Neva

I'm writing this review as I'm about 3/4 through the game. I usually wait to finish a game like this before posting. But I know I'll see the ending, probably cry, and be like "wow, that boring, frustrating slog was so worth it." Except I don't want to do a review on a "saw the ending" emotional high. I do not like this game. But I will still finish out of obligation, since I loved GRIS, and it'll only take me like probably another 1 hr or so, I'm guessing. Anyway, here are my pros and cons, and I do not see how these will change after finish the game, given various threads I've read. 🟢 Pros: ✔️ Amazing artistic visuals. ✔️ Music is solid for the most part, but has some nice pieces during cutscenes and certain sequences. ✔️ Some very evocative emotional story beats. I choked up a couple times in this game as well as had some "wow" moments in some sequences. ✔️ Combat is serviceable. I'd say even good, in and of itself. It's fairly basic, but some powers you gain later sorta make things slightly more involved. Encounters, enemies, and some design choices however... More on them below. ✔️ Some platforming sequences are fairly creative mid-way through the game. 🔴 Cons: ❌ Combat encounters can just be so poorly designed, mainly due to the enemies themselves and hitboxes/hurtboxes. The square pushing dudes, why are they invincible when they swap sides? I still see their body on my side, the box isn't protecting them. The boar's stomps, why do I get hit when I clear the shockwave? Why even make an encounter with 3 square pushers or 2 big multi-head blob dudes? It's just tedious and annoying since we have so few options in combat. Just attack and dodge and sometimes [spoiler]sic Neva[/spoiler] on enemies. ❌ Again, I'm just 3/4 through but...the story. I'm all for abstruse storytelling. I loved GRIS, after all. But this story seems non-existent, besides, "hey we exist and are fighting this stuff so we can continue to exist." That's acceptable, I suppose. However, some story moments are just confusing or don't make sense. One example that sticks out to me is [spoiler]at the end of a chapter, the MC apparently dies. But then the next chapter starts and everything is a-okay, she survived and life goes on as normal. Maybe the ending will explain? All a dream scenario...? *sigh*[/spoiler] ❌ Perhaps the most frustrating combat design choice - YOU DIE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT AT 0 HEALTH STOCKS. So, there are 3 HP stocks. But each one is meter'd, basically. Taking a hit of any kind removes 1 full stock, but hitting the enemy builds up a stock through a meter. So you can have like 2.5 stocks or 2.2 stocks or 1.7 stocks, etc. If you are ANYWHERE below 1 stock, i.e. 0.7 stocks or 0.4 stocks, etc, you die if you get hit. Why have variable stock %s at all then? Just give us binary stocks and have us heal some other way. I could not stand this design choice, particularly since it is compounded by some poorly designed enemy encounters. ❌ Puzzles are not as good as GRIS. I suppose that is because there is a bigger focus on combat. I mean, I know, it's not like GRIS was on the level of Braid or even Limbo, but it had a few tough platforming puzzles. This game? Puzzles of any type - platforming or reasoning - are almost non-existent. They're there, but, just not at the level of GRIS. They seemed more tacked on to just fill in space while you progress instead of actually being designed with purpose. ❌ Yes, visuals are great on an artistic level. But in a practical level? Sometimes it's really difficult to see what platform or ledge you are suppose to go towards. Especially in parts of Chapter 3. Did they not test some of these for proper visual cues? Platforming on an 90% white screen where the only contrast is like a faded black/blue? With a white platform on a white base in front of a white background? C'mon. 🔵 Neutral: 🔹 The optional collect-a-thon. I'm not a fan of mandatory collect-a-thons, especially when they require going back to cleared content (and in this game, I assume you have to go back, since some of the items seem impossible to get at my progress). But hey, it's optional in this game, so it's like "whatever". I had no desire to collect them all, just what I could get as I encountered them. Anyway, the opening of this game had me excited. But once combat became more frequent and the story exposition was just not happening properly, the game became a drab to play. There are still some interesting story beats and some story points I want to see progress. But the gameplay is just unfun for me, and I'd prefer to uninstall, but I'll see this through to the end, since I know it'll have a strong ending.

Just like GRIS, Neva is a beautiful game. Every time I stumble into a new room, I stop to marvel the scrumptious scenery. Platforming is still the same, nothing much to say. The combat is actually decent, tho I wished there were charged heavy attacks/combat arts. I also underestimated some of the bosses, they are well designed without any cheap moves (looking at you waterfowl dance and pre-nerf double cross slash.). Although the bosses are way easier compared to that in other games, the game still reminds us at the end of the day, video games are an art form, regardless of difficulty.

