The Pathless is an open-world mythic action-adventure video game developed by Giant Squid and published by Annapurna Interactive. The Pathless was released on November 12, 2020, and is available for download on Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, macOS, and iOS. The Pathless is an action-filled adventure game packed with fantasy, mystical elements, and a beautiful atmospheric open world. 

The Pathless is the second game produced by Giant Squid after the company’s first release, Abzû, in 2016. The Pathless is undoubtedly a visual stunner that allows you to forge your unique path through a world shrouded by a dark curse. It is an exciting spin on a mini-epic cross between “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “Journey” without combat. 

The Pathless is a thrilling and immersive game with a breathtaking design and refreshing mechanics to explore. As the name suggests, the world Giant Squid has created is open to vast exploration with very few instructions, restricted missions, or even a map! The Pathless follows the riveting journey of a hunter on a mission to a mystical island to break a dark curse cast over her world. She forges an admirable connection with an eagle who becomes her companion as she hunts down corrupted spirits with her archery and puzzle-solving skills.

Gameplay

The Pathless chronicles the player’s adventures as they control the hunter; the hunter is charged with the task of finding the key to lifting the curse on her world. The hunter is an excellent archer who uses her bows and arrows to execute fantastic trick shots while performing some impressive acrobatic moves. The Pathless has a refreshingly outstanding archery system that effortlessly supports taking shots when the player moves at very high speeds. 

Seeing as The Pathless shares quite a lot in common with “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” tasks also include solving various puzzles. However, the puzzles in The Pathless are straightforward. Your hunter character clad in red is quick and agile as she solves puzzles by lighting torches with her bow and using pressure plates to open doors. The terrain offers a tranquil experience as you explore the mysterious island while reviving fallen deities who were conquered by the curse. 

The hunter can freely explore the island’s vast expanse without a map — a feature that the developers specifically included to expand the level of freedom that players have. As you explore the world without a map, your characters collect crystals to upgrade your eagle companion’s abilities. 

Darkness Must Not Live In The Land!

The plot begins with an evil power resident on an ancient island. This island sits at the end of the sea and is the home to ancient god-spirits called the Tall Ones. TheGodslayer, the evil entity responsible for the curse, begins to corrupt the Tall Ones as the curse spreads far and wide. In an attempt to rid her world of this horrendous shroud, the Hunter sets out to the island.

When she arrives at the island, she finds a Spirit Mask that reveals the secret of the world to her. After finding this mask, she meets the benevolent creator spirit known as Eagle Mother, who sheds her spirit form to reincarnate as an eagle. The eagle becomes the Hunter’s companion and joins her on the journey to free the Tall Ones from the dark curse placed on them.

The Hunter traverses the large and vibrant open world by shooting arrows at floating crystals. This action helps keep the character moving, such that if you fail to shoot any crystals, the hunter quickly loses momentum. Seeing as there is no map, you can only locate objects and secrets quickly by climbing tall structures to get an unobstructed view of the vast land ahead. You can see and discern important objects with the Spirit Vision bestowed upon you by the Spirit Mask. 

Free The Cursed

While on the urgent mission to save her world, the Hunter’s path is riddled with obstacles. First, she has several corrupted cursed spirits who are trying to separate her and her eagle companion. The primary way to defeat these curse spirits is to locate special obelisks scattered across the island and light them. Lighting the obelisks leave the cursed spirits feeling weak and hence, susceptible to attack. 

The puzzles set before you are used in collecting light stones; these light stones are artifacts used to activate the obelisk, while the puzzles are solved by taking sharp shots with your arrows with the help of mirrors and targets. Some of these puzzles are responsible for giving special crystals that upgrade the eagle’s abilities. 

The eagle is a great companion and does its best to assist you by moving mirrors, targets, and weights that affect the environment for your good. Interestingly, the developers of The Oathless have devised a clever way to keep players immersed in the game. Instead of creating checkpoints or game over when you are defeated, the hunter simply gets a brief pause just outside the arena before returning to the battle. The fun in The Pathless is not to wear you down or kick you out but solely to find ways to win.