dwelling > Game Reviews
Neva is a remarkable chronicle told through a platforming activeness game , following Alba and her titular woman chaser as they rise together and get by a world tumble around them . The game will tempt you with its noteworthy visuals and beautiful music , order a compelling storey without ever saying a word . Another excellent title from Nomada Studio , developer of GRIS , Neva is sure to jerk at your heartstrings and be a forever - memorable piece of picture game media .
The most important thing to know about Neva is that it is a account game told almost entirely without words .
Besides the occasional call of “ Neva ! ” as our protagonist interacts with her dear favourite / best acquaintance , the only sounds you ’ll pick up are the swishing and wooshing of jumping , bivalent - jumping , or swing your sword and the musical tones of the game ’s soundtrack . With hardly a word , Neva tells a beautiful storey about nature , friendship , and grow pangs using only stunning visuals and melodic clew to convey the message to players .
Side Federal Reserve note : because the game is all about visual storytelling , I wo n’t be portion out any screenshots beyond the early parts of the game . Side - side preeminence : that mean that all of the sensational visuals stage in this review hap in the biz ’s curtain raising act .
As you’re able to see from the screenshot above , Neva is filled with gorgeous visuals . Not only is the entire secret plan helping hand - drawn , but the biz have a point in time to make full your screen with a constant variety of stunning background . Neva will take you through a variety of different biome , and it almost feels like the game is bragging about just how absolutely gorgeous it can be . If so , it totally deserves to .
Neva follows the titular wolf and Alba as they grow together in a world that is succumbing to some vile putrefaction , destroy life around it . Alba fights to protect Neva as they grow from a pup to a rebellious wolf , and the secret plan is as full of heartwarming moment , as is teeth - grinding tension .
Nothing in this game , or any other biz for that matter , made me as panicked as the minute when Neva the wolf was in peril . As ahead of time as the first chapter , the depravity would strike out at Neva , trap her . This straight off put me on bound and have me to drop whatever else I was doing to help the pitiful skirt chaser .
Well done for managing to stress out a lifelong horror fan like never before by pose the cute animal in danger . Fortunately , Neva does n’t remain a lost whelp for long . after in the game , you ’ll be fighting enemies alongside your trusted wolf alternatively of urgently struggle in their defense team .
I ordinarily praise games published by Devolver Digital for their incredibly unequalled takes on gameplay machinist , but Neva , on the other hand , does n’t really introduce anything new or peculiar mechanically . It ’s a platforming game with straightforward armed combat , and you ’ll never really involve to use more than three keys to master the game ’s combat mechanics : Attack , dodge , and command Neva to attack .
In the conflict against the rot , you’re able to use Alba ’s blade or Neva ’s tooth to prune or bite your manner through some rather eery foe .
However , Neva gets a head from me for its less - than - perplex combat mechanic . I usually do n’t excuse simple car-mechanic just because a game is a visual experience , but Neva uses vivification in a way that make its combat and movement feel flowy and satisfying to habituate .
Something I appreciate about Neva ’s platforming is the way it utilizes its scrap and overarching villain : You will often find that in social club to proceed ( or to help your masher Neva proceed ) , you will need to clear an expanse of the corruption by cutting it at sure areas with your sword . This normally create little puzzler that postulate you pilot through an domain doubly , once to cut out the hogwash and a second time once it ’s clear .
One alteration I think would greatly improve Neva , albeit a small change on its own , would be the ability to bind the mouse buttons in the biz ’s control scheme .
As it currently sits , Neva act as using the WASD , Space , and JK describe , with a big warning from Steam that the game is better played on a controller . It ’s not a terrible primal setup , and the biz does give up you to rebind mastery in the configurations . However , for some reasonableness , I do n’t understand why the game does n’t allow you to attach the mouse buttons to any control . I do n’t know if changing this would dramatically break the game ’s code or something , but being able to obligate plan of attack and possibly dodge to the mouse would , in my opinion , dramatically increase the ease of playing Neva without a controller .
Besides that , I do n’t really have any other criticisms about the secret plan . While it does n’t do anything peculiarly exceptional or unique with its gameplay , Neva is still an exciting and memorable experience . It is as fun to play as it is breathtakingly gorgeous to lay eyes on . The game manages to be fun throughout , never overstaying its welcome , with about five hours of gameplay available for its generous $ 20 price tatter . Should you opt to give this indie darling a try , you ’re certain to be in for an incredibly memorable experience .
The Final Word
Neva is a game you wo n’t soon forget . With stunning visuals , gorgeous artistic production , and an unbelievably emotional story , this new classic continues Nomada Studio ’s solid reputation and is a must - play in this reviewer ’s book .
Try Hard Guides get a microcomputer review code for this biz . Find more elaborated looks at popular and forthcoming title on ourGame Reviewspage ! Neva is available onSteam , Nintendo Switch , Xbox , andPlayStation .
