Software:Sky (video game)

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Short description: 2019 social adventure game
Sky: Children of the Light
Official poster for the game, featuring two characters holding hands underneath the game's title
Official poster
Developer(s)thatgamecompany
Publisher(s)thatgamecompany
Director(s)Jenova Chen
Artist(s)Yui Tanabe (Manager)
Jacky Ke Jiang (Director)
Writer(s)Jennie Kong
Composer(s)Vincent Diamante
Platform(s)
ReleaseiOS
July 18, 2019
Android
April 7, 2020
Nintendo Switch
June 29, 2021
PlayStation 4
December 6, 2022
Genre(s)Adventure, art game
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Sky: Children of the Light (shortened to Sky in-game) is a social adventure game by thatgamecompany. It was first released for iOS on July 18, 2019.[1] An Android version was later released on April 7, 2020,[2] and a Nintendo Switch version was released on June 29, 2021,[3][4][5][6] followed by a PlayStation 4 release on December 6, 2022.[7] A separate version of the game was released for Mainland China on Android devices that is co-developed and published by NetEase.[8]

Gameplay

In Sky, players explore a once-prosperous kingdom using a cape that allows them to fly. The in-game world consists of seven unique realms, each with a variety of areas to explore, and a theme representing different stages of life. There is also Home, a small island which serves as the world hub and the starting point for the player. Throughout the world, players encounter "spirits" that allow them to unlock items in return for in-game currency, and "children of light" that give players "winged light." When a player has collected enough winged light, their cape level goes up, allowing them to fly farther.

The game places heavy focus on social mechanics. Players are able to meet and befriend one another, and can unlock new abilities such as chat and sending gifts as their friendship grows. There are also many cosmetic items to collect including capes, masks, hairstyles, hats, pants, shoes, playable musical instruments, expressions, and more. These items can be obtained using in-game currency or, in some cases, purchased with real money. Some cosmetics are only available to select players, such as the original beta cape, only available to those who played the beta version prior to the full release of the game.

Sky has multiple in-game currencies. "Candles" are the main currency of Sky, and are exchanged with spirits and friends in return for items and abilities. Candles are obtained by collecting pieces of light (called wax in game) and forging them, or by purchasing them for real money. "Hearts" are the social currency of Sky, and are obtained when players receive gifts from others, or can be bought directly from spirits with candles. Hearts are primarily used to purchase cosmetic items from spirits. "Ascended candles" are the rarest currency in Sky, which are rewarded to players for giving their winged light to "The fallen" at the end of the game. Ascended candles are exchanged with spirits for "wing buffs," which give players extra Winged Light, or can be used to upgrade friendship and purchase various spells such as height alteration and cape recharge. Another form of currency called "Event Currency", introduced in the 0.21.5 update, is a type of currency that is only available for specific events. Event Currency was created to bring equity to newer players and allow for event-specific in-game currency (IGC) items to be obtained easier.

Realms

The setting consists of eight unique realms, in addition to Home, the starting point of the game.

Home

Home is where any newcomers will begin the game, as well as being a central hub for the rest of the game. One of the key features of Home is the ability to use doorways known as "portals" to select a stage to arrive in. The portals start out dormant, each one activating linearly. After enough progress is made, the levels become more open-ended, allowing access to the different realms regardless of the initial order. The only exception to this rule is the Eye of Eden, which, alongside the requirement of the other six realms being played through, can't be entered until twenty winged lights are collected. When players walk into a portal, it automatically transports them to the beginning of the corresponding area, regardless of previous progress. There is a small circle dubbed the Return Shrine, which will send the player to the realm they were last in.

Home also contains the constellation table. All spirits that are saved in the other realms are displayed in their realm's constellation. When the constellation of a spirit is selected, hearts and candles can be spent to unlock new items. These include spells, leveled-up expressions, and customization options. Another feature of the Constellation Table is the Friend Constellations, for viewing other players that were added to the friend list, allowing the players to give and receive gifts, and joining servers to play together.

Other features of Home include closet space to change cosmetics, a bell that chimes every hour and quarter hour, and a boat called the Sleepy Traveling Merchant's Boat, occasionally arriving to give the player free spells and sell season exclusive items.

