The fable in the purest Studio Ghibli style is beautiful and relentless in attacking your feelings. Neva analysis

There are those who claim that less is more and the projects of Nomada Studio They are a recognized exponent in the video game industry. You can count on the fingers of one hand the times in which a character from your projects like GRIS or Neva They say a word, but they don’t need anything else. The Barcelona studio has once again demonstrated mastery in the art of storytelling and visual display.

After that painful, but at the same time beautiful journey through the phases of grief that we experienced in 2018, the community was eager for more fantasies from the company. It has been six long years of waiting and patience has paid off, because the work led by Conrad Roset It rises to the point of stepping on standards from which it should never be lowered.

I love you, Neva

There is no cover letter, there is no sign announcing anyone’s names, there is not even excessive contextualization and it does not suffer Neva of that absence of narrative elements from the beginning. The adventure puts us in the shoes of Alba, a young girl who lives in the forests and who has formed a curious relationship with a huge wolf and her little cub. The connection with the latter will be strengthened as soon as the journey begins, as a series of dark forces end the mother’s life.

Thus, Alba must not only face dangers that threaten to undo the precious ecosystem that she knows so well, but she must shoulder the responsibility of creating Neva to help her in her task. And it is not about the animal with incipient horns becoming a war machine, since the union between both beings is as pure as the one anyone can have with the dog they have as a pet. From the first bars, Neva behaves like what she is: a puppy who wants to play. He gets lost, runs, jumps and is afraid of heights or enemies that cross his path.

The bond will strengthen with the passing of the seasons, which mark the progress of the plot and are divided into different parts. Autumn, winter, summer and spring will show how the entities devour everything in their path, destroying the forests, tearing up the meadows and completely annihilating birds, wild boars and all kinds of animals that cross their path.

Obviously, the passage of time will mean that Neva grows and her fear when it comes to combat disappears, so she will become a trusted ally to turn to. And its versatility is absolute, as it is capable of jumping in the air, moving at high speeds, attacking fiercely with its teeth and resorting to a mysterious power that emanates from it. He doesn’t live on struggles alone Nevaas it will allow Alba to climb on its back to cover long distances in a flash or it can be ordered to pounce on a specific point.

Its importance is transferred to the terrain of the platforms, since there are many, and it is necessary for various mechanisms to be activated or parts of the stage to be broken. This union of efforts is constant and serves to connect very naturally with that relationship that is forged little by little. In the end, it is extremely easy to get attached to Neva and I admit that I have spent a lot of time just petting her because she behaves very well and helps me.

Beyond GRAY

Yes ok GRIS It had various platform areas and the occasional puzzle, its presence was quite limited. The first project of Nomada Studio It was based on a sound and visual section that trusted everything to ensure that the experience proceeded along the desired channel, working correctly. Although the developer could continue betting on that line, the truth is that it has decided to offer a mechanical leap that is appreciated.

The interactivity is much greater than in the predecessor title, since here we have sections of battles and jumps, in some cases, intricate. What is most striking is that Alba possesses a sword that allows her to annihilate the slimy dark beings whose hunger seems to have no end. Three presses of the button to execute a combo, a touch of the trigger of the controller to dodge any attack and to hit everything that moves. It is by no means a commitment to excessive action.but of course you have to keep your eyes wide open.

Alba has three flowers that represent her vitality and each blow she receives means she loses one, although in exchange for each thrust she delivers she recovers one petal. In this way, attacking is always welcome, but it all depends on what kind of opponent we have in front of us. Due to the nature of the enemies, they turn out to be tremendously moldable, so they attack individually, with huge shapeless masses, aerially with wings and with peculiar transformations that end up becoming final bosses.

There are a few throughout Neva and it is advisable to time it well, because sometimes they require a first phase in which we must dodge their blows, to later face the dog’s face. It is perfectly possible to die more than onceTherefore, although their intentions are evident, it is necessary to measure their movements with caution. In addition, the title is very prone to creating real ambushes full of rivals that will fill the screen, so it’s not all about hitting the button until they disappear.

