Tove Jansson is the creator of the Moomin series, whose children’s books, television series and films have carried the series for years. The stories feature an array of interesting characters, reflections on life, all in a world that comes from your wildest imagination. However, until now there has been no full-fledged adventure game that reflected this universe. Until now.
In March 2024 we will finally have a title from Hyper Games called Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, allowing players to experience life as a Snufkin. Over the last few years we’ve received a selection of so-called “cozy” experiences from the studio, and that’s exactly what Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley offers, boiled down to its most basic elements.
Snufkin: The Melody of Moominvalley begins shortly after winter when Snufkin arrives in Moominvalley. Something happened and now the valley is full of boring parks patrolled by police, each taking orders from a mysterious ranger. The construction sites that have arisen are also getting on the nerves of the local animals and the area around the Moomin House is suffering from drought. And where is Moomintroll?
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Moominvalley has changed and players can now explore and have an adventure. From a visual perspective, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a beautiful game. The watercolor landscapes reflect something creator Tove Jansson would have imagined, and from the first scene the game leaves its mark. While you’re on the move, the camera seamlessly follows Snufkin into the 3D world. The birch trees, flowing rivers and general verticality of Moominvalley work perfectly and the game looks really good both on the big screen and in handheld mode on the Switch.
The music is by Kjartan Sveinsson and Oda Tilset and their melodies fit perfectly into this slow and entertaining graphic adventure. There are some action scenes and the music also fits the action. However, there is no voice acting in Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, as dialogue occurs via text boxes, and there are a lot of them. Sometimes the frame rate is even affected when switching from the game to a scene during an intense moment. I’m hoping this gets fixed with an update as I’ve also noticed some frame rate drops when multiple characters are on screen.
Snufkin meets both familiar and some new characters, and so the story progresses in Moominvalley. Over time, the game expands like Metroidvania, as Snufkin gets new tools to add to his backpack. At first there is only a harmonica, but later he gets a flute and a drum, for example. And then it’s time to interact with the game world, where the game clearly tells you which instrument you should use in each situation, making the job easier for younger players. To reach certain parts of the game you need certain instruments, and this is how the game pushes the player forward. With about a third of the game left, you have the option to go back and visit as many locations as you want. And so that you don’t get lost, the various missions are marked on the map with red and yellow dots.
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Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley also features additional tasks, such as collecting pages of Moominpap’s memories and collecting resources from the forest, where you can sometimes receive a reward for doing so. I had so much fun exploring this beautiful, linear world that I didn’t mind not being able to enter Moomin House and other similar buildings.
The only problem with the controls is how Snufkin jumps. You press B when you’re in front of a ledge, and from here you’ll see a rough animation of where Snufkin will land. In other words, every time you jump you have to stop and aim, which makes jumping awkward and inaccurate. Typically, you’re not in a hurry when playing, but there are chases where you’ll need trial and error to make successful jumps. Eventually you learn to live with it, but you should keep the awkward controls in mind.
I was surprised that some more philosophical characters became Snufkin’s verbal opponents. They doubt Snufkin can save Moominvalley on his own, and it’s this multi-stage adventure that captivates experienced players. Sometimes the writers made decisions that force Snufkin to act out of character, which doesn’t always work, but I have to say that the hunt for the mysterious ranger works very well until the end, although the last part is sneaking around the park takes too long. Snufkin works well as a protagonist, so I would like to see a sequel in the future.
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a relaxed, slow-paced adventure, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need between all the shooters and action games.