At the starting point of each realm there is a small hub with gravestones of the spirits you find, closets (except for Isle and Vault), and a portal to return Home (which were removed from all realms in a later update).

The Isle of Dawn

The Isle of Dawn is the first realm the player will encounter at the beginning of the game after the first cutscene. It is also part of the tutorial the players receive when they play for the first time. The Isle of Dawn appears like a desert with tall rocks and caves dotted around. Three of the regular spirits can be relived here although the realm has seasonal spirits as well. Once the player reaches the tall hill like rock structure leading to the Elder's temple they fly towards it. After landing they go inside the temple. In the temple, once the player lights up the candles at the Elder spirit's Altar a cutscene is activated where the player meets the Isle Elder, a tall but old humanoid being with long arms holding a tall staff. Once the elder regains their light they show the player to their destination, The Eye of Eden. After the cutscene the player is shown the Isle constellation where they can deepen their bonds with the spirits. The Isle of Dawn leads to the Daylight Prairie.

The Daylight Prairie

The Daylight Prairie is the second realm the player encounters after finishing the Isle of Dawn. The Daylight Prairie is a lush green place with colourful flowers dotted everywhere along with golden butterflies which the player can interact with through an emote. The Daylight Prairie consists of two parts, the first part where the flowers and butterflies are present and the second part consisting of bell towers which need to be lit to activate the manta cutscene.The realm contains 8 regular spirits. Once the bell towers are lit a stone platform in the middle of the bell towers with a manta shaped constellation lights up and large mantas rise from the clouds below the bell towers and the platform. Multiple mantas rise and each collect a player and drop them at the Prairie Elder spirit's temple. The player goes in and lights up the altar of the Prairie Elder spirit which activates the next cutscene. In this cutscene the Prairie Elder spirit, a gigantic humanoid being with thick arms, then takes the player's offering (a small flame) and turns it into a golden butterfly which circles around the player before the Prairie elder places it inside a large pot. After the cutscene the Prairie constellation is shown, after the player is done viewing it, another cutscene is activated in which the butterflies from the pots surrounding the altar, burst outside and flutter around. The player then calls upon them and is taken to the next realm, The Hidden Forest.

The Hidden Forest

The Hidden Forest is the third realm the player encounters once they finish the Daylight Prairie.The Hidden Forest is located under the clouds and has four parts.The first part has two gates, upon opening the first gate a cutscene is triggered where rain begins pouring down in the hidden forest. If the player steps into the rain their light begins getting drained and once all of it is drained they "die."

The Valley of Triumph

The Valley of Triumph is the fourth realm the player encounters after flying out of the Hidden Forest. It is a snow area and is portrayed as a hill that you slide down. At the end of the level, players will find a stadium called the "Coliseum" (named after the Colosseum) and a temple where you advance to the next realm.

Development

The game was developed and published by American studio thatgamecompany.

Seasons and events

Sky features ongoing seasonal events, with new storylines and unique spirits and items. Seasonal events are completely free-to-play, but some of the spirits' items require a paid "Season Pass" to unlock. The seasons have a unique currency called "seasonal candles," which can be used to purchase seasonal items and are converted to regular candles when the season ends. Seasonal spirits may return as "Traveling Spirits" in the future, which players can give their candles and hearts to receive seasonal items for a limited time, albeit at a higher price.

Music

Sky features an orchestral score composed by Vincent Diamante, with some tracks performed by FAME'S Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra.[9][10] Norwegian singer Aurora also provides the vocals for the game's intro and outro songs.[11]

Four volumes of soundtrack albums have been released. The first volume covers more recognizable music from the base game cycle.[12] The second volume contains mostly ambient background music, and the third includes various pieces composed for Sky's Seasonal Events.[13]

Charity

In 2020, thatgamecompany held some in-game events in support of charity. First was the "Days of Nature" event, in celebration of Earth Day, during which a unique IAP (in-app purchase) was available. Proceeds from each purchase of the IAP were used to plant one tree per purchase, in partnership with the OneTreePlanted charity. This event resulted in a total of 40,576 trees planted across the Amazonian and Australian forests damaged by wildfires.[14] In April 2021, Sky hosted its second "Days of Nature" event, using the game to promoting awareness towards plastic pollution of the ocean.[15]

