Neva Review

Initial release date: October 15, 2024

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 · See more

Developers: Nómada Studio, Nomada Studio

License: proprietary license

Genres: Platform game, Adventure game, Fighting game, Adventure

Publisher: Devolver Digital

Engine: Unity

Video games are frequently just a pleasant way to pass the time after a long day, but they can also be much more. Most of us will remember the emotional gut hit of starting Ori and the Blind Forest for the first time, and I’m pretty sure the tale of The Last of Us would hardly be described as “fun”. In a nutshell, I felt “emotional” while playing Neva, and like with any powerful work of art, it stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

In Neva, you play Alba, a young woman who is bonded to a mystical fantasy wolf named Neva in a realm of darkness and monsters. After a tremendously intense and fairly terrible opening cutscene that I will not disclose, you awaken next to Neva and are thrust into a trip across this dangerous, frightening, and, above all, gorgeous world. In terms of plot, there isn’t much more to go on than this, yet despite being told entirely in the sole spoken word of “Neva,” this story really struck a chord with me.

Once you acquire control of Alba for the first time, you’ll begin platforming around Neva’s stunning settings. Our sword-wielding heroine can jump, double jump, and do an air dash, and you’ll need to use all of these abilities to go across large gaps and challenging platform layouts and continue on your adventure. Alba is a joy to handle, and while there is rarely any consequence for failing at platforming, it’s still challenging enough to keep you interested between clashes with the masked creatures that hunt you down.

It’s never exactly revealed what these dreadful monsters are that are destroying the game’s lovely scenery, but they’re certainly aggressive and horrific. Neva’s fighting is quite simple, but it’s still a lot of fun. To deal with attackers, all you need to do is swing your sword in a quick combo, perform a downward strike, then dodge roll to safety. With only three health points, you’ll need to evade attacks in order to survive, and if you can land six hits without taking damage, you’ll even regain a hit point. The pace of fights just feels correct, and with a fair diversity of enemies and some very awful monsters to deal with, it does a wonderful job.

Alba is no slouch in her position of defending the planet against evil, but she couldn’t do it without Neva. Initially, your titular buddy does not provide much assistance. As a pup, Neva’s ability to battle monsters is limited, and they also require assistance traveling around the surroundings. However, as you move through the game’s seasons (which are essentially chapters), Neva matures, and as they do, they begin to assist you in hitting things out of reach and in combat, and by the conclusion of the game, if my wolf friend was missing for a scene, I’d notice it. The development of Neva lets you form a link with the gorgeous wolf, which the game is pleased to focus on when things get emotional.

While I’m trying not to spoil much, Neva is a game with a lot of sequences involving animals in danger, which some may find upsetting. This isn’t a dark and awful experience from beginning to end, like The Last of Us, but there are some instances where certain players may struggle and may even be unable to continue playing the game. I believe that a warning at the start of the game or on the store page would be appreciated by these folks as well, thus it’s unfortunate that one does not exist.

If you can deal with this, Neva is a wonderful way to spend three hours. The pictures are some of the best I’ve ever seen in this medium, and the soundtrack is breathtaking. Almost every hard combat is accompanied by a sweeping tune that feels grand, and there isn’t a single background in the game that couldn’t be displayed in a gallery. Neva is a sensory delight, which adds to the whole immersion of the event.

Neva has a lot going for it, but it can occasionally feel sluggish. To ensure that you take in the surroundings, there are often periods when you run in a straight line between more intriguing moments, which last just a little too long. Alba in general moves a little too slowly beside this, and I spent the majority of my time slamming the dash button in an attempt to accelerate slightly.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 79%

Controls: 82%

Aesthetics: 90%

Content: 76%

Accessibility: 80%

Value: 78%

Overall: 81%

VERY GOOD

Summary: “Neva” is a visually stunning and emotionally charged encounter. The game revolves around a heartfelt story of loss and companionship, with hand-drawn imagery that perfectly suits the plot. The gameplay is straightforward, focused on exploration and short puzzles, but the emotional depth of the game is its true standout. Despite its short length and restricted material and gameplay, “Neva” remains a meaningful adventure that will appeal to gamers who appreciate artistic, story-driven games. “Neva” provides a quick but impactful adventure.