Introduction

In a world where the evil mage steals seasonal crystals and turns winter into summer, it’s up to Aryelle—aka Ary—an underdog hero in disguise (cue dramatic music) to save the day and figure out why her family has the worst luck ever. Enter the world of *Ary and the Secret of Seasons*, a beautifully crafted indie game reminiscent of a Nintendo classic but that also begs the question: who thought substituting summer with winter was a good idea? It’s like telling a penguin to wear a Hawaiian shirt.

Gameplay

Get ready to jump, slide, freeze, and hit things in *Ary and the Secret of Seasons*, where you play a young girl on a blockbuster mission! Ary’s journey takes her through the glorious land of Valdi, which, let's be real, looks like someone threw together the four seasons in a blender. Your main task? Collect light cores, fend off gigantic golems, and battle the whims of a seriously grumpy evil mage. The controls are reminiscent of games like The Legend of Zelda, but without the need to find your pants before you go on an adventure. You’ll be hopping between regions, using orbs to change the environment, and doing things that would impress any nature-spirit or tree-hugger. Oh, and brace yourself for a few (okay, many) brain-teasing puzzles that could entertain a sentient rock.

Graphics

*Ary and the Secret of Seasons* is splendidly vibrant, like a kaleidoscope exploded and splashed color across your screen. The character design strikes you as charming without being too cutesy, but don't be fooled; Ary packs a punch (quite literally, she can throw icy snowballs), and the world around her is just as diverse as your high school's lunch menu. Some of the animations may feel a little rough around the edges—earlier than expected glitches might as well come with a complimentary 'Oops!' sticker—but overall, it’s a good-looking game that holds its own on the Switch.

Conclusion

So, is *Ary and the Secret of Seasons* worth your time, or should it be banished to the depths of your backlog? If you enjoy colorful platformers with a sprinkling of puzzles and a decent story about a girl trying to save her brother while battling time paradoxes (hey, that’s a Tuesday for some people), then this might just be your cup of tea – or coffee, depending on your caffeine preference. Despite its flaws and a couple of gameplay hiccups, it earns a solid 6/10. Just know that if you think about going to a winter resort after playing this, you might be reconsidering those Hawaiian shirts for a good pair of snow boots instead!

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