In May 2020, thatgamecompany hosted a "Days of Healing" event to help raise money for the Médecins Sans Frontières organization,[16] leading thatgamecompany to donate $719,138 to the MSF COVID-19 Crisis Fund.[17] For the event, thatgamecompany also joined the World Health Organization's #PlayApartTogether campaign.[16]

In June 2020, Sky held its first "Days of Rainbow" event, featuring colorful rainbow items and spells as a way to celebrate pride month. The second "Days of Rainbow" event the following year gathered funds for The Trevor Project and the Global Fund for Women, with players raising $794,420 in total.[18]

Reception

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Review aggregator Metacritic awarded the game an 82 out of 100 based on 18 reviewers, as well as awarding it the number one shared iOS game of 2019, number three most discussed iOS game of 2019, and number 13 best iOS game of 2019.[25]

Game Informer scored the game an 8.5 out of 10 stating "Sky is a refreshingly moving and robust game on the iOS platform, and one best shared with others – especially folks who might not normally pick up a video game."[19] GameSpot scored the game an 8 out of 10, giving exceptional praise to the visuals, animations and musical scores, however admitting that "return visits to previous environments aren't nearly as captivating as your first trip."[20] IGN scored the game an 8.5 out of 10, likening the game to its predecessor as "a bigger and bolder follow-up that expands on what made Journey so great."[21] Destructoid, like many other reviewers praised how it's a game that "most everyone should experience", was however highly critical of the touch controls and the lack of control it gave of your character, going as far to suggest that "most everyone should wait for a console or PC release" to play the game.[26] Nintendo Life scored the Switch version 8 out of 10, sharing the same praise as other reviewers, though highlighting that the simplistic gameplay may not keep players engaged in the long term, and how the option to toggle the FPS from 60 to 30 is objectively worse and provides only minor improvements.[23]

Accolades

The game won Apple's iPhone game of the year for 2019.[27] On October 5, 2020, Gamasutra reported that the game had topped 50 million downloads worldwide.[28] Pocket Gamer awarded it the People's Choice award in 2020.[29]

Year Award Category Result Ref
2019 2019 Golden Joystick Awards Mobile Game of the Year Nominated [30]
The Game Awards 2019 Best Mobile Game Nominated [31]
2020 New York Game Awards A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game Nominated [32]
23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Portable Game of the Year Nominated [33]
NAVGTR Awards Game, Original Family Nominated [34]
Original Light Mix Score, New IP Nominated
Game Developers Choice Awards Best Mobile Game Nominated [35][36]
Audience Award Won
SXSW Gaming Awards Mobile Game of the Year Won [37]
18th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards Best Music for an Indie Game Nominated [38]
Best Sound Design in a Casual/Social Game Nominated
Best Music in a Casual Game Nominated
Best Original Song ("Constellation") Nominated
Webby Award Apps, Mobile, and Voice: Best Visual Design - Aesthetic Won [39]
Apple Design Awards Outstanding Design and Innovation Won [40]
International Mobile Gaming Awards Grand Prix Won [41]
Games for Change Awards Best Gameplay Won [42]
G4C People's Choice Award Won
2023 Gamescom Games for Impact Won [43]
Best Mobile Game Won

Animated adaptation

On March 27, 2022, during AnimeJapan 2022, an animated project was announced.[44]

On August 26, 2023, IGN published an article[45] announcing a teaser to the animated series, and the name, Sky: The Two Embers.

