 on 15 January 2021.[6] The title was set to release on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 1 March 2022 but was delayed due to its Soviet themes in light of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[7] The game launched on 13 September 2022.[8]

Reception

Critical reception

Little Orpheus received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Matt Gardner of Forbes gave the game a mixed review, praising its story but criticizing its gameplay: "Little Orpheus over-relies its strongest assets–great voice acting, an intriguing script, beautiful art, and engaging gameplay–and doesn’t hit these highs with its core gameplay."[9] Nintendo Lifes Lowell Bell criticized the narration of the game: "there’s no narrative payoff here, no greater meaning or memorable conclusion that sticks with you".[10]

Accolades

Develop awarded it Best Mobile Game at the Star Awards in 2021.[11] [12] Pocket Gamer awarded it Best Platformer Game in 2021.[13]

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Apple Design AwardsJune 10, 2021Best Game: Delight and FunLittle Orpheus[14]
Best Game: Visuals and Graphics
D.I.C.E AwardsApril 22, 2021Mobile Game of the YearLittle Orpheus[15]
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music CompositionJessica Curry, Jim Fowler
TIGA AwardsNovember 24, 2020Best Casual GameLittle Orpheus[16]
Best Visual Game
Best Action and Adventure Game
Ivor Novello AwardsSeptember 21, 2021Best Original Videogame ScoreJessica Curry, Jim Fowler[17]
Golden Joystick AwardsNovember 24, 2020Best Mobile GameLittle Orpheus[18]
The Game Audio Network Guild AwardsApril 28, 2021Best New Original IP - AudioLittle Orpheus[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leonard. Matt. Little Orpheus announced by The Chinese Room. 25 March 2019. GameRevolution. 24 September 2022. 4 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404213332/https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/515263-little-orpheus-announced-the-chinese-room. live.
  2. Web site: Bendle. Stewart. Little Orpheus Announced For New Apple Game Streaming Service.. 26 March 2019. GGS Gamer. 24 September 2022. 3 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190403235601/http://www.ggsgamer.com/2019/03/26/little-orpheus-announced-for-new-apple-game-streaming-service/. live.
  3. Web site: Purchese. Robert. 24 August 2017. Creative Europe spills beans on games including The Chinese Room's Little Orpheus. Eurogamer. 24 September 2022. 5 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220705001742/https://www.eurogamer.net/everybodys-gone-to-the-rapture-devs-new-game-appears-to-be-called-little-orpheus. live.
  4. Horti. Samuel. 9 December 2019. Everybody's Gone: Dan Pinchbeck on Rebuilding The Chinese Room. 24 September 2022. Electronic Gaming Monthly. EGM Media, LLC.
  5. Web site: Gregson-Wood. Stephen. Little Orpheus' first major update introduces a New Game Plus mode alongside collectables and costumes. 9 October 2020. 24 September 2022. Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. 28 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220928205852/https://www.pocketgamer.com/little-orpheus/little-orpheus-first-major-update-introduces-a-new-game-plus-mode-alongside-coll/. live.
  6. Web site: Nelson. Jared. Episode Nine of The Chinese Room's 'Little Orpheus' on Apple Arcade Coming Tomorrow. TouchArcade. 14 January 2021. 24 September 2022. 4 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404213333/https://toucharcade.com/2021/01/14/little-orpheus-episode-nine-release-date/. live.
  7. Web site: Knoop . Joseph . 2022-03-01 . Platformer Little Orpheus Delayed Indefinitely on PC and Console Due to Soviet Storyline . 2023-12-03 . IGN . en.
  8. Web site: Romano. Sal. 16 August 2022. Little Orpheus for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC launches September 13. 24 September 2022. Gematsu. 31 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220831100100/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/08/little-orpheus-for-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc-launches-september-13. live.
  9. Web site: Gardner . Matt . 'Little Orpheus' Review: Great Ingredients But Far From Filling . 2022-09-16 . Forbes . en . 15 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220915045158/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2022/02/28/little-orpheus-review-spinning-a-soviet-yarn/ . live .
  10. Web site: Bell . Lowell . 2022-09-12 . Review: Little Orpheus – A Whimsical Tale That Left Us Wanting . 2022-09-16 . Nintendo Life . en-GB . 13 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220913125719/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/little-orpheus . live .
  11. News: Wallace . Chris . 2021-09-03 . Develop:Star Awards 2021 Shortlist Announced . en . MCV . live . 2022-06-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230721220411/https://mcvuk.com/business-news/developstar-awards-2021-shortlist-announced/ . 21 July 2023 . 1469-4832.
  12. Web site: 28 October 2021 . Develop:Star Awards 2021 Winners Announced . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220106133013/https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/bastion-uk/pressreleases/develop-star-awards-2021-winners-announced-3139289 . 6 January 2022 . 2022-01-06 . Mynewsdesk . en.
  13. Web site: Staff . PocketGamer biz . 16 March 2021 . Revealed: All the winners at the Pocket Gamer Awards 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220106133006/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/76062/revealed-all-the-winners-at-the-pocket-gamer-awards-2021/ . 6 January 2022 . 2022-12-05 . pocketgamer.biz.
  14. Web site: WWDC 2021: 'Little Orpheus', 'Bird Alone', 'Genshin Impact', 'Alba: A Wildlife Adventure', 'League of Legend: Wild Rift', and More Win Apple Design Awards – TouchArcade . 11 June 2021 . 2022-06-04 . en-US . 4 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220604102538/https://toucharcade.com/2021/06/11/apple-design-awards-2021-winners-wwdc-full-list-genshin-impact-wild-rift-little-orpheus-alba-apple-arcade/ . live .
  15. Web site: Beresford. Trilby. 2021-04-22. D.I.C.E. Awards: Indie Game 'Hades' Takes Top Honors. 2022-01-06. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US. 6 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106133006/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/d-i-c-e-awards-indie-game-hades-takes-top-honors-4167615/. live.
  16. Web site: 2020 Winners. 2022-01-06. TIGA. en-GB. 29 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211229193354/https://tiga.org/awards/2020-winners. live.
  17. Web site: 2021-09-22. Gareth Coker wins Ivor Novello award for 'Ori And The Will Of The Wisps' score. 2022-01-06. NME. en-GB. 6 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106133007/https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/gareth-coker-wins-ivor-novello-award-for-ori-and-the-will-of-the-wisps-score-3052013. live.
  18. Web site: Heather Wald. 2020-11-24. Lego Builder's Journey wins Mobile Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2020. 2022-01-06. gamesradar. en. 24 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221024005921/https://www.gamesradar.com/lego-builders-journey-wins-mobile-game-of-the-year-at-the-golden-joystick-awards-2020/. live.
  19. Web site: 2021-03-19. Game Audio Network Guild Awards Nominees Announced. 2022-01-06. Game Rant. en-US. 6 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106133038/https://gamerant.com/game-audio-network-guild-awards-2021-nominees/. live.

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