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Developed by 1 Simple Game, but certainly approaches a topic not so simple, The Lullaby of Life tackles the complexities of life itself, expressed lucidly in gameplay. Essentially a work of art in movement, like Flower or Abzû, the game awaits players to solve puzzles and spark the domino affect of cells becoming organisms.
The Lullaby of Life is available on Steam, PC, the Nintendo Switch, the Xbox One and Series X/S, and iOS.
Genesis: The seven stages of wholeness
“Born in the origins of the universe,” players take control of a little cell-like organism making its way through a network of dormant lifeforms. The Lullaby of Life is ultimately a sound-driven game, to which the player acts as a traveling music note emitting soundwaves to inspire chain reactions, leading to organismic development in the world around you.
The game features seven key chapters of life: creation, energy, harmony, infinity, union, journey, and life itself. Alluding to the holy number indeed.
Players are essentially the “catalyst.” Other musical organisms come and go, but the player’s blue blob is there to spark evolutionary changes and mitosis events. There is not necessarily a clear and cut storyline, rather players sift through the randomness and dynamism of life itself. The Lullaby of Life is overarchingly a puzzle game that must be solved through agility, sound patterns, and not-so-precise timing. The vibe is cozy and slow-paced.
The mechanics are simple as well. Players move around with either the mouse or arrow keys, and the organisms can be clicked to expulse soundwaves. The player organism will obtain three different music notes for itself. Other musical buttons must be acquired through solving puzzles, and thus you receive temporary friends.
Hitting the right note
The visual and sound design of The Lullaby of Life are its absolute highlights. The colors are bright and bold and gives the impression of roaming through model cellular structures. It somewhat reminds me of Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, at least in terms of giving a tangible feel of these mucilaginous creatures. Being pulled and guided from planet to planet also kindles memories of Super Mario Galaxy.
The game is simply shaded and features geometric designs, with the overall vibe and artistic flow akin to fan-favorites Journey and Flower.
The game’s soundtrack is soothing and inspiring, supposedly in direct relation to the mechanics of the gameplay. Despite being considered a “music-based” game, in all honesty, I do not find this label necessary. I could solve puzzles whether or not the game was full volume or on mute. The incorporation of music notes and soundwaves are a nice touch, but it does not really provide useful audio cues nor has any relevance regarding puzzle solutions.
A cytoplasmic journey
The Lullaby of Life is great for players looking for a relaxing romp with just enough mental stimulation to power through. Overall, the game is 2-3 hours in length give or take. However, the game is not difficult at all, and it is unlikely you will get stuck anywhere unless there was an autosave soft-lock situation.
To be frank, I myself used the bare minimum brain power to solve puzzles. It certainly put me at ease; I played through the entire game straight before heading to bed, and I had quite an easy time falling asleep. I never really had to turn my brain “on” to play this title. Of course, that is the point. The Lullaby of Life is an art piece first and foremost, not anything action-oriented. The game works well as a decompressor.
The hardest part of the game was during the “infinity” chapter, where the player has to quickly run away from these strange space entities wanting to chomp you to bits. My personal computer has very finicky movement keys, so I was easily thwarted by space rocks blocking my escape route. This section of the game was certainly a fresh–albeit brief–moment of excitement and apprehension.
Final thoughts
The Lullaby of Life is a comforting, short and sweet experience featuring a laid-back narrative on creation and evolution. Although the puzzles are incredibly easy, perhaps having a target audience of children in mind. This attribute is not inherently negative, but it may turn away more experienced puzzle fans.
The game is a beautiful experience for sure: full of color, life, almost to the point of feeling tactile. The music gives off an organic, relaxing vibe despite not being crucial to the gameplay itself. I do wish that the sound aspect was more integral to the game. Players are not particularly making music and melodies, nor does sequence puzzle timing rely on meter. Regardless, there is much fun to be had. It may encourage players to contemplate how precious and beautiful the smallest atoms of life really are.
