Sony’s most recent State of Play event, will likely go down in history for how the publisher chose to kick off and close proceedings. Thanks to the official unveiling of the Resident Evil 4 Remake, and a new trailer for Final Fantasy 16, it’s fair to say that Sony’s presentation defied recently established expectations. Even though these big hitters have soaked up a lot of attention since, participants like Tunic should not be swept under the rug.
Having wowed PC and Xbox players earlier this year, Sony’s State of Play event provided a glimpse into the future of Tunic. It’s now been revealed that the indie sensation will be making its way to PS4 and PS5 on September 27. With a proven track record already behind it, there are plenty of reasons why PlayStation owners should jump on Tunic when it lands at their feet in a few month’s time.
Tunic Explained
When Tunic launched as a day-one title on Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass back in March, it caught the attention of the platform's subscriber base for several compelling reasons. Stylized as an action-adventure title, it’s worth keeping in mind that Tunic is the creation of indie developer Andrew Shouldice. With assistance from publishing label Finji, Shouldice has remarkably been working hard to bring his passion project to life since 2015.
From just a quick glance, it becomes clear that several high-profile franchises have helped to shape that process. Beyond homages to the Souls series within the game’s design, the journey that players undertake in Tunic shares a lot in common structurally with Nintendo’s early The Legend of Zelda games. As they unlock new areas of the map alongside their titular fox protagonist, PlayStation players will be treated to an experience that’s unlike anything else that can be currently found within Sony’s ecosystem.
Tunic’s Success
Despite sharing DNA with two of gaming’s most popular franchises, describing Tunic as a clone of the Souls or Zelda games would be doing it a big disservice. Beyond offering up a beautiful universe filled with enticing dungeons, Tunic blends together elements of both to form something that’s arguably unique. Underneath its charming isometric over-world, subsequently lies a game that’s simultaneously as brutal and rewarding as FromSoftware’s recent titles.
While PlayStation players quest across Tunic’s world to uncover its secrets, they’ll often be met with challenging enemies that require serious strategizing to overcome. Even though there are plenty of exciting boss fights to take part in, it’s worth keeping in mind that regular enemies can easily overpower the little fox as well. In a similar Souls-inspired vein, enemy restoring shrines can also be uncovered that heal the protagonist whilst saving their progress.
Tunic is so hands-off when it comes to its difficulty, though, that it actually goes further than other recent Soulslike games. For example, players will sometimes need to consult its Zelda-inspired in-game manual for help. However, every line of dialogue and piece of writing within Tunic has been brought to life via a brand-new language. Beyond adding charming intrigue into the game’s universe, design elements like this serve to further underline the passion that’s been poured into the creation of Tunic.
With all of these factors in mind, it’s easy to see why Tunic has received so much critical acclaim in 2022 already. While it remains to be seen if the indie sensation will join Stray as a day-one release on PS Plus, similarly to its Game Pass debut, PlayStation owners should be ready to jump-in to the experience regardless. When September 27 rolls around, PlayStation owners will finally get access to what’s likely to be one of the standout experiences of the entire year.
Tunic is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S and is set to release for PS4 and PS5 on September 27.