After publishing Grey At the end of 2018, Nomada Studio decided to take it easy. Between parenthood and global pandemics, the Barcelona team, responsible for a video game milestone indie which has already sold more than three million units, began to slowly cook what would be its next adventure.
His new work would maintain the refined and evocative artistic style of the illustrator Conrad Roset, but would raise the bar in what makes the so-called tenth art special: interactivity. The result of this long gestation is Neva, a title that from today once again challenges the limits between audiovisual arts and the world of electronic entertainment.
A warrior and a wolf are the protagonists of a story that, again, does not need words to immerse the player in an ocean of emotions. Such universal themes as parenting, love or loneliness are addressed here through such direct, video game-like language, such as jumping, puzzles and – attention – sword blows.
Because yes, Neva has much more action than Gris, an extra nerve that translates into tense combats, solemn confrontations and a small set of special skills that fit perfectly for what it is trying to tell. After all, what wouldn’t we do to protect our own?
Image from the video game ‘Neva’
A warrior and a wolf are the protagonists of this emotional story
He gamefeel is a term used to define the tactile sensation that the player experiences when interacting with a video game. It is a concept that is usually related to the movement of the character on the screen, an action that can translate into a pleasant and pleasant perception of control or, on the contrary, rough and uncomfortable. In Snow It is exquisite. Nomada Studio has put special emphasis on making each button press result in polished animations frame to framea connection between the player and the work that has a lot to do with the relationship between its two protagonists.
Image from the video game ‘Neva’
Art, gameplay and narrative intermingle in a perfectly measured experience
But this is a title that is also played with the eyes. The visual style maintains that obsession with perfectly balanced compositions, although now it opts for the use of flat inks and the play of light. The result is once again overwhelming, something that is also helped by the link between the images and the music of the band Berlinist. Because, in the end, everything is connected. Art, gameplay and narrative intermingle in a perfectly measured experience, a game that, despite its turn to action, is designed for all audiences.
‘Snow’ (★★★★★)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nomada Studio
Editor: Return Digital
Read also
#Neva #review #evocative #sword #blows
