Neva Review

Making something truly remarkable does not necessitate spending a million dollars. Nomada Studio somehow outdid themselves after developing GRIS, which is already one of my favorite games. Among some of the most exceptional narratives and imaginative works that I came across, Neva stands out. Finding anything that can cause someone to cry and have strong emotional reactions is difficult, and I have to say Neva had that impact on me.

The terrific combination of narrative, visuals, and sound design makes the reality that even AAA studios can learn a lot from small indie studios apparent. Of course, Nomada Studio has a history of making touching games; their work with Devolver Digital, Grizz, and Neva all share a similar atmospheric 2D platformer style. It has the appearance of a top-notch game and exudes an intense atmosphere.

The narrative of Neva tells the tale of Alba, a young woman, and Neva, a little wolf cub whom Alba has become friends with. They go off on an adventure together across a world that has begun to collapse at the hands of a decaying power, with the hope of confronting it at some point. While this is going on, we also get a glimpse of Neva's growing up as a character, following her as she and Alba go through the stages of youth and adulthood.

While there are obvious stylistic references to Journey and Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke (which was expected given that GRIS had a tribute to Princess Mononoke's movie), Neva adds her own dark twists to make it stand out. Because the central gameplay and storyline frequently center on the hardships that Alba and Neva must face, this game is not for those who have trouble witnessing animals suffer or be put in dangerous situations. the game, on the other hand, provides a deeply moving experience that will stay with you for quite some time.

At this point in the game, you've figured out that the journey will be anything but easy and that you can expect to face obstacles along the way. Along the main path, you won't encounter any particularly difficult platforming. However, it could be challenging to get to all of the collectibles.

The more challenging ones, meanwhile, are, more often than not, puzzles that call for careful consideration than ones that need superior platforming abilities. Combat, especially in Adventure mode, can be difficult at first, but it is rewarding if you master it. For those who aren't interested in the fighting mechanics, there is a story difficulty that doesn't keep track of health or hit points.

Neva's gameplay is identical to that of regular 2D platformers. The flawless level design, developed for environmental storytelling, and Berlinist's other terrific score, which may move players emotionally on its own, contribute significantly to the success of the story. All of Alba's abilities—including her downward strike, air dash, dodge, and double jump—are controlled with accuracy, and the platforming is nice as well. The game, on the other hand, is clearly more focused on combat than Grizz is.

Neva's combat is quite easy, but it's fast, hard, and, most of all, enjoyable. Fights against the many manifestations of evil always seem to hit home, what with the numerous enemies you face, the beautiful stages you encounter, and the much more dazzling boss fights. Those who are content with the game's story and general gameplay will find it just as easy as GRIS.

But if you are seeking a more challenging experience, you can switch to Adventure Mode, where combat is more lethal, and enemies have more health, or Story Mode, where encounters with enemies are less intense but do not result in deaths.

Once Neva is fully grown, Alba can use her as a weapon, too. She can send her to take on enemies and also use Neva to light up dark locations. In fact, Neva is capable of doing her own thing, such as taking on any enemies who are close to Alba before Alba ever has a chance to attack.

The puzzles fit a platformer, as a significant number of them demand timing as well, putting the player's reflexes to the test. The segment centered on mirror floors, walls, and ceilings is a standout feature; it allows players to see invisible platforms and opponents. Even though you've probably seen this kind of thing in previous platformers, the graphics here really make it work.

Some of Neva's engaging puzzles involve rearranging platforms and scenery using different attacks, such as smashing large blocks in the correct sequence to form platforms to walk on before they reform or using gongs to turn structures so they're in the proper spot.

The best element of Neva isn't its platforming, combat graphics, or the story but how Neva brings all of these elements together herself. As the story progresses, Neva's development is not only shown in an aesthetically pleasing way but also opens the door to a number of interesting gameplay tactics. Watching her develop into various age groups over time is quite impressive.

The story begins with a young Neva, who is adorable as a cub but has trouble jumping and gets attracted by butterflies and other flying creatures. Then you watch Neva's youth, when she is more vicious and aggressive, discovers her abilities and brags about them.

In the last chapter, you will see a grown-up Neva, in all her glory, attaining her combat potential and becoming ready to create her own identity that is distinct from Alba's. The story of their growth also features lovely subtle elements stressing Neva's growing up and the strength of her bond with Alba. At the beginning of her airborne demonstrations, Neva will occasionally tap into the air to enhance her abilities. Put simply, she mimics Alba's double-jump techniques, just like a toddler would learn from their parents.

Neva tries to explore the idea of parenthood but fails to leave an impression even in a time when games like God of War or A Plague Tale rule the narrative genre. It usually employs basic common narrative techniques instead of depending on a strong plot to convey passion. Still, the degree of design in the game caught my attention as one of the truly remarkable aspects. It was fulfilling since the developers did a fantastic job of introducing the game's environment elements before embarking on a journey of more complex trials.

While Neva's visuals are impressive, the story isn't as well-developed as in its GRIS. The plot and mechanics in GRIS were so closely intertwined that it had a huge emotional effect on the player. In contrast, the game seems to rely largely on its visually impressive graphics to elicit emotions, which is, however engaging, a common practice among modern games. With so many artistic games available on the Nintendo Switch, Neva runs the danger of becoming lost in the crowd.

However, the character animation is stunning on its own, particularly because it depicts the motions of wild animals in a natural way. Also, as one would expect, there is a great deal of beautiful, verdant wilderness to take in. Surprisingly, though, it is just how diverse everything becomes in terms of visual appeal, styles of color, and mood.

However, despite the touching story overall, there is one lengthy scene that is revealed to be a dream. This makes the game feel a little rushed and unsatisfactory. However, Neva's one real drawback is that it feels overly short as a game. Finishing the game with all the achievements took me approximately six hours, and it felt like it was over in a flash. If you don't bother to find every hidden flower collectible, you can finish the game in under four hours.

It was quite apparent that Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away were major influences on Neva, perhaps to an unhealthy degree, particularly throughout the initial portion. When it comes to major plot details and the designs of the main characters, I think it gets a little too close for comfort here. When it comes to the story's clarity, the game's beginning is notably lacking. From a story logic standpoint, it essentially undermines the game. It misleads those who pay attention to stuff like this.

There are a lot of cool ideas and mechanisms in Neva's gameplay, but sometimes you feel that you're not getting the most out of them or that there should be more of them. It didn't hurt that there aren't too many sprints or climbs across landscapes, which makes them feel less like cushions. You will occasionally find yourself skipping about sections of terrain that have been left floating in the air, which has a somewhat eerie beauty.

On the other hand, sometimes you'll come across ruins that seem strangely undisturbed and clean, with a style and simplicity that nearly takes them from another game, like Fez. Though at times emotionally draining, the experience is well worth it, especially in a game of this level.

If you avoid all these, Neva is yet another Nomada Studio gem. Its platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat are visually stunning and will surely keep you engrossed. You get a sense of the story's greatest elements through the main protagonist, the wolf, as you watch her mature alongside Alba.

In the same vein as Nomada's earlier game, GRIS, this is a stunning work of art that I think everyone should enjoy once (unless, of course, you have an intense opposition to animal suffering). Neva will captivate your mind with its breathtaking visual storytelling, precise platforming and combat, intense musical score, and gorgeous settings.