References

  1. ↑ "Sky: Children of the Light Is Out Now!". 18 July 2019. https://thatskygame.com/events/sky-children-of-the-light-is-out-now/. 
  2. ↑ "Sky: Children of the Light Out on Google Play Now!". 7 April 2020. https://thatgamecompany.com/sky-children-of-the-light-out-on-google-play-now/. 
  3. ↑ "Promising New Game Sky: Children Of The Light Prepares Its Nintendo Switch Debut With This Trailer – NintendoHill" (in en-US). 2021-06-22. https://nintendohill.com/2021/06/promising-new-game-sky-children-of-the-light-prepares-its-nintendo-switch-debut-with-this-trailer/. 
  4. ↑ "Sky: Children of the Light's console release starts on Nintendo Switch". 17 March 2020. https://thatgamecompany.com/sky-children-of-the-lights-console-release-starts-on-nintendo-switch/. 
  5. ↑ "Sky: Children Of Light On Switch Is The Latest Game Delayed By COVID-19". August 26, 2020. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sky-children-of-light-on-switch-is-the-latest-game/1100-6481479/. 
  6. ↑ "Sky: Children of the Light for Switch launches June 29". June 10, 2021. https://www.gematsu.com/2021/06/sky-children-of-the-light-for-switch-launches-june-29. 
  7. ↑ "Indies highlights coming to PS4 & PS5 in December 2022". 1 December 2022. https://blog.playstation.com/2022/12/01/indies-highlights-coming-to-ps4-ps5-in-december-2022/. 
  8. ↑ "How can I play Sky on an Android device in China? — Sky: Children of the Light Help Center". https://thatgamecompany.helpshift.com/hc/en/17-sky-children-of-the-light/faq/674-how-can-i-play-sky-on-an-android-device-in-china/. 
  9. ↑ "Sky: Children of the Light". 2021. https://www.fames-project.com/2020/07/31/sky-children-of-the-light/. 
  10. ↑ Diamante, Vincent [@vincentdiamante] (1 August 2020). "The game's soundtrack comes from many different places. Ten of the Vol. 1 tracks were recorded with FAME'S Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra, but other tracks were performed and recorded by me on my computer, often with some live instruments individually recorded.". https://twitter.com/vincentdiamante/status/1289645382713004033. 
  11. ↑ Chan, Trevor (3 August 2020). "Soundtrack to Sky: Children of the Light available now". Wordpress. https://gamingaudionews.com/2020/08/03/soundtrack-to-sky-children-of-the-light-available-now/. 
  12. ↑ Diamante, Vincent [@vincentdiamante] (2 August 2020). "If you've been keeping track: yes, there are a LOT of game tracks that didn't make the leap from the game to this particular volume of soundtrack. Part of it is consistency of tone and arc of listening experience, so we omitted the more 'ambient' BGM that players come across.". https://twitter.com/vincentdiamante/status/1289791894348734465. 
  13. ↑ "Sky Original Game Soundtrack Volumes 2 & 3 as Sky Celebrates Second Anniversary". thatgamecompany, Inc. 14 July 2021. https://www.thatskygame.com/news/sky-original-game-soundtrack-volumes-2-3-as-sky-celebrates-second-anniversary. 
  14. ↑ "UPDATE on 'Days of Healing' and 'Days of Nature' Events!". thatgamecompany, Inc. 27 July 2020. https://www.thatskygame.com/news/update-on-days-of-healing-and-days-of-nature-events. 
  15. ↑ "Launch Update: Days of Nature". thatgamecompany, Inc. 15 April 2021. https://www.thatskygame.com/news/launch-update-days-of-nature. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Sky: Days of Healing Event". thatgamecompany, Inc. 13 May 2020. https://thatgamecompany.com/sky-days-of-healing-event/. 
  17. ↑ "Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Update". thatgamecompany, Inc. 13 April 2021. https://www.thatskygame.com/news/doctors-without-borders-medecins-sans-frontieres-msf-update. 
  18. ↑ "Days of Rainbow 2021 Charity Update". thatgamecompany, Inc. 5 July 2021. https://www.thatskygame.com/news/days-of-rainbow-2021-charity-update. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Miller, Matt. "Sky: Children Of The Light Review – The Next Logical Leap" (in en). Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/review/sky-children-of-the-light/the-next-logical-leap. Retrieved 8 April 2020. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Barbosa, Alessandro. "Sky: Children Of The Light Review - Flying Free". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sky-children-of-the-light-review-flying-free/1900-6417262/. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Jagneaux, David (20 July 2019). "Sky: Children of the Light Review.". https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/07/20/sky-children-of-the-light-review. 
