Child of Light is a JRPG without all the boring bits.
Most JRPGs - that's Japanese role-playing game for the uninitiated - are interminably long affairs, full of padding and tedious grinding and portentous storytelling.
Child of Light is a shorter, tighter affair that strips out the filler.
Actually made by French Canadian developers Ubisoft Montreal, it combines a streamlined take on the JRPG's turn-based combat with 2D puzzle and platformer elements.
Using the same graphics engines as the recent Rayman games, Child of Light's watercolour world is a delight to behold.
Sadly, the same cannot be said for the writing - this simple fairy tale is weakened rather than enlivened by being delivered entirely in rhyme.
But game play is king, and here Child of Light delivers.
The world of Lemeuria is a joy to explore, particularly after you unlock the ability to fly about an hour into the game.
There's a heavy focus on fighting, so haters of turn-based combat may be turned off.
But stick with it.
Child of Light's combat system quickly reveals itself to be a remarkably accessible and yet sophisticated twist on the formula, with a heavy emphasis on delaying and interrupting enemies' attacks.
With the exception of a couple of late-game boss fights, Child of Light isn't particularly challenging and you'll probably see the end in about 10 hours.
But the game's budget price reflects that fact - and you won't have to endure dozens of hours of grinding.
OVERALL: Child of Light is a short-lived affair but it's good family-friendly fun while it lasts.
Available now on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Nintendo's Wii U.
