Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is an adventure-puzzle sport for the Nintendo Swap. It units out to carry a soothing expertise to gamers with its charming aesthetic, cute critters, and melody-inspired gameplay.
In the event you’ve by no means heard of the Snufkin collection of books from Finnish creator Tove Jansson, you’re not alone. This sport served as my introduction to the charming world of Moominvalley, although the characters seem like semi-popular in Nintendo’s homeland. This serendipitous discovery was made as I reviewed the sport whereas touring Japan.
The story of Melody of Moominvalley begins with a candy scene on the finish of autumn. You management Snufkin, a human drifter who befriends the critters of Moominvalley. As winter approaches, Snufkin says farewell to his greatest buddy, Moomintroll, a white bear-like creature who waves him off at their assembly spot on the bridge. As soon as winter recedes, Snufkin returns to the forest, solely to search out that issues have modified and the animals are in peril. Even worse, his greatest buddy is lacking. It’s time to set issues proper once more.
Your two most important duties are to search out Moomintroll and to revive the forest to its pure state. The areas surrounding the village have been transformed into parkland, robbing the critters of their dwelling.
There’s an environmental message weaved into the gameplay. With the village and surrounding forest being reworked into parkland, Snufkin pulls out park indicators and (slightly rapidly) restores timber and grassy areas again to the way in which they had been. Apparently, the creatures inflicting the disruption aren’t human; they look like the identical species as Moomintroll. It goes to point out that anybody can destroy the surroundings.
There are a few gameplay components used to push the story alongside. Exploration is vital, with easy puzzles used to open new areas. These may embrace discovering a key to unlock a gate or tiptoeing round policemen to keep away from being captured. Maybe you’ll want to search out the lacking objects required to construct a raft, or race a leaf down a stream. The targets are neatly listed for you and clearly marked as full when completed. They’re usually simple to resolve, aiming for a extra enjoyable affair. There are not any lives or hearts to depend, you merely go about your duties till you full them. It’s a refreshing change of web page in addition to guaranteeing issues are accessible to youthful gamers. There’s additionally loads of selection to maintain issues fascinating.
To attain these targets, our protagonist wields a number of musical devices. Snufkin begins with a harmonica, rising his repertoire with additional devices as he ranges up. He makes use of these to speak with numerous creatures. Typically this ties in with the puzzle component, utilizing music to maneuver creatures or encourage them that will help you. It’s a novel mechanic that’s simple to drag off by way of the ZR button. The candy melodies are tinged with melancholy, and I loved utilizing Snufkin’s devices even simply strolling round.
Snufkin’s character is value mentioning because it provides to the persona of the sport itself. He’s a hero, certain, however he’s additionally a vagrant musician who drifts between seasons. In different phrases, he’s cool, calm, and picked up. Different characters could make the most of his useful nature, however he’s at all times aware of it. He’s intelligent sufficient to remember, type sufficient to do the fitting factor, however nonetheless has room for a couple of chuckle-worthy feedback alongside the way in which. It’s a pleasant stability that’s half and parcel of the story.
The sport’s aesthetic is beautiful. There’s a picture-book model to the graphics, utilizing a duller shade of inexperienced and blue to intensify the forest’s plight. It’s purposefully a bit of subdued and enhances that barely melancholic vibe of Snufkin’s devices talked about earlier. It helps paint an image worthy of its supply materials.
General, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley supplies a soothing journey stuffed with appeal. There’s one thing distinctive about this one; the storybook method coupled with a musical slant and wrapped in an environmental message feels particular. It will not be a protracted sport, but it surely’s totally gratifying whereas it lasts.