One of the most vibrant and beautiful art styles in any game I've played in a long time. Every frame of this game could be a background image on your computer. Does a lot with a little in terms of story (show, don't tell) and while I was not the biggest fan of the combat it never felt truly unfair... except for a handful of times. Well worth the time you spend with it.

[h1]Nice to look. Nice to hear. Don't nice to play[/h1] Was looking forward to it, since i really liked Gris. But this is just...Man, i don't know what to say. It's just so boring. [h3] Combat [/h3] When the combat was introduced i was like "Wow, this is pretty fun and has so much potential". Now i finished the game and you know what? I did the same thing since the beginning. Spamming 'hit' button, occasionally pressing 'dodge'. Sure, the game introduced a new mechanic into combat later, but it wasn't some kind of a "game changer". It helps in specific fights, but it's not like you need it. I'm not sure i used it even once against the final boss. I've seen people complain about hitboxes and the problem still persists. It's hard to know what they are against big enemies. There are scripted combat scenes where enemies become invulnerable and change their position. You can easily get hit during such scenes if you stay close to enemies. Shouldn't be like this in my opinion. [h3] Level design [/h3] It's okay overall, but sometimes it's hard to navigate. I was once looking for a platform that was right under my nose for 5 minutes. It's just a white glowing line on a white background. So easy to miss. [h3] Story [/h3] Not deep, not touching and almost non-existent. Your typical fantasy-style story about some kind of evil corrupting the forest and heroes fighting against it. And yes, i just told you the whole story. There will be no revelations here. Only a confusing ending, in which you don't even have a clue on what is happening and why. Feels pretty mediocre and half-baked after Gris. [h3] Music [/h3] It's good. Berlinist did a great job once again. Every theme fits perfectly be it combat or exploration. [h3] Visuals [/h3] Stunning views. Absolutely amazing and incredibly beautiful. Sometimes you just want to stop and look at the scenery. Sadly, not enough to make it a good game. Overall i'm not recommending this game. Despite stunning visuals and music, there is nothing else that stands out. No story or engaging combat, some bosses hitboxed are just pain to deal with(skill issue?). Honestly, if you think whether you should buy it and haven't played GRIS from this studio, go buy GRIS instead.

dark souls ish meets great art style the platforming is more timing based the Gris but i recommend it if u r looking for a short and beautiful game

This game is freaking beautiful and does everything it tries to do nigh perfectly if you've played Gris then you already know just how amazing these guys are at visuals but this game is far more then just a pretty face all the movement in this game feels great, the double jump and dash both flow into each other perfectly and vice-versa the combat all feels fast and fun with some really amazing fights (especially near the end) although i will admit its not the most challenging experience, but even if any challenge is a bit to much for you there is of course a super easy mode that you can change into at any time the puzzles are all at the right level of difficult where you'll probably have to stop for a second every now and again to figure something out but overall you'll be smashing through them and that's all just the boring mechanical stuff, the game is really emotional and isn't afraid to show some teeth when it comes to death and even by the end when you probably already know whats about to happen it'll still hit like a truck as you can see from my playtime the game is pretty short but i still recommend you at least play the first hour and if you ain't loving it by then you can always get a refund and if there's anyone who worked on this that is for some reason insane enough to be looking in the steam reviews i truly thank you for making yet another beautiful bullet to my soul

Good game in most aspects. Great music. Meh combat. Is it the perfect successor that GRIS deserved? NO, GRIS had something special where it was both simple and impactful. I missed that in Neva, however i had fun playing it and didn't focus on analyzing the story to be able to understand. I promise to do next time.

Neva is a work of art. Nomada Studios has created something truly unique and stunning. Can't wait to see more from them.

This game is so sad, but it is so good. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a quick and good story.

From the very beginning, this game had me entirely hooked. But it was the way it ended, mirroring the start, that completely broke me (in a beautiful way). It felt like everything came full circle, like it had to end like that, and I'm still thinking about it. The puzzles were super satisfying with just enough challenge without being frustrating. And the music? They nailed it. Every single moment felt amplified by how perfectly the soundtrack matched the vibe. Bright cinematic scenes mixed with this constant sense of dread and melancholy... it just hit different. Such a heartfelt, immersive experience. If you love wolves, emotional storytelling, and getting lost in a world for a few hours; you need to play this. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Beautiful visuals, music and story. Highly recommend this experience

The art is Amazing. The combat made me crashout but when you beat the bosses it's the best feeling. I haven't finished the game yet but I already know the dogs gonna die.

It is a pretty solid quick game the music is very cinematic along with the visuals this is a good game to get when you see on sale and have nothing else to do.

Yes absolutely, beautiful art style, great story and plot. Made me cry multiple times, hit me in the feels, another beautiful game.

