![]() ![]() There isn’t any dialogue or other notable aspects to fall back on aside from the music, so this title certainly excels at what it was driven to do.Established in 1982 by Richard and Jill McIntyre, Moorooduc Estate is a small, family run wine business that has developed an enviable reputation for complex and food friendly wines. For a title of this nature, consistency in visual quality and scenery was vital. No noticeable frame rate drops nor graphical oddities were encountered in my time playing. Performance-wise, Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition felt perfect on the PlayStation 5. It can dash and perform a rather sizable jump, so the act of navigation can never be blamed on the controls, which are vital for a puzzle adventure title of this nature. The fox’s movements are extremely smooth and agile. Looking at the wondrous landscapes and appreciating the stylistic design choices was always enjoyable, but the further I progressed, the duller the affair of completing repetitive puzzles became. Even though the scenery and atmosphere are what this title uses to keep you invested, that investment only felt surface level at several points. The one real blemish this title has is the lack of gameplay variety. Occasionally, there is a slight change to how you reach new areas, but those moments are incredibly brief and do little to alter the foundation as a whole. Still, they failed to deliver enough variety to keep me engaged. The continuous puzzles that consisted of finding staves and enlightening monuments with the Guardian of the Northern Lights powers were satisfying. Changes in visual scenery can only do so much to alleviate the tedium. Ultimately, however, I can’t deny that I felt I was repeatedly going through the same song and dance. That, coupled alongside the lack of dialogue and narration, makes players focus solely on the world in front of them. There isn’t any UI, nor any map to guide players, but due to the linearity of progression, the lack of an included UI felt like the proper design choice. Spirit of the North does not try its hardest to lead you astray or confuse you. I did have some issues finding the staves at points later on but truthfully speaking I blame my own incompetence for that one. ![]() Doing so unlocks skins for the fox, and said skins are rather stylish, admittedly. There are various puzzles where shaman staves will be lying around randomly, and players will have to place them near the corpses of shamans. While there are somewhat misleading puzzles occasionally adorning the landscapes, the game is straightforward mechanically and what you see is what you get. The soundtrack enhances the title’s exploratory nature due to how it perfectly captures the ambiance of adventuring in a wintry land where nature is all that surrounds you.įrom a gameplay standpoint, Spirit of the North is straightforward with virtually no complexity within any of its layers. Another noteworthy aspect of this title is the incredible orchestral score. This can be felt from how the story is wordlessly delivered first and foremost, along with its stylistic visual design. This is clearly not a game developed with a large budget, nor does it take full advantage of the hardware it lands itself upon, but it’s clear that the developers had a vision they stuck to. The endless sheets of angelically white snow to the dark and almost ominous cavernous-like areas make the games’ visuals play a crucial role in engaging players within the nature-like majesty that awaits them. The world of Spirit of the North is breathtakingly beautiful, with the region inspired by Iceland depicted gorgeously. And in fact, I’d argue that despite the efforts to make learning about the story a fulfilling experience, this title truly shines the strongest with its atmosphere. While this can certainly come off as jarring and needlessly contrived for understanding the story, this design choice enhances the unique, mystical ambiance this title provides. In regards to the title’s overall narrative, Spirit of the North purposefully lacks dialogue and narration of any kind. While it can certainly come off as unappealing to certain crowds, it ultimately accomplishes its goal of being a calming and captivating third-person adventure.ĭuring Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition, players take control of an ordinary fox whose life quickly entangles itself with the Guardian of the Northern Lights, a magical fox spirit. Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition embodies the former. Sometimes taking things slow and steady in a calm, soothing environment is the exact kind of experience a gamer needs after going on epic monster-slaying quests fraught with peril and fright. ![]()
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