Neva <\/em>is going to make me cry. It very nearly did at Summer Game Fest, as the game\u2019s introductory cinematics faded to black, literally just one minute into my time with the demo. I won\u2019t divulge what happens in those initial frames, but it shattered my heart. It also perfectly primed me for the heart-pounding danger and devastating beauty that I would get lost in for the next 45 minutes, alongside my new best friend, Neva the wolf.<\/p>\n Every aspect of Neva <\/em>is breathtaking. It plays like a living watercolor illustration: Alba, the protagonist, has long, slender limbs, a cloud of silver hair and a flowing red cloak that drapes behind her elegantly with each leap and fall. Neva is a young white wolf, fluffy and energetic, and the two share an intense bond that\u2019s repeatedly reinforced and tested in the demo.<\/p>\n The world of Neva<\/em> feels slightly more grounded than that of Gris<\/em>, the game that put Nomada Studio on the map in 2018, but it\u2019s still filled with layers of magic. The landscapes beyond the 2D plane that Alba and Neva traverse have incredible depth \u2014 dense forests hiding secrets and mountain ranges towering above wide valleys, sharp peaks piercing the sky in the far distance. The demo has lush glades draped in vines and weeping branches, sunlight streaming through the gaps in the leaves, as well as cave systems with dark, tight corridors. At times Neva<\/em> takes the Frank Lloyd Wright approach to design, squeezing players through claustrophobic thickets that suddenly burst onto fields of thick green grass, the camera pulling back to show how small Alba and Neva really are in this space.<\/p>\n Trees, leaves, rocks and roots compose the game\u2019s sidescrolling playground, with sloping platforms and floating islands built mainly out of stone. Touches of fantastical alien technology appear with increasing frequency as the demo progresses, as do hordes of inky-black enemies with round white faces, mouths open in silent screams.<\/p>\n Platforming in Neva<\/em> is intuitive. There\u2019s minimal on-screen text in the game, and instead direction comes from the environment, soft highlights and sunkissed glows marking the proper paths in a way that feels completely natural. I flowed through most areas of the demo, leaping onto ledges with almost-subconscious impulses, knowing that I could trust the game\u2019s subtle instructions. There are areas of spiky blackness that Alba has to clear for Neva to be able to progress, and at times it\u2019s necessary to leave the little wolf behind for a moment, generating instant separation anxiety. Neva yelps and squeaks as she learns how to traverse the world, and they\u2019re heart-wrenching sounds. I was keenly aware of Neva with each jump, making sure she could follow my path, lingering to watch her complete big leaps, petting her after each success, and consistently calling out her name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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