Stop-motion has always appealed to me - not just the works of Aardman or the Brothers Quay, but undiscovered gems - especially when it's in gaming. Judero might not be so undiscovered as it has gained attention from bigger outlets, but please give this the time of day as it's wonderful.
You play as the titular Celt who explores the wilderness, helping village folk fight back an evil that creeps in off the horizon. Putting aside the build-up from screenshots and animations shared on X, seeing it in action is impressive, and I'd be amazed if you've played anything like it. No, ClayFighter doesn't count, though you're on the right track (ish) with Floogen.
Judero, on the surface, is He-Man meets Robot Chicken, though instead of being a parody and a complete piss-take, it's thoughtful, heartwarming and a distraction to the outside world. Accompanied by the cutest lil' companion, you head into the village only to be attacked by a mutant centipede called Haggis. When in doubt, attack.
Judero Demo
As a hack and slash, tapping away at the left mouse button will unleash a flurry of slaps with a rudimentary spear to release a bundle of hearts and coins upon victory. However, by clicking the right button by mistake (though part of its design), Judero becomes a spirit traveller and can possess lesser beings, like in Project Tower, and attack other enemies or reach things our hero can't.
Once learning the controls and the Dark Souls-like bonfire save points, we head into the village for some sidequests like rescuing a baby from spiders (then throwing it on a switch to gain some loot), battling a fearsome pair, but more importantly, taking in the visual treat that this game truly is.
Expecting to be blown away by the visual representation, which, of course, I was, the soundtrack to Tahla & Jack's Scottish folklore adventure was sublime and unexpected. Like A Highland Song before it, the score is remarkable and fits the experience perfectly.
After finishing the Judero demo, I had that itch to find out more and was pleased to see a bonus video with a behind-the-scenes insight into the making of the game, and a link to the soundtrack. This won't be shared here; you should download the demo yourself. Regardless, the video was an inspirational highlight, especially if you're a recovering perfectionist like myself. If it's a case of 'getting on with it' and producing something like Judero, we should all take note and get creating. It's brilliant.
Judero is out on the 16th of September 2024 via Steam.
