Developer: Bernie Wick
Platform: PC (Reviewed)
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Bernie Wick
Fading Serenades is a cosy top-down courier game. The game was developed and published by Bernie Wick (a solo developer). Fading Serenades offers simple exploration and slow-paced storytelling. Set on a picturesque island that seems outdated compared to the rest of the world. The game opens with a mysterious radio broadcast warning listeners not to come. Of course, that is exactly where you end up. You play as Callum, a courier who has just arrived on this island, accompanied by Par, your trusty drone that has been turned into a small talking radio. From there, your job is to make deliveries, meet locals, and slowly uncover secrets about this little island.
Fading Serenades is a delivery sim mixed with light puzzle and exploration elements. You start by taking tasks from Copper, the local post manager, and deliver items to various residents around the island. Each package does come with a rating, and its condition will determine how much you earn. The more careful you are during your travels, where you will need to balance on logs, hop over river rocks or climb a mountainous wall, you need to be careful not to damage your packages. These traversal mini-games are simple but satisfying, and they give a nice sense of movement and challenge to the laid-back experience this game has to offer. For instance, these traversal mini-games do become a bit challenging if your backpack is too heavy, adding some realism.Â
One of the most enjoyable mechanics is the backpack system. It is a grid-based inventory where you have to fit items like puzzle pieces, rotating them around to make everything fit. This mechanic is so intriguing as it adds another layer of strategy to your deliveries. As you earn money, you can upgrade your gear with Samuel, unlocking a bigger backpack, running shoes, climbing shoes or even buying pamphlets to reduce travel time between areas.Â
The stamina system ties everything together nicely. Travelling, climbing, and balancing all will drain your energy, but the pacing seems quite fair (that was until I had finally purchased the running shoes). You can easily complete your daily deliveries without too much stress. The more exploration you do, the more you will come across shrines that will keep traversing from draining your stamina even more. You can always buy snacks from the vending machine or suffice on the mushrooms you find if you need a little bit of energy. The controls themselves are simple and intuitive. There are not many buttons to worry about, which is perfect for this laid-back game.
Fading Serenades features stunning pixel art, which gives a nostalgic presence of the Nintendo DS era, think specifically of Pokémon Diamond, but more detailed and brighter. The island bursts with vibrant colours and finely textured sprites that make every little area homey. The top-down perspective gives a classic charm, and each location, from the post office to the world’s edge, feels distinct. The soundtrack is upbeat yet soothing, a perfect complement for the deliveries you have to make across the island.Â
When it comes to Fading Serenades, I found that the game was rewarding and peaceful; however, there were a few things that set the tone of the game further back. One big drawback is that the game does not autosave when you sleep. If you forget to manually save at the RadioWave station, you can lose several days of progress. I found this out the hard way when I left the game on day 8, just to find myself coming back to day 3. It would be nice if a little autosave system were incorporated.
The quest design also gets repetitive at times. First of all, the game mainly requires you to deliver packages back and forth, and in the midst of this game, you can get to a point where it feels like you are grinding more than you would have hoped. Though the grinding does pay off as you start to meet more residents and unlock more mysteries, it can get quite mundane. At one point, I was given the task to deliver Copper’s lost records three days in a row or deliver glowing mushrooms to Samuel day after day, which took away from the excitement of progression. The game does break up the routine with unique tasks, like going fishing, but more unique tasks would have been nice. However, I do like how some tasks relate to the narrative the game is trying to tell, which is a great touch.Â
The map could use a little work, too. It is charmingly simple but sometimes too vague, especially when certain characters like Mario wander from their usual spots. It took me way too long to realise that Mario hangs out on a bench under the post office during certain times of day. Of course, this was just my fault as I did not realise the design of the path that was made.
Despite these little flaws in Fading Serenades, the quiet rhythm of the world reminded me of Stardew Valley, especially as you start learning more about the island’s residents and their stories. The dialogue feels personal and genuine, with that subtle emotional tone that wants you to deliver one more package before your day ends. You can really feel the amount of thought and effort Bernie Wick poured into this game.
Fading Serenades captures the essence of cosy exploration and charming storytelling. As you take on deliveries, upgrade your tools and uncover the mysteries behind the locals, the game rewards patience. If you are looking for a charming, slow-paced adventure with stunning pixel art and relaxing gameplay, then be sure to check out Fading Serenades!
Overall: 7/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
