Christopher Chu from Capsule Computers wrote:
Oscura: Second Shadow is an interesting platformer developed by Ole Alfheim of Chocolate Liberation Front and published by Surprise Attack Games, the publishers of Vertiginous Golf. The title was made in the style of classics like the original Super Marios Bros. and Rayman with the artistic flair of Tim Burton. However, instead of utilizing martial prowess and brute force, Oscura has a magical glowing hand that guides him through the dark, gothic-style levels.
Awesomely named Australian studio Chocolate Liberation Front, led by (the equally awesomely named) designer Ole Alfheim, has been working on a sequel to its 2011 gem Oscura and gamers are very close to getting a taste of its stylised platforming fun. Releasing on June 26, the game captures a playful gothic fairytale ambiance and character design, with the world displayed in silhouette a la Limbo and Badland. No wonder it was pitched to us as Super Mario Bros. through a Tim Burton lens!
Hmm I dunno. Haven't we seene enough of games like this with Badlands and Limbo. Will Oscura really offer something unique?
Game looks like it as a great sense of style. I remember the first game had quite precise controls and it will need them for this one looking at how technical some of the platforming is.
Pocket Gamer: What a difference a few buttons make. When we reviewed Oscura on Android back in June, we lavished praise on its unique look and bountiful imagination, but lamented the often obtuse touch-driven control system.
Now, freshly-repackaged with Xperia Play support, this inventive platformer has overcome its one main failing.
With mobile games becoming more and more popular, even one of the most venerable of genres has begun to make its odyssey to smartphones and tablets: the platformer. Designers have experimented in bringing the button-focused jumping action to a touch-screen platform, and MTV Networks has brought out a new game to Android devices. Oscura is a cheap, little platformer on the Google Play store that has a striking aesthetic and great presentation, but stumbles when it comes to proper controls and quality replay value.
