The “Metroidvania” genre holds a special place for many gamers, and for good reason. Beyond mere nostalgia for the 2D platformers with engaging exploration that defined gaming even in the NES era, the genre at its best offers a certain level of mastery. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night exemplifies this, continually captivating new audiences and securing its position on “best games of all time” lists, even after nearly three decades.
Our focus today is Neva, the latest title from Nomada Studio, renowned for their previous work on Gris (pronounced “Gree,” as in the French word for gray). Neva presents an intriguing hybrid, blending Metroidvania elements with a more contemplative experience akin to Journey. While it forgoes traditional maps and backtracking tied to new abilities, the game unfolds across four seasons, casting you as Alba, a warrior who, alongside her magical wolf Neva, confronts the encroaching evil and darkness plaguing nature.
Neva achieves a compelling balance, offering both simplicity in its design and mechanics and a stunning, immersive visual experience. The vibrant colors, subtle nuances, and intricate details of the environments and seasons truly shine, particularly on a high-quality display like the Panasonic OLED Z95A. Elements of Journey’s minimalist, oriental-inspired architecture are present, as players navigate the story through combat, platforming, and exploration. Calling Neva, the wolf companion, is mapped to the triangle or Y button, and the voice actress, Cristina Peña, delivers the character’s name with a remarkable range of empathy, showcasing the power of voice acting even with a single word. As the narrative progresses, Neva grows, deepening the interaction with Alba, from riding the wolf to utilizing her ethereal presence in combat.
The difficulty curve feels well-tuned, emphasizing precise timing for jumps, double jumps, and dashes. Players must also manipulate platforms or defeat enemies to advance. Boss encounters are engaging and impressive, although one fight against a wild boar demands somewhat excessive precision in platforming. The developers introduce challenges such as inverted or mirrored levels, which generally enhance the experience rather than inducing frustration, aided by the frequent and well-placed save points. Neva is accessible enough to be enjoyed with children, offering opportunities for collaboration and shared enjoyment.
Ultimately, Neva delivers a holistic experience. The visuals are artistic, the sound design and music complement the gameplay seamlessly, and the responsive controls allow players to immerse themselves in the challenges and narrative without impediment. While not as stripped-down as Journey, it approaches a similar level of elegance. It maintains an engaging level of difficulty throughout its duration, preventing it from becoming overly complex or frustrating. Two difficulty levels are available for players seeking to customize the challenge.
Neva offers a concise experience, which is welcome for players with limited time for lengthy gaming sessions. The approximately eight to ten hours required for a thorough playthrough (and it deserves to be savored) represent excellent value.
Immersing oneself in Neva has been one of the standout gaming experiences of the past year. Its ease of access and captivating nature make it an ideal choice for quick, engaging sessions. Available on multiple platforms, Neva warrants its price. It stands as a gem within its genre, evoking the spirit of small, innovative development teams akin to Eric Chahi and his Another World (though without the same level of punishing difficulty).
Highly recommended.
Devolver Digital provided a review copy of this game. Provision of material does not influence our reviews.
