Bound

aka: Bound: Ōkoku no Kakera
Moby ID: 80271

Description

Bound is a 3D platform game with a surreal setting. It takes place in the mind of a woman reminiscing over her childhood. The start of the game shows the woman, pregnant, arriving at a house near the beach. As she walks around and eventually sits down to reflect, it shifts to the world in her head where the real game takes place. There, the player controls a female, vaguely humanoid character referred to as Princess. Her mother immediately tells her there is a monster in the kingdom and she needs to stop it. This fantasy world and many elements in the environment have ties to the real world, and the link is explained eventually through various story sequences as the game shifts between the worlds.

In the dream world the Princess character needs to navigate the largely linear environment with platform elements and light environment based puzzle-solving elements, for instance using colour switches. She is able to run, roll, use ladders, climb or glide down ropes, push objects and wall jump. While the character can die for instance falling down gaps, she respawns right away and the game offers a lighter challenge than similar platform games, focusing more on just progressing. Typical platform elements include jumping, small passages to shimmy and moving platforms. Most often a behind view is used, but the camera also offers free rotation along with a cinematic perspective for many sequences.

There is a unique element to the movement as the character always moves as a dancer with elements of ballet and modern dance. This is visible through the stance, but also through movements such as demi-pointe, attitude, plie, pirouette, rond, split, sissone etc. animated through a modern dancer's motion capture. Movement is never regular, but always incorporates these in a graceful way based on the elements in the environments. At times Princess is attacked by swarms and other hazards. This is never lethal, but to defeat them a variety of moves needs to be performed through button combinations, in any order, forming a routine that creates ribbons around the character, protecting her.

After the initial stage further levels are accessed through pages in the journal of the woman in the real world, with drawings that represent fears. These can be played in any order. Levels often have complex structures, an organic, pulsating movement, and with constant transformations. Some levels have hidden islands and shortcuts. Optionally memory shards can be collected.

Spellings

  • バウンド:王国の欠片 - Japanese spelling
  • 舞之灵 - Chinese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (PlayStation 4 version)

572 People (485 developers, 87 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 70% (based on 35 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.4 out of 5 (based on 3 ratings with 0 reviews)

Be the first to review this game!

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Legend of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse
Released 1995 on Game Gear, 1998 on SEGA Master System
Kingdom's Item Shop
Released 2016 on Nintendo 3DS
WorldNeverland: Daily Life in the Elnea Kingdom
Released 2015 on Android, 2015 on iPad, 2018 on Nintendo Switch
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
Released 1998 on PlayStation, 2006 on PlayStation 3, 2022 on Nintendo Switch...
Fragment of Marine
Released 2018 on Android, iPad, Macintosh...
Great Greed
Released 1992 on Game Boy
Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom
Released 2000 on PlayStation 2, 2014 on PlayStation 3, Windows
Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
Released 2014 on PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, 2021 on Xbox One...
Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess
Released 2007 on PSP, 2007 on PlayStation 3, 2023 on Windows...

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 80271
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Sciere.

Additional contributors: Rik Hideto.

Game added August 18, 2016. Last modified February 13, 2023.