Santa Ragione is a studio that is based in Milan, Italy. It was created by two friends, Pietro Righi Riva and Nicolo Tedeschi back in 2010. Their latest project Fotonica, is now available in the Google Play Store. We have had our eyes on this game for some time, since it was released on iOS last year. If you want to bypass the review, here’s the short version, hit the download button!
What I love about video game design is that, when you least expect it, someone takes a simple concept and creates something that is stunning. FOTONICA is that game. Created with an uncharacteristically simple art style, no more than wire-frame environments, Santa Ragione has taken what is simple, but not simplistic, and elevated it to a game that must be experienced. If you enjoy endless running games or platforming games, then FOTONICA is the game that you are looking for.
“FOTONICA is a first-person game about running, jumping, sense of speed, and discovery. The key is timing, the goal is exploring and traveling flawlessly through the environment. The setting is an abstract-mainly duotone – outlined world, with a look reminiscent of geometrical abstractions and the 3D low-poly gaming era. “ – Santa Ragione
When I first came across the game a year ago, my thoughts were, “This looks pretty cool!.” The game has received several awards from different media outlets. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the game just to try it out. What can I say, I am a fan of endless runners and platforming games. What makes FOTONICA a step above that, is the level of immersion that is obtained when playing the game. The menus, much like the art in the game is streamlined. It took me a few moments to figure out where to even start. As mentioned by Santa Ragione in the description, the game is about discovery, and it appears that theme is permeated throughout the project.
The controls in the game are easily used. You depress the screen to keep your character running. From time to time you will see his or her hands from the sides of the screen. As you are moving forward, there will be times where you will have to jump to another platform. Releasing your finger from the screen causes your character to jump. After you jump, if you hold/touch in mid-air, you will dive and land. The sense of speed and the idea that you are floating as you fall, works well. Based on the rapidly moving environments, you actually feel like you are running. While playing, I thought initially, that this would be a great VR game, but thought better of it. Primarily because you would have to be in amazing shape to keep up with this game, because jumping without running wouldn’t be that much fun at all. It would be a great workout program though.
There are multiple levels to explore. As you are running through the environments, there are fuchsia colored dots that appear that you must grab. That is part of the exploration in the game. Figuring out the timing and just how best to get to those dots. Though there isn’t a lot of color in the game, but when the splashes of color appear, you notice them. You never have to swipe left or right with this runner. It always straight ahead to your destination, and that is a good thing. Nothing to take your focus off trying to get to the high score, which is the purpose of the game. How far can you run?
FOTONICA features:
– 7 levels to explore and master.
– Plus 3 different endless levels to compete for high-scores.
– Two-player split-screen multiplayer mode on the same device.
– 18 Achievements to unlock, plus game stats.
– Online rankings
– Beautiful, smooth, and unique vector-style graphics.
– Electronic music by Michael Manning, Nicolo Sala, and legendary composer Baiyon.
– 2 difficulty settings to let you play even faster version of FOTONICA.
– Play in landscape or portrait mode.
– No ads, no in-app purchases.
– Record and share replays of your best runs.
Fotonica allows you to play the game multiple ways, which increases the fun and longevity of the game. You can play single-player, multiplayer on the same device, or compete against one another by seeing who gets the best run out of three tries. You can play the game in landscape or portrait mode. It is impressive, because the game works well in both modes. You can play the arcade version or the endless version. There is a lot to experience with this game. Your score is established by how far you run, how many dots you obtain and how long you stay in a “golden” type mode that switches up the color of the atmosphere, after you have traveled so far and collected a certain number of dots.
The game is integrated with Google Game Play Services. There are 18 achievements to unlock and leaderboards to ascend. The game’s launch price is $.99 Following the launch period, the game will go up to $2.99, which is the current price for the iOS version. The game does not have any ads or in-app purchases. If you want to play the game on PC as well, it is available through Steam for $9.99.
If you can’t tell by the review, my suggestion is to download the game if you want to experience something a bit different, fun and well-implemented. The music in the game is perfect. Three different composers have put together some really good electronic music that balances out the game play. Playing with headphones is a delight. Every now and then you hear slight sighs, or grunts as the jumps are made. It is that level of detail that takes FOTONICA beyond the standard runner. Santa Ragione hits the ground running by delivering an enjoyable game. The game is one to keep on your device.
Santa Ragione mentioned to us that it took a lot longer than expected to port the game to Android. I am glad that they persevered, because now Android gamers have a top new running game to experience.