On the other hand, the platforms that have to be overcome are no small feat. Nomada Studio has managed to go one or two steps in terms of difficulty, with respect to the impression it can make. Neva. The video game could be described as a raft of oil on first impact, but it is far from being a walk in the park… constantly. Obviously, moments of relaxation and contemplation of the landscape exist, but on other occasions you have to calculate which keystrokes to make to overcome an area.

Neva It plays with perspectives, with various mechanisms specific to its world and takes advantage of rules such as the weightlessness of certain objects to create platforms in the air. At some point I have been forced to stop and think about what I should do before continuing to jump happily, since the work requires careful planning so as not to be forced to repeat all the previous jumps. As if that were not enough, we must keep in mind that the dark threat also creates artificial obstacles to overcome.

In this way, Neva herself collaborates by breaking blocks so that Alba can continue, so her importance is not forgotten in this section. The union of both provides the necessary strength to save the forest. There are also reasons to search further, since the work involves the collection of a series of flowers that are somewhat inaccessible at first. There is no instant reward for collecting them, but you will certainly feel smarter after having conquered the place where they are found.

Pure art

That he has barely mentioned the art and sound of Neva It responds to no other reason than to earn its own space in this analysis. Without a doubt: what Nomada Studio has achieved is truly marvelous, since you can practically stop at any frame of the video game and turn it into the most beautiful wallpaper in time.

The lines of Neva, Alba, the animals and the environment continue to distill that watercolor touch that we saw in GRISwithout creating extremely defined lines. Everything we see feels alive, as it has that typical tremor of old animation drawn entirely by hand. The color palette is not afraid to launch itself with all imaginable color ranges, resulting in a fantastic visual explosion.

What can we say about Neva, a cub who clearly takes inspiration from Princess Mononokebut the Barcelona-based studio follows the path marked by Hayao Miyazaki in Studio Ghibli. The sinister beings that destroy everything are clearly a reference to the Faceless spirit of Spirited Awaywho feed on everything they find, just like the one who boarded the ghostly hotel.

The entire trip breathes that air of a fable full of emotion, a lot, and magnificently transmitted with gestures, looks and shocking scenes. From a very friendly beginning with the threat around the corner, through potholes and real tragedies, Neva leaves no impression behind to put on the table his own reflection that shows a direct reflection of human beings.

To accompany you, the soundtrack knows which key to play in each situation. His absence is significant when it happens, as his presence is constant for most of the game. They are melodies that adapt perfectly to the situation, without resorting to singers, and raising the notes when necessary.

iGamesNews’s opinion

Neva It is a riot of sensations and one of the best indies of 2024. It will not be among the heavyweights of the year, but it has no reproaches to make of itself and Nomada Studio does its best with its own formula when it comes to bring your ideas to life. And all this taking steps forward with respect to what it meant GRIS.

While that production was a personal and introspective journey of a tormented person, in this case the focus is greatly expanded to make a direct criticism of humanity. A raw vision of how the world is a beautiful place that seems to only serve our selfish purposes, but that also allows itself to create a space for hope. The cycle of life so vaunted by Mufasa is unstoppable and eternalboth for the good and the bad, so balance is exactly what is necessary.

As if that were not enough, at the playable level there was a margin to work with and the developer has explored the terrain without abruptly distancing itself. The introduction of combat, beyond its narrative logic, is accurate and dynamic, with enough challenges so that there is always a challenge, although limiting in the range of movements. At the same time, the platforms are not content with being a mere distraction, but require some coordination to successfully overcome them. For their part, the puzzles are a step behind.

And all of this watered down by a constant lesson of how to count on very little, of how to show until it hurts to see the beauty that you have before your eyes. Neva is a candy, a little gem that lasts just three hours and who doesn’t need even one more minute, but doesn’t have too much either. A treasure of any catalog if you ask me, wow.

Neva price

You can get Neva both in physical and digital formats. In the first case you can opt for the PS5 version for 32.95 dollars or the Nintendo Switch for 32.95 dollars. If you want to get the digital edition, you can find it on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch and PC for 19,99 dollars.

Neva duration

The approximate duration of Neva It takes just over three hours to get to the end credits. If you want to complete the adventure 100%, it should take you no more than four hours.

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