Review of The Vale: Shadow of the Crown on Nintendo Switch

Falling Squirrel, Creative Bytes Studios, and Nejcraft have crafted something truly unique with The Vale: Shadow of the Crown, an action-packed audio RPG that puts you in the shoes of a blind princess. Let’s dive into what makes this game stand out.

In The Vale: Shadow of the Crown, you embody Alexandra, a blind princess. After your older brother ascends the throne as King, you find yourself appointed as the warden of a modest castle located at the kingdom’s edge. However, the journey to your new home takes a dangerous turn. As you cross a river listening to your uncle’s descriptions of your future abode, an invading army ambushes your convoy. Stranded and threatened, you must rely on your keen skills to survive. Your adventure leads you through The Vale, a winding and treacherous valley, on your path back to your brother’s stronghold. For accessibility, the game offers Casual, Normal, and Hard modes catering to every player’s skills.

Playing on the Nintendo Switch presents a few different control options. You can opt for the Joy-Con or use the touchscreen if you’re in Portable or Tabletop Mode. Those with a Switch Lite can also seamlessly join the fray. During exploration, the left analog stick lets you move freely, while the right stick helps you turn. Combat introduces other dynamics—using the right stick, you can execute melee attacks, and with a bit of preparation, perform powerful charged attacks by holding and directing it. The bow emphasizes precision; hold the ZR button to aim and release for a shot. Defense involves holding the left stick toward incoming threats to block effectively.

Combat provides opportunities to gain favor, essential for casting spells. Engage enemies with various actions to build up your favor bar. Once full, you have access to powerful spells: pressing ZR can ignite your weapon, adding fiery damage to your strikes, while the ZL button unleashes a fire shield to fend off foes. Paying attention to audio hints is crucial, as mastering these mechanics is more intuitive than you might expect.

Reiterating the game’s narrative, Alexandra, the blind princess, must journey through perilous lands after an unexpected attack—highlighted with the game’s curiously strong reliance on sound instead of sight. Whether you play on Casual, Standard, or Hard, the experience remains captivating. Particularly with its heavy emphasis on audio cues, good headphones are recommended for the best experience. You can expect roughly 5-6 hours of gameplay as you navigate these dangers towards safety. On the market for $19.99 on Nintendo Switch, The Vale: Shadow of the Crown isn’t just a game; it’s an adventure for your ears.

This review was informed by a Nintendo Switch copy of The Vale: Shadow of the Crown provided by Nejcraft.