![]() Spirit of the North also has an aggravating collectibles system. The puzzles were there, yes, but they were so subtly woven through there was never the jarring reminder that “yes, you’re playing a game” every time they popped up. You think back to Journey and all you think about is the forward progress. If there was anything that the developers needed to do in their efforts to copy Journey, it was to understand the seamless way that game’s puzzles were integrated into the overall experience. They’re not difficult puzzles by any means, but their presence becomes a grinding reminder that Spirit of the North really is a just a game rather than a more potent work of art. Each puzzle is an arbitrary mess, where forward progression through the world grinds to a halt while you run around looking to fulfill the conditions that will bring down the wall blocking your way, and far too often that is an obvious, arbitrary wall that just disappears once the puzzle is solved. ![]() Spirit of the North’s greatest struggles occur when it tries to play like Journey. I really struggled to finish this one because I couldn’t help but think that if I wanted this kind of game, I could just play Journey again. The problem is that because Spirit of the North is so slavishly devoted to trying to be Journey, it misses out on the opportunity to develop its own personality, and ultimately this hurts the game. That in itself isn’t a slight against it – after all, there aren’t many games that are Journey. Unfortunately Spirit of the North is not Journey. Part of the magic of both of these games is that they always feels expansive, and that you’re very much a part of a world of wonders. This game is not open (it’s deceptively linear and limited), but then, Journey was the same. It’s the moments where you come across a new area, to see expanses of land, water, snow, greenery, and whatever else that Spirit of the North really hits home. The game is also truly gorgeous, even on Nintendo Switch where things have clearly been cut down substantially to work on the more humble hardware. If nothing else, my knowledge on Nordic storytelling traditions is sadly inadequate and this game reminded me that I probably should remedy that at some stage. There’s not a word of dialogue in Spirit of the North, but it has a strong narrative context, and by going into it with an interpretative and inquisitive mind, it does seem to have real cultural value. In this case, it wants you to reflect on the cultural implications of the Nordic storytelling traditions that it explores. ![]() It wants to be a Journey-like artistic experience, designed to lift your soul and simultaneously give you something to reflect on. Spirit of the North wears its inspiration on its sleeve. People who participate in those vile fox hunts need to be rounded up and made the subject of a hunt themselves… but we’re not here to talk about that. They’re smart, fluffy, and noble animals, like wolves but more petite and less terrifying if you happen to just come across one (yes I know that wolves aren’t actually the dangerous monsters that popular culture likes to depict them as, but they are still much more powerful animals than the shy fox). Moving orchestral soundtrack featuring 14 original compositions.I love foxes. Follow the mysterious Spirit Fox across a land left in ruin as you discover more about a lost civilization. ![]() Solve environmental puzzles to change the world around you, using ancient powers bestowed upon you by the guardian of the Northern Lights. ' a journey well worth taking' - TechRaptor Key Features:- Make your way across stunning landscapes, on an emotionally stirring journey. Players must breathe in their surroundings to solve various puzzles and speculate the meaning of a lost ancient civilization. Uniquely designed to purposefully have no dialog or narration. As you journey over the mountains and under red-stained skies, you’ll discover more about your companion and land left in ruin. Play as an ordinary red fox whose story becomes entwined with the guardian of the Northern Lights, a magical spirit fox. The story takes root from various pieces of Nordic folklore. Spirit of the North is a single-player 3rd-person adventure game inspired by the breathtaking and mysterious landscapes of Iceland. ![]()
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