I’ve Got No Roots on Me
Venture beyond the village walls and into the unknown in the point-and-click puzzle adventure Uproot from indie developer, Strongshell Software. Uproot tells the tale of Ygg the mandrake as he journeys into the dangerous wilderness to retrieve his necklace and purple leaf. Along the way, he’ll learn the value of helping others, the harsh reality of the outside world and maybe even solve his father’s disappearance.
Uproot opens with Ygg getting ready for his final day of school. A tutorial greets players, prompting them to gather a list of items by tapping around the room. After collecting Ygg’s possessions, players must organize them on a blanket, so that they all fit neatly. After completing the tutorial, players can speak with Ygg’s mother, before heading off for his final exam. Ygg’s mother instructs him to go directly to the Headmaster. As Ygg leaves home, a giant caterpillar strikes him down, steals his crescent moon necklace and escapes through the town’s gate. Determined to retrieve his prized possession, Ygg sets off to complete his final exam and earn his passport to the world.
Quests Aplenty
The Headmaster tells Ygg that his final exam requires him to complete a glossary of leaves. Each of the four leaves represents a virtue based on their color. To obtain the leaves of virtue, players must complete quests by helping villagers in need. You can view unlocked quests at any time by tapping the journal in the upper left corner of the screen. The journal serves to provide a general sense of direction while navigating the story. It also offers helpful hints, revealing specific items players need to discover. To locate these items, players must employ a keen eye and tap around the map. Villagers will also gift items as rewards from mini games or quests, so players should interact with everyone they see.
For a change of pace, Uproot’s various puzzle games offer a welcomed break from the dialogue and exploration throughout the game. Fans of the puzzle/adventure game genre will delight in the variety of puzzles featured in Uproot. No two puzzles are alike. Players can expect a connect 4 mini game, a carnival-style bottle game and a plethora of other logic puzzle games. Some of the logic puzzles skew a bit difficult, and could benefit from having clearer directions, as most require players to ascertain the game’s objectives. Sometimes I struggled with determining how the puzzle operated or what was required to solve it. Should players find themselves stumped like myself, the progress-aware hint system provides some relief. However, while the hint system is helpful, it presents the puzzle’s final solution, not a general nudge. As someone who enjoys the act of solving, I found this disappointing as a nudge would’ve usually sufficed.
Into the Woods
After finding the leaves, the Headmaster presents Ygg with his pass to the wilderness beyond the gate. Ygg ventures out, tracking the caterpillar to the top of a tree. He manages to retrieve his necklace only to fall into the bushes in front of the Rat King’s guards. They seize Ygg, steal the purple leaf from atop his head and throw him into jail. At this point, the free trial ends, and players must purchase the game for $2.99 to continue.
Past this point, the game shifts to a much darker tone. The environment feels seedy, given how dark and rundown many of the locations appear. Ygg often finds himself in danger or confronted by suspicious-looking characters. However, the naïve little mandrake learns that kindness wins the day as he finds allies in unsuspecting sources. While this theme feels a bit contextually unrealistic, I appreciate the wholesome intention behind it. Even with the continual assistance from unexpected allies, the developers still manage to keep an air of danger and unease throughout Uproot. I genuinely felt that betrayal was just a puzzle away, which made moments where allies supported my journey all the more heartening.
All’s Well
One of the things I appreciate most about Uproot is that nothing goes to waste. There are no frills to the offline game; no collectibles to discover or frivolous plot points. All of the characters and their stories serve to move the plot forward or flesh out the world. Normally, a premium game with no extras would disappoint me, but not so with Uproot. Ygg’s story is genuinely interesting and engaging.
I also appreciated the voiceovers for all of the dialogue, which seems unheard of for an indie mobile game. While the diction of certain phrases bordered on the unnatural strangeness of Siri, each voice was distinct and fit each character. As a result, I excused the idiosyncrasies, given that these fantasy characters could theoretically speak that way.
While largely satisfied by Uproot, I had only one other minor qualm—the ending. While I won’t spoil it, I will say that the conclusion feels a tad ambiguous. As the screen faded, my one thought was, ‘oh, that’s it?’ Perhaps my expectations clouded my judgement, but I would have preferred a more definite, more satisfying ending. That said, less picky players will likely find the ending rewarding. Players willing to excuse Uproot’s few minor flaws will have plenty of fun with its lush fantasy world and trove of puzzles. After all, I certainly did.
