Coming into a narrative halfway could be disorienting. I recall beginning the 2000s reboot of Battlestar Galactica with out watching the pilot film, confused concerning the characters, their state of affairs, and the battle.
I skilled an analogous feeling with Nephise: Ascension, the third recreation within the collection following Nephise and Nephise Begins. These video games initially appeared on PC a number of years again, so their arrival on Xbox comes after a substantial hole.
Nonetheless, I used to be desirous to expertise one other creation from Tonguç Bodur, so let’s start.
I’m typically a fan of Tonguç Bodur’s video games, although their high quality can fluctuate. This explicit title affords a mixture of strolling simulator parts, puzzle-solving, and lightweight platforming.
You play as Nephise, and whereas prior information of the earlier video games isn’t strictly essential, some narrative context is likely to be lacking for those who’ve by no means taken these video games in. In Nephise: Ascension, we uncover that Nephise is an orb hunter who falls down a gap and finds herself in Dragon’s Valley. She then embarks on a journey to flee, traversing an enormous lake in a moored boat.
Nephise: Ascension options brief cutscenes and narration that present glimpses into the story. The narrative is intriguing and surreal, prioritising environment over an easy plot. And as you’d count on of a recreation from this developer, uncommon occasions and dreamlike sequences unfold, creating a way of thriller and surprise. Whereas the story won’t be for everybody, it piqued my curiosity and made me wish to discover the earlier video games within the collection.
The gameplay begins with leisurely exploration, permitting you to soak within the surroundings. You’ll encounter pedestals that require you to seek out and place statues, encouraging exploration of the environments. Along with strolling, you too can run, which is useful for traversing bigger areas.
As you progress, new mechanics are launched, reminiscent of accumulating orbs to unlock pathways and navigating dungeon-like ranges with interactive mechanisms. A spotlight for me was a section the place you journey a lion – a novel and memorable expertise.
The sport additionally options platforming challenges, requiring you to navigate treacherous traps and swinging walkways with exact timing. Whereas these parts won’t be totally new, they add welcome selection to the gameplay.
The visuals are significantly spectacular within the exterior environments, with rolling meadows, shimmering lakes, and historic ruins. Nonetheless, the interiors really feel much less detailed and considerably dated. And there’s no getting away from the truth that Nephise’s apparel, whereas aesthetically pleasing, appears impractical for the environments she traverses.
There are additionally a number of minor graphical glitches all through; nothing that considerably detracts from the expertise, however value a point out. And the soundtrack is stress-free and evocative, while the narration is delivered by an older voice actor, which is a refreshing change of tempo.
Should you’re a fan of earlier video games from Tonguç Bodur’s, then you must get pleasure from this departure from the standard fashion, with its expanded gameplay mechanics and intriguing narrative. The story is bonkers, however the visuals, significantly within the exterior environments, are fairly lovely. Whereas some would possibly discover the interiors and character design considerably dated, and there are occasional glitches, Nephise: Ascension is a worthwhile look, particularly for individuals who get pleasure from atmospheric exploration.
Nephise: Ascension Takes Flight on Xbox: A Charming Journey By Dragon’s Valley – https://www.thexboxhub.com/nephise-ascension-takes-flight-on-xbox-a-captivating-journey-through-dragons-valley/
Nephise: Ascension is on the Xbox Retailer – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/video games/retailer/p/9PJSBWCD8MBX/0010