I'm not saying that Zuzu, the melancholic 2D star adventure Skaramazuzuis definitely inspired by this Adventure Time track where the deer takes off its hooves like gloves. But I say if he did, he would have my full support, because the deer monster deserves to live forever, even as a shadow wandering a gothic purgatorial landscape in an unrelated game.
We have a trailer for this one a few weeks ago, and the game itself just released on Steam yesterday. It has this specific blend of Hollow Knight: Song of Silk -esque maudlin and whimsy that I personally love, skirting the edges of both without slipping too easily into Tim Burton territory. The art style is crisp and wintry, the writing is zany, and everything that moves seems to have evolved from the same dead tree branch. Treat your hooves to the trailer below:
Skaramazuzu – Official TrailerThe game comes from Greek team Bleeding Moon Studio, who have so far only been credited with Perfectly hidden cats series. These are cozy hidden object games, so Skaramazu having a dedicated story to tie its puzzles and exploration together seems like a commendable departure from its previous work. The writing itself also seems to play an important role. “Each character will be willing to listen and help Zuzu and ask for something in return,” the Steam description promises. “Some of these strange personalities could prove to be key characters in Zuzu's special little adventure.”
“The protagonist Zuzu, a joyful and innocent soul with no memories, was summoned by a mysterious entity called Master, to discover the meaning of his existence,” it continues. Is it just me branding an indie with interesting visuals and existentialist themes without knowing much else? Look, buddy, you might think you've pinned me here, but I'm actually a pretty picky customer. Did shadow puppet Freak Deer seal the deal? And yes.