  22. ↑ mrderiv (28 July 2019). "Sky : Children of the Light est-il le digne successeur de Journey ?" (in French). https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1082349/sky-children-of-the-light-est-il-le-digne-successeur-de-journey.htm. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Reynolds, Ollie (2021-07-03). "Review: Sky: Children of the Light - An Experience That Soars On Switch" (in en-GB). https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/sky_children_of_the_light. 
  24. ↑ Sullivan, Dann (July 22, 2019). "Sky: Children of the Light review - "Transcends the standards of the platformer genre"" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/080718/sky-children-of-the-light-review/. 
  25. ↑ "Sky: Children of the Light for iPhone/iPad Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/sky-children-of-the-light/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  26. ↑ "Review: Sky: Children of the Light" (in english). July 28, 2019. https://www.destructoid.com/review-sky-children-of-the-light-561952.phtml. 
  27. ↑ "Apple celebrates the best apps and games of 2019". December 2, 2019. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/12/apple-celebrates-the-best-apps-and-games-of-2019/. 
  28. ↑ Kerr, Chris (2020-10-05). "Sky: Children of the Light has topped 50 million installs worldwide" (in en). https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/371344/Sky_Children_of_the_Light_has_topped_50_million_installs_worldwide.php. 
  29. ↑ "The winners of 2020". Pocket Gamer. https://www.mobilegamesawards.com/winners-2020/. 
  30. ↑ "Golden Joystick Awards 2019". GamesRadar+. https://www.gamesradar.com/goldenjoystickawards/#mobile-game-of-the-year. 
  31. ↑ Winslow, Jeremy (November 19, 2019). "The Game Awards 2019 Nominees Full List". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-game-awards-2019-nominees-full-list/1100-6471564/. 
  32. ↑ Sheehan, Gavin (January 2, 2020). "The New York Game Awards Announces 2020 Nominees". Bleeding Cool. https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/01/02/the-new-york-game-awards-announces-2020-nominees/. 
  33. ↑ Chalk, Andy (January 13, 2020). "Control and Death Stranding get 8 nominations each for the 2020 DICE Awards". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/control-and-death-stranding-get-eight-nominations-each-for-the-2020-dice-awards/. 
  34. ↑ "2019 Nominees". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. January 13, 2020. https://navgtr.org/2019-nominees/. 
  35. ↑ Shanley, Patrick (January 8, 2020). "'Death Stranding' Leads Game Developers Choice Awards Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/game-developers-choice-awards-full-list-nominees-1268040. 
  36. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (March 18, 2020). "Untitled Goose Game Wins Another Game Of The Year Award". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/untitled-goose-game-wins-another-game-of-the-year-/1100-6474953/. 
  37. ↑ Watkins, Gary (March 24, 2020). "Announcing the 2020 SXSW Gaming Awards Winners". South by Southwest. https://www.sxsw.com/news/2020/announcing-the-2020-sxsw-gaming-awards-winners. 
  38. ↑ "Awards Archive". 2023-08-02. https://www.audiogang.org/awards/archive/. 
  39. ↑ "Webby Awards: Sky: Children of the Light". The Webby Awards. May 19, 2020. https://winners.webbyawards.com/?_ga=2.254717960.1414351030.1589938421-1421511034.1589938421#/2020/apps-mobile-and-voice/apps-mobile-features/best-visual-design-aesthetic/121572/sky:-children-of-the-light. 
  40. ↑ "Apple honors eight developers with annual Apple Design Awards" (in en-US). 2020-06-29. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-honors-eight-developers-with-annual-apple-design-awards/. 
  41. ↑ Partleton, Kayleigh (3 August 2020). "Call of Duty: Mobile takes home two accolades at International Mobile Gaming Awards". https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/74074/call-of-duty-mobile-takes-home-two-accolades-at-the-international-mobile-gaming-awards/. 
  42. ↑ "G4C Awards". http://www.gamesforchange.org/festival/awards/. 
  43. ↑ "gamescom award: the award for the best games of the year" (in en). https://b2b.gamescom.global/gamescom/the-gamescom/gamescom-award/. 
  44. ↑ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 27, 2022). "thatgamecompany's Sky: Children of the Light Game Gets Animation Project". https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-27/thatgamecompany-sky-children-of-the-light-game-gets-animation-project/.184070. 
  45. ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (August 26, 2023). "Sky: The Two Embers Teaser Shows Off the Animated Series Based on Sky: Children of the Light". https://www.ign.com/articles/sky-the-two-embers-teaser-shows-off-the-animated-series-based-on-sky-children-of-the-light. 

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