A world of tree cities, mysterious powers of the mind, and a people living high in the crowns of giant trees — Below the Root invites you into a wonderfully calm and thoughtful adventure of a kind that was not entirely common on the Commodore 64. Here you do not fight your way through with gunfire, but through exploration and understanding.
The game combines adventure with elements of exploration and gentle platforming movement. You walk through an interconnected world, talk to the inhabitants, solve puzzles, gather items, and gradually uncover the secrets that this world conceals. Your character needs to eat and rest, so you must manage your strength, and some abilities — such as gliding through the air or psychic perception — open up previously inaccessible places to you. The emphasis is on atmosphere and discovery rather than on action.
Below the Root is based on a literary source, on a fantasy world created by American writer Zilpha Keatley Snyder in her book trilogy. The game thus belongs among the early examples of combining a video game with literature, where the story setting of the novels was recast into an interactive form. This approach was unusual for its time, and thanks to it the game acquired a distinctive, book-like mood.
Culturally, it is a title that shows the lesser-known, contemplative face of the eight-bit era. Alongside the noisy arcades, there also existed games betting on calm, discovery, and storytelling — and Below the Root is one of them. The peaceful world of tree cities and the emphasis on understanding instead of violence make it an unusually gentle experience.
For players who are looking for something other than reflexes and battles in retro, Below the Root represents a refreshing discovery. It is a slow, atmospheric journey that rewards curiosity and patience.
Why play: For a calm, atmospheric adventure in a world of tree cities, where curiosity and discovery matter more than reflexes.
Game 29 of 121 for Commodore 64
