Why Neva could become a dark horse Game of the Year contender for 2024, plus hands-on with Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and more.
The question of whether video games should be considered art has been a contentious topic for quite some time, but when you look at a game like Neva, it’s incredibly difficult to argue otherwise. Here is a game so ornate, so carefully considered and so stunningly beautiful that it’s hard to call it anything other than an artistic masterpiece. But what about as an actual game? Well, it nails that as well.
Developed by Nomada Studio, the team behind the incredibly overlooked Gris, Neva tells the tale of Alba, a young woman, and her wolf cub Neva as they journey through a world that quite literally breaks apart in front of your eyes. Across various seasons you’ll follow the pair as they face an increasing presence of dark forces that look as though they’ve been ripped straight out of a Studio Ghibli film.
It’s a dark and at times depressing tale, which is interestingly contrasted by the bright and vibrant watercolour aesthetic Neva delivers. Where Gris laid a lot of the stylistic foundations, Neva embraces Nomada Studio’s painterly tendencies wholeheartedly and becomes one of the most beautiful games ever made in the process. This is certainly one to play on an OLED display.
Also like Gris, Neva once again focuses much of its playtime on platforming around the world, but this time Alba is handed a blade to wield. This not only provides a greater level of agency against some of the foes you face but allows for more variety in the moment-to-moment loop. You aren’t granted an extensive suite of moves, but you will be still able to manage a basic three-swing combo, dodge roll and skewer foes from above.
Combat opens the door to some truly terrifying larger-than-life encounters, even though these same situations can also occasionally frustrate as I worked out exactly how the game wanted me to go on the offensive without dying. But it’s a minor niggle in an otherwise beautiful experience.
Between the exceptional visuals, impeccable soundtrack and engaging world, you’ll Neva want to put this game to end.
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Neva is out now for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC.
Also out now…
Epic Mickey Rebrushed (PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, PC)
For those who missed it back in 2010, the original Epic Mickey was a creative attempt to bring Disney’s magical mouse back into the mainstream conversation, albeit rocking a slightly darker take than most were used to. A decade later and this ‘Rebrushed’ edition is hoping to bring the game back into the limelight. The good news is that this canvas has been given new life once more.
As you might expect the most noticeable change here is Rebrushed’s visuals and they’re immediately apparent due to how impressive the rework is. Not only is everything now running at a pretty solid 60fps, everything just packs more of a punch. The colours manage to pop off the screen a little more, which in turn allows locations to shine that touch brighter and provide more clarity than they did over 10 years ago. I also enjoyed some nice quality of life improvements like a sprint ability and extra combat moves.
Speaking of combat, it’s still relatively basic and much of the gameplay remains collect-a-thon heavy but there’s still an inherent charm to Epic Mickey, so if you’re interested, Rebrushed is certainly the definitive way to play.
The Karate Kid: Street Rumble (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, Switch, PC)
If you’re deep into Cobra Kai and hoping to wax on and wax off with your favourite video game, The Karate Kid: Street Rumble might be just what you’re after.
Taking plenty of pixelated inspiration from the likes of TMNT: Shredders Revenge, Street Rumble similarly embraces a retro aesthetic in the form of a classic side-scrolling beat ‘em up that loosely follows the events of the original trilogy. That provides plenty of opportunity to dish out a heavy dose of karate-dealing ways while also engaging in the odd mini-game like practicing your classic crane kick.
It’s a loop that’s very reminiscent of classic beat ‘em ups for the arcades of yesteryear, and works quite well, especially with local co-op. Sure I wish the combat itself was a little more polished, but I still managed to have some fun, both solo and with friends. The sprite-based visuals are also surprisingly on point and provide a much better vibe than some of the more recent modern-looking entries.
The Karate Kid: Street Rumble might not be a long time, but it’s still a relatively enjoyable one, especially for long-time fans of the series.
Squirrel with a Gun (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
For better and for worse Squirrel with a Gun does exactly as advertised on the tin. You control a gun-toting rodent with a simple goal: create a world of pure chaos.
Whether you’re using the momentum of a pistol firing bullets to launch yourself from platform to platform or taking on heavy artillery with an Uzi in hand, there’s certainly plenty of zany situations that are bound to elicit a few chuckles. You simply have to commend the sheer creativity on display here.
The only problem is that, at least for me, it was also a hook that gradually grew a little tired, especially with Agent Smith-looking enemies that never fight back in any meaningful kind of way. I love mindless shenanigans as much as the next guy, but I was hoping for something that pushed a little deeper, so fingers crossed that’s something that can be addressed in a future sequel.
It’s also worth noting that I encountered a few bugs in my time, although while annoying they didn’t totally destroy the inherent charm at play. So at the end of the day Squirrel with a Gun doesn’t always make the most of its potential, meaning you may want to take a deeper look to determine if you’ll go nuts for it.
For more on this topic, follow the Gaming Observer.
