Xbox Game Pass has a lot on offer for players going into November, to the point where there's something for everyone to enjoy in the coming month. The known games coming to Xbox Game Pass in November include Skyrim, Forza Horizon 5, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Definitive Edition.
Of course, for those craving smaller titles, there is an abundance to choose from. Indie titles are being made more available to Game Pass subscribers through titles like One Step from Eden and, in the case of a game sticking around for a while, Flynn: Son of Crimson. However the name and the art of Flynn doesn't give much insight into the game itself, so for those who have caught a glimpse or heard a bit about it and wonder what's up, here's the rundown on Flynn: Son of Crimson.
The Main Conceit
Flynn: Son of Crimson is a 2-D action platformer with pixel-art graphics harkening back to games of the Super Nintendo era. Of course, with the plethora of titles that describe these days, it also harkens to other titles like The Messenger and MO: Astray. It takes place over the course of multiple stages, some of which have multiple exits that lead to new, alternate stages, and a linear story. Said story is self-contained, and while developer Thunderhorse said in an interview with Game Rant it would consider sequels, there is currently no planned DLC.
Flynn: Son of Crimson's Story
The eponymous Flynn is a young man who has lived all his life in the village of Sanctia alongside his companion: a guardian of the land named Dex who takes the form of a fluffy wolf. Flynn and Dex are called by a goddess to save the land of Rosantica from the Scourge, a threatening force encroaching on their home. Unfortunately, Dex gets drained of her power fairly early on, which leads to Flynn awakening to his ability to control Crimson Energy. He can shape it around his weapons or weaponize the energy itself and sets out to save the world and get Dex her power back, all while unraveling the mystery of his heritage, the reason he can use Crimson Energy. There's enough there to lead into a secondary or side game like Thunderhorse wants if funding allows.
The story is decidedly simple, but by no means bad, and is a good way to keep the game going through different locales. It's not exactly the highlight of the game, but that doesn't mean there's no room for future growth, or for some of the cut content to come back to Flynn: Son of Crimson later. Xbox Game Pass players looking for a fully engaging story may want to look elsewhere, but Flynn's main draw is its gameplay.
Flynn: Son of Crimson's Gameplay
This is where Flynn: Son of Crimson shines. The game delivers on both the action and platforming of its action-platformer genre, with fun combat and good platforming design. A big part of this is the elemental magic that Flynn picks up throughout the game which unlocks paths and is vital to take down certain enemies. There are also three distinct Crimson Weapons, some more powerful than others. That balance between power and speed is something players will have to keep in mind as they fight enemies and even take on certain platforming sections.
The levels are long and varied, each one adding new elements to the game for players to contend with and understand, and all interacting well with the weapons and elemental powers. Although not a true Metroidvania, Flynn encourages backtracking with resources gained later in the game. The level and weapon variety are two of the best things about Flynn: Son of Crimson, with another being the art. The game looks beautiful and sounds pretty good too, with a soundtrack equal parts adventurous and calming. Only time will tell if it becomes an enduring classic, but even if not, it is definitely worth checking out on Game Pass, as some will find this an adventure more worth having than others. The best way is to try it out on Game Pass and find out for sure.
Flynn: Son of Crimson is available on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.