Alto's Odyssey
Sandboard through an endless desert with new biomes and mechanics.
Alto's Odyssey is an endless runner and sandboarding video game developed by Team Alto, and published by Snowman for iOS, and Noodlecake Studios for Android. The player controls Alto as he explores the endless desert across different biomes, each with unique traversal mechanics and challenges. Developed over a year and a half, it was released in 2018. It is the sequel to Alto's Adventure (2015).
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Team Alto
- Publisher
- Noodlecake Studios (Android), Snowman (iOS)
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- iOS
- tvOS
- Android
- Microsoft Windows
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
- macOS
- Genre
- Endless runner, snowboarding
- Modes
- Single Player
- Director
- Ryan Cash
- Producer
- Eli Cymet
Facts from the source article.
Development
Team Alto, consisting of Snowman and Nesbitt, announced the sequel in December 2016 with an original target of summer 2017, but delayed it to early 2018 to make it perfect. On February 12, 2018, the official release date was announced via a YouTube trailer, and the game launched for iOS on February 22, 2018. The game was intended as a successor that built upon Alto's Adventure rather than rethinking its mechanics. A grappling hook was considered but cut because it complicated the one-touch gameplay. Wall-riding and balloon bouncing were added to increase verticality, as Team Alto felt the game world in Adventure was too static. The new biomes required roughly triple the assets and item zones, with each area designed to feel distinct to play rather than being a purely visual change; the ruins were inspired by games like Journey and Ico. Code from the original game was used but significantly modified, and the iOS version uses the Metal API for better performance and stability over OpenGL. The game targets 60 frames per second and uses lower quality shaders on weaker hardware. It takes advantage of Apple's Haptic engine for feedback on tricks and interactions. The Android version was released in July 2018 as a free-to-play game, a decision Team Alto attributed to disappointing revenue for premium games on Android.
Reception
Alto's Odyssey received generally favorable reviews according to Metacritic. CGMagazine's Alex Handziuk praised the sound design, calling the game immensely calming with lush piano motifs and swelling crescendos that invoke emotion, and enjoyed the Zen mode as a form of meditation. Pocket Gamer noted that the visuals improved over Alto's Adventure, creating a gorgeous atmosphere, but criticized the game for sticking too close to its predecessor. TouchArcade's Carter Dotson appreciated the new biomes for adding variety but criticized the high coin requirements for unlocking items, making the game feel like a grind. The game was nominated for several awards, including Best Mobile Game at the New York Game Awards, Mobile Game of the Year at the SXSW Gaming Awards, Excellence in Visual Art and Excellence in Audio at the Independent Games Festival Awards, Best Mobile Game at the Game Developers Choice Awards, Mobile Game at the 15th British Academy Games Awards, and Best Mobile Game at the Italian Video Game Awards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Alto's Odyssey available on?
Alto's Odyssey was released for iOS, tvOS, Android, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and macOS.
Who directed Alto's Odyssey?
Alto's Odyssey was directed by Ryan Cash.
Who designed Alto's Odyssey?
Alto's Odyssey was designed by Harry Nesbitt and Joe Grainger.
Who composed the music for Alto's Odyssey?
The music for Alto's Odyssey was composed by Todd Baker and Torin Borrowdale.
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