Confetti’s Cozy Corner: Neva review
When you look up the word ‘art’ in the dictionary, an image from Neva needs to be right next to it.
Developed by Nomada Studio, the same folks who developed GRIS, Neva is an action adventure platformer that centers on Alba who forms a deep bond with a wolf cub. The world they navigate was once vibrant and fun but now is slowly decaying due to dark forces encroaching around them. You are with Alba and the wolf cub as they grow and go through stages of life, and you see as their bond is tested as the world further descends into darkness.
“Neva” is the only word you hear throughout the entire game. The story is emotionally charged, enchanting and well written, and the graphics, color story, music and themes are simply breathtaking. As the world descends into decay around Alba and the wolf cub you see them as individuals grow, sometimes butt heads but ultimately form a deeper bond with one another.
The wolf cub, like many young creatures, is curious, rambunctious, and excited by its surroundings. As you move through the story, solve puzzles and defeat enemies you slowly see the wolf cub mature into a creature of maturity and beauty. The story progresses with the four seasons being a device used to push the story forward. With the turn of each season, the art changes, the music and sound effects change, but the hostile nature of the decaying world is a constant. How you interpret the change, constants, and circumstances that happen in the game is up to you, but one thing Nomada Studios excels in is making you feel something.
The immediate difference you will notice when it comes to Neva compared to GRIS is the combat. The combat was the only thing I personally did not like because sometimes I found it overwhelming combined with the platforming. There is a story mode the developers put in the game, where you will not die by enemies. I played this mode because platformers are not my strongest genre and because Nomada Studios are such captivating storytellers I wanted my focus to be purely on the story, and not the struggles of constantly dying from unforgiving enemy attacks or tree encounters.
While GRIS was a masterpiece, Neva definitely stands on its own with its own masterpiece rating. It is nominated in three categories at the 2024 Game Awards in the categories of: Best Independent Game, Games for Impact, and Best Art Direction. With Nomada Studios talent for storytelling, hand drawn graphics, beautiful visuals, and enchanting music, I would not be surprised if they won every category they are in; but they are up against some strong contenders.
Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Final Fantasy XIII-2 feel like strong influences of Neva. As a fan of GRIS, I am glad that Neva does not attempt to be a sequel, but stands on its own narratively. Without spoiling any of the plot points, I will encourage you to pay attention to the details, take many screenshots and have tissues beside you as you approach the end of the game. Neva does have themes of loss, grief, hope and shows environmental decay. Do what you must to self-care and prepare.
In a gaming market that seems to focus on squeezing every cent from the consumer, Neva is a breath of fresh air that emphasizes the craft of creating good impactful art and a story that will stay with players forever. Neva is available on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5, Steam and Xbox for $19.99 USD, and is Steam Deck compatible.
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