Completed one playthrough and I think that will be the only one, albeit it is a short linear visual novel like game so multiple playthroughs aren't really a part of its package. The art is phenomenal and animations really smooth. The combat is super simplistic which kind of fits the theme since it is a very easy game overall. It's more about visual experience than combat or even puzzles. For me I think it's all about mood. If you want 4-5 hours of beautiful visual storytelling and a quick high from the orchestral music synched with picturesque bloomy art filling your screen this is it 100%. If you want complex worlds, combat and boss fight, go play Elden Ring or something.

This is exactly what you would expect from the creators of GRIS - stunning visuals, art, and all the stuff. Combat and platforming is significantly harder, and it also took some time to grow on me overall, probably because the start is a bit dragged out. Also, kinda short. Still, a masterpiece.

This is not just a game, its literal art and it will destroy your soul wihtin 60 seconds XD

The gameplay is nothing revolutionary but the environment, the music, the sheer [i] vibes [/i] are perfect. If you're the sort of person who very easily get emotionally invested into games without letting challenges dissuade you, then this is a perfect experience. Otherwise though, this is a hard game to recommend, but I'd still do it anyway. Give it a try. It's a short game, only 3-5 hours if you just want to run through it once, and I'd personally say it's worth every penny and worth every second.

Stunning. Beautiful. This is such a fun, lovely game. <3

A short but sweet platformer game with beautiful music and sound, gorgeous art style and animation and a story without dialogue that tugs on your heartstrings. Not particularly difficult, but a very enjoyable experience. In a way I wish it was longer, but at the same time I respect the vision behind the game.

Gorgeous, balanced story telling, and emotional. An absolute gem of a game.

NEVA is beautiful, heart touching and quietly devastating Every moment feels like a painting in motion, wrapped in a story that gently breaks your heart while holding your hand. It’s an emotional journey about love, loss, and letting go and it’s nothing short of amazing and would highly recommend

Still working on completing this game, but it's wonderful. It's a great follow up to Gris. It's moving. The art style and music complement each other exceptionally well. I don't have the proper words to describe this game...just give it a shot.

A masterpiece, so much love and care is put into this game it's insane

Damn this game studio for always making me CRY. Neva is an amazing game that is wonderful to play, gorgeous to look at, and more than worth the time to play.

Just like Gris this was a beautiful game. Love the art, game play was solid and the story was beautiful. overall a great game.

Neva, like its predecessor Gris, is a relaxing adventure type experience which is best played to enjoy the scenery, music and set pieces. Cleary a lot of thought went into the look and feel (from an emotional perspective) of this game and it’s a good time to just vibe with your trust animal companion, although you’ll also have to face the hard time together. The main things that separate Neva from Gris are the dog, and combat. The dog is a great addition, making your journey less lonely and giving you an emotional tie in this abstract feeling world, the world of Neva does feel a bit more cohesive, maybe because of its season, but there still plenty of mystery and wonder. Having the animal also makes you look at the world a bit differently and you do form a bond where you want to best for them. The combat is a fine addition, its good, very stylish at times, and not super difficult although slightly tedious at times. It does a good job of keeping things a bit more interesting then just the platforming of Gris but it does end up getting a bit stale here and there, although again the dog comes to help to keep more interesting. I wouldn’t play this game if your specifically looking for a good combat system but it also doesn’t take way from the experience, is overall fun and has some real standout moments with bosses. Comparted to Gris it felt like the platforming mostly takes a backseat but there are still some interesting new mechanics sprinkled in so maybe it just feels like that because of the combat. The one thing I do really miss compared to Gris is the set piece moments. This game does have its moments but mostly through cutscenes and boss fights. There is less of those Ori like moments that integrates the fight and the gameplay in interesting ways, the boss fights fill the gap a little, in some ways having to do combat is more interesting but on the other hand the way gris has it was a bit more unique. (the final fight is fantastic though) Overall a good experience and if you liked Gris you’ll like this and visa verse probably.

In the same fashion as Gris, Neva presents a touching story with a ravishing, breathtaking art direction, cut-scenes, animations, visuals, and soundtrack. The combat is rather simple, yet they handle it in a way it never gets to feel like a chore and continuously keeps you engaged.

This game is simply gorgeous. I love the mostly implied storytelling with no dialogue. I went through ALL the emotions. And I'm going to go cry and draw fanart for the rest of the day now.

