Solstice — stories left

In creating the game's setting and aesthetic, Wilson acknowledged the slim capacity for storytelling on Nintendo's cheapest available cartridge, and thus focused on the atmosphere, which he says "traded on the simplest and most basic of fantasy ideas".

Richard Leadbetter of Computer and Video Games described the gameplay as "excellent, with some brain-bending puzzles and nice power-ups for Shadax's abilities".

Paul Glancey, also of Computer and Video Games, described Solstice as "a BIG game with an awful lot of secrets to discover", and compared the puzzles to those of Knight Lore.

Matt Regan, also of Mean Machines, stated that while Solstice is a challenging game which "puzzle fans should find interesting", "the excitement fades" as "shifting blocks to stand on or to prevent the attacks of a nasty becomes boring".

While Marc Camron and Ed Semrad of Electronic Gaming Monthly respectively considered the game to be "unique" and "a refreshing change of pace from all of the me-too type puzzle games", the publication's four reviewers collectively found the controls difficult and awkward.

Rignall, Regan and Semrad described the graphics as "great", and Steve Harris and Ken "Sushi-X" Williams of EGM said the game was "beautiful".

Nate Andrews of Nintendo World Report said that "the regality of the opening track provides a fantastic build up for the ensuing blast, which nearly forces you to take a knee under its spectacle before dropping into extended, kicking jig, then moving into the rest of the prog-y soundtrack".

Solstice is the first original game to be developed by Software Creations, which had previously only worked on converted titles between 8-bit consoles.

Solstice is the first original game to be developed within the company, which had previously only developed converted titles between 8-bit consoles.

Solstice was featured in the 1990 Nintendo World Championships, with the first press coverage in March by The Dallas Morning News as part of the Championships.

In the "Cross Review" feature of the magazine Famitsu,the game scored a total of 26 out of 40. In the "Game Report Card" reader poll run by Family Computer Magazine,it scored 16.99 out of 30, as shown below.

Solstice was received positively by critics for its puzzles and graphics, and the audio was also praised.

While Solstice was given an early demonstration to Nintendo, Software Creations owner Richard Kay grew impatient and quickly sold the game's North American publishing rights to CSG Imagesoft.

While Marc Camron and Ed Semrad of Electronic Gaming Monthly respectively considered the game to be "unique" and "a refreshing change of pace from all of the me-too type puzzle games", the publication's four reviewers collectively found the controls difficult and awkward.