Neva Review – They Grow Up So Fast

An emotionally charged platforming adventure is something that regularly draws me in, as a siren does to ships in the night.

For the ships, that usually means a tragic shipwreck, whereas, for me, it usually means I’m left an emotional wreck come to the closing credits. But either way, neither I, nor the ships can help being lured in time and time again.

Gris Review — A Masterpiece of Outstanding Beauty That Captivates You and Doesn’t Let Go

Gris by Nomanda Studio is a story without words as you follow the internal struggles of a lost soul who is trying to make her way through the world and find herself again.

One such game that did just that was GRIS, a criminally underrated puzzle platformer from Nomada Studios that dealt with the five stages of grief in the most visually striking and intriguing way, pushing the boundaries of the gaming medium and silent storytelling.

Yet, having already cemented themselves as indie game royalty, Nomada is back at it again with Neva, a game that focuses on the bond of Alba and her wolf companion as they seek to save a decaying world.

But does this one have the same fluidity and emotional power as its predecessor? Well, if you stick around for our Neva review, conducted on PS5, you just might find out.

Pretty Pastel Platforming

If you’re familiar with Nomada’s previous work, it will go without saying that visual effects and showpieces come naturally to this group of creators.

Their previous work had a distinctive style that begged you to stop and drink in the scenery. So it should come as no surprise that Neva maintains this level of staggering visual brilliance, including all the staples of Nomada’s trademark art-style, while carving out a unique artistic approach for this new and exciting adventure.

The biggest compliment I can give Neva from a presentational standpoint is that even had I not been reviewing this title, I would have taken endless screenshots regardless. As the game is chock-full of awe-inspiring vistas, chilling silhouettes, and vibrant, color-drenched areas to explore.

It’s amazing to witness how masterfully the game uses color to evoke emotion, as GRIS did before it. In the early game, the abundance of flora and pastel-powered scenes make players feel at ease, but before long, the strong, dominating hues of various primary colors pull on different heartstrings, presenting a silent story with constant eye-candy.

Through the clever use of 2D layering, camerawork, color gradients, and much more, Neva’s visuals never cease to amaze from start to finish.Plus, thanks to the phenomenal score that knows when to soothe, when to fade away entirely, and when to go heavy to create thrilling emotional moments, you have a presentational masterclass that is worth the price of admission alone.

The abundance of flora and pastel-powered scenes make players feel at ease, but before long, the strong, dominating hues of various primary colors pull on different heartstrings, presenting a silent story with constant eye-candy.

The only minor criticism is that, from an accessibility perspective, this game would be a nightmare for the visually impaired.

Even as someone with decent eyesight myself, it was tough to see the various platforming sequences playing out before me, either due to the color choices or the zoomed-out camera.

Artistically, I can see why the choice was made, but it still bears mentioning.

A Change Of Focus

I love an artistic showpiece as much as the next person, but you need to offer substance in the gameplay department to be seen as more than just a pretty little plaything. Which thankfully, Neva delivers on, but perhaps not in the way many would expect.

Those players who pick up Neva because of GRIS’ success will likely expect a game rich in puzzles and platforming. However, Neva leans much more heavily toward the latter.

Neva uses dynamic and fluid double jump and dash mechanics to offer a traditional 2D side-scrolling approach to gameplay that isn’t too far removed from some of the finer Metroidvanias out there. This is a comparison only further cemented by the hack-and-slash combat the player will partake in over the course of this adventure.

It takes a little while for the game to offer anything all that exciting that gets the best out of these traditional mechanics, but rest assured, those moments arrive in their droves.

The game slowly builds up your platforming prowess as you develop your bond with Neva, your wolf companion, and with each new skill, the game opens up a little.

It has to be said, though. Despite high points like the reflection platforming segments or the boss battles that punctuate each chapter, Neva isn’t quite as clever as its predecessor from a gameplay standpoint.

It undoubtedly plays smoother and has a more dynamic feel to proceedings. But there’s little that tests the player, offers any ‘A-ha’ moments, or any one mechanic that you feel has been truly pushed to its limit. Which is a shame, because it’s clear to see that each one has the potential to be more.

Part of the Wolf Pack

This neatly brings me to the game’s central gimmick that sold me a dream that never quite blossomed as it could have.

From the initial moments as we get to know Neva as a youthful and sprightly cub, the game promises an adventure in which Alba and Neva’s growing relationship will play out in gameplay form, but aside from brief moments, this never quite happens as you would like it to.

I had hoped it would be something like The Last Guardian from a 2D perspective as we nurtured a young pup, and guided them through platforming training, only for them to return the favor in kind as the game progressed. But in the end, this mainly plays out as story beats rather than involved gameplay moments.

You can pet and soothe Neva, cast her like a projectile, ride her like a steed, and use her as a light source, all of which are well-implemented. But again, it all just felt a little lacking, as there was ample room for more interaction than ‘Yes, you can let the dog.’

It never felt like you earned a new power on account of building a stronger bond with Neva. Instead, it just felt as if you had got to a new area, and the game decided you needed a new gimmick to mess around with to keep things fresh.

I don’t want to be too critical, as everything feels very smooth, offers enough variety, and works excellently as a means of developing and pacing a story.

I just know from this title’s predecessor what the studio is capable of, and this fell somewhat short of my expectations regarding cohesive gameplay.

Room To Grow

As mentioned, the one thing that stayed with me most after the credits rolled on GRIS was the cohesive and engaging silent narrative that dealt with the process of loss in a coherent and effecting way.

So, perhaps I unfairly assumed that Neva would follow suit and, through a fantasy story, would present an equally powerful narrative with an underlying purpose.

The game aims to tell a tale of our relationships with our parents and, later, our relationship with our own children. It’s a coming-of-age story and a study on how our relationship with our loved ones must change with time.

But equally, it’s a tale centered around the world we leave behind for our children and how we must fight to preserve it, leaving it in a condition fit for our lineage to survive and thrive.

It’s a well-paced tale with emotive bookends that offer a powerful gut punch for those fully invested. Not to mention one that has bitesize chapters, generous checkpoints, and never overstays its welcome. However, I can’t help but feel that the dual symbolic meaning within the story never quite hits the lofty heights of Nomada’s last outing.

Witnessing the growth of both Alba and her furry friend is heartwarming, and their symbiotic relationship can be seen through just about every moment of this adventure. And each chapter represents each typical chapter of a parent’s childrearing experience expertly.

However, perhaps by leaning into one message wholeheartedly rather than the dual symbolism, we could have seen the same emotional resonance that came before, which, sadly, Neva just falls slightly short of.

Closing Comments:

Neva is a game that builds on the platforming prowess of its predecessor GRIS, offering powerful pastel visuals, incredible use of color and flora, and sublime set-pieces to tell a powerful story where your bond is everything. The game offers a newfound dynamism, trading in the label of a puzzle platformer for a more traditional adventure platforming approach. Sadly, the game fails to hit the narrative heights of its predecessor, and also fails to truly get the most out of each mechanic presented. But despite this, Neva is a captivating, visually jaw-dropping indie that is simply too good to ignore.