Pros - Beautiful art style - Story more straightforward than last game - Music knows when to kick in and when to be quiet - NEVA Cons - Combat, though fun and engaging at times, distracts from the art and design of the world I loved GRIS and as a fan of games that feel more like art than game, this fits right in. Similar to GRIS but at the same time seemingly a different art style that reminds of GRIS but also hitting a different theme. The combat is quite simple and snappy, easy enough to complete without too much skill involved but also sometimes the idea of failing can distract from the amazing backdrops and settings that the game has painted out. There are so many wallpaper worthy screencaps in the game and you do grow to love NEVA quite a bit at the end. I look forward to whatever this developer has in store next!

I love GRIS, so when I see Neva come out, I just have to buy it. TL;DR, I still like it, although it's not quite the same game. The theme this time seems to be more vague than GRIS, GRIS tells a story about recovering from a trauma, the metaphor all seem very obvious. This time I just feel like it's about life, death and reincarnation, but some things just don't quite fit in the big picture. I myself is fine with this, but I can see more people get "confused" by this. And there's combat, it's good. A little bit "Souls like" because you'll die after getting 3 hits. But it's not that hard, even bosses don't have a lot of attack patterns, typically there's just 1 or 2 for each mob, and maybe each form of the boss. And there's a EASY mode which you literally won't die. Music is still fantastic, although the dynamic range feels a bit too much, I have to turn up the volume a little to hear the soft notes, and when things get intense, I have to turn it down. Graphics, well it's almost identical to GRIS, you can tell from the screenshots.

Absoutely stunning visuals and music, highly recommend.

A beautiful game (audio and visual). Simplistic combat and some platforming puzzles to find a handful of collectibles. It is rather short. Took about 4 hours to complete. Worth full price imo for the hq audio and visuals alone but can always wait for a sale if you think it's too pricey for that.

Another unforgettable experience by Nomada Studios! Gorgeous world-building, the pacing of the gameplay is just right, the sound design, soundtracks, animations, they're all stunning and I can go on and on! If you've already played Gris then getting Neva is a must! If you're looking to play Neva but haven't played Gris yet then I highly implore you play Gris as well! Though Neva's story is not directly related to Gris it does take a lot of its styles, designs, and functions from it and I strongly believe it'll help give you a much stronger sense of appreciation for both games.

A lovely little game. Some absolutely mind-blowing art and design, a with a lovely score, neat puzzles, and some legitimately fun combat. Would recommend playing this in as few sessions as possible, I think the story beats will hit harder than if you play it over the course of a month like I did. The main game's platforming and puzzles are fairly simple. but every chapter has several "challenge" areas where you need to reach a certain destination, and I found these to be some of my favorite moments of the game. The platforming in these challenges can be legitimately difficult, and I appreciate that the developers included them to help spice up an otherwise fairly simple game. My only real complaint is that every(?) enemy in the game has an active hitbox on their model at all times. You are not able to walk through an enemy, even if they're not attacking, without taking damage. This can lead to some pretty obnoxious deaths that will not feel like your fault (because they're not), and is especially noticeable on larger enemies and ESPECIALLY the final boss. Do not let that discourage you, however. This is a wonderful game with some truly striking and goose-bump inducing sequences that is well worth your time. Maaaybe wait for a 25% off sale though as it's not very long.

Yes it's a great game I didn't find the same feeling as in GRIS. GRIS's OST is one of my favorite of all time, I think I can't replace it

Clarissima referencia a princesa mononoke. jogo muito lindo e vivo muito bem ambientado com a arte e trilha sonora. jogo te faz refletir sobre maturidade, ciclos, cuidar e proteger. Jogo conciso mas marcante do inicio ao fim.

I could feel love and a warm heart every moment from the beginning until the end of the game.

A modest evolution on its predecessor, GRIS. All around pretty good with the art direction being the standout aspect.

The art and the music are marvelous. Having 2 difficulties is great. The only thing I didn't like is the main character being black with white hairs. It didn't fit the setting at at all. Reminds me of DEI being forced into the game.

I had very high hopes for this game after playing Gris, which is one of my top 10 games of all time. Unfortunately, Neva fell far short of my expectations. The combat system feels out of place and poorly executed—it shifts the experience from what I hoped would be a relaxing, puzzle-oriented journey into something closer to a clunky, Souls-like game. It’s a completely different direction from Gris, and while that’s not inherently bad, it simply didn’t work for me. In hindsight, this might be partly due to my expectations, but even setting those aside, I wouldn’t recommend Neva.

一款可以把截图键按烂的游戏，美得无可救药。 无论春夏秋冬，你与我同在这世间，Neva。

A little bit harder than Gris, but lovely!

This was really beautiful! Such a good game after I played Gris.

Play this game and you won't be disappointed

The art is amazing and I love the challeges!!

Awesome and beautiful game

Beautiful art and story telling

Beautiful and Heartbreaking

I like the part where you can shoot the dog at people