Neva: Prologue presents the story of Alba, a young woman on a journey who stumbles across a lone wolf cub. Working together, they’ll travel together through the lands with light puzzle solving and fast paced combat encounters, this tale providing further backstory to a game released long enough ago, that you might have forgotten what it was about. Not that it mattered as with no need for any real exposition, I was soon able to piece together this heartfelt story of a girl and her wolf, all emotion expertly conveyed in the alluring animation and luscious soundtrack.
Whilst there’s certainly nothing wrong with the moment to moment gameplay in Neva: Prologue, which finds you platforming and puzzling around some truly breath-taking landscapes, it’s the sense of style that has left its mark upon me. An orchestral soundtrack that sings, full of dancing strings and grandeur. Clean vector lines and pastel shades that bring a fantastical landscape to life, simple shapes that become far more than the sum of their parts when seen in motion. It’s a breath-taking combination. Combine this with a fable of earning the trust of the young wolf, before having to chase the creatures that have cruelly taken her from you and you’ve a potent mixture that’s sure to tug on the heart-strings in a way that’s not often executed with such finesse.
Puzzles come in varied formats, some relying on the interplay of light and dark areas as you are hunted by a lightning-wielding beast as you dart from cover to cover. Sometimes, you’ll find yourself carrying the cub, Neva, through the environment, the act of supporting her taking away some of your own abilities, forcing you to think your way around what would otherwise be a simple bit of traversal. Others require fast reflexes and nimble displays of dexterity, fast thinking and even faster fingers being needed to progress through this gorgeous game. Environments and challenges change often and you’ll be constantly adapting to get over the next obstacle in your journey.
Fast paced action is provided as you are pursued by dark faceless figures that have a nasty habit of oozing from the ground below, slender arms reaching out to grasp you and drag you down into the darkness. More often than not, you’ll be enclosed to an area to take on numerous waves of creatures, each onslaught more daunting than the last but none of which offering too steep a challenge for anyone with even a passing experience with combat in gaming. With a simple control scheme reliant on a dodge mechanic to defend yourself from foes, it’s brisk and fluid, offering a palate cleanser from the platforming.
A particular favourite moment has you being chased by an inky black grub/slug/monster hybrid, balancing the desperate need to escape with moments of tense pause whilst you await the dissipating vomit of your pursuer to drain away, all whilst clinging on to the pup in your arms as you dash across the landscape. It actually seems even more horrendous now that I’ve committed it to paper but it’s hard to express the raw emotion as the strings soar and the chorus of the choir echoes out, the creature gaining on you step by step.
Punishment for failure is light, with death only providing a momentary pause before you again attempt that tricky platforming section or face a wave of enemies for round two. It ensures that the pace is quick and never once did I feel unfairly punished for my own failings. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows however, as Neva: Prologue suffers a little for its short length. It would easily be possible to complete this in a single sitting, my own playtime coming in at around 90 minutes. Whilst never feeling rushed, this DLC could certainly offer more without feeling bloated.
Neva: Prologue provides an earnest portrayal of the unique bond that can be found between man and animal. Genuinely a feast for the senses, with heavenly visuals, a truly bewitching soundtrack and more than a few standout moments packed into its short run time, this DLC shouldn’t be missed by fans of Nomada Studio’s work, offering further insight into the origins of our titular wolf.
