‘NEVA’, developed by Nomada Studio, was my best ‘Indie Game of 2024’, so it was an absolute pleasure to have the chance to dive into the newest DLC, ‘Neva: Prologue’. Will the developers be able to deliver an experience as powerful as the base game?

You can read my original review of the game ‘Neva’ here.

As the name suggests, this DLC is a prologue, set before the events of the main story, which, unfortunately, you must complete before cracking into this content. Running through one longer chapter, over 3 locations, this is set before our heroine, Alba, meets Neva, her wolf pup companion, in a quaint, butterfly-filled swamp.

Eventually, you unite with your little furry pal, and you embark on an escape away from the black ichor infesting what was once a serene world. Being hunted down, the whole black, bloated, putrid antagonist feels like a great correlation to the chokehold of modern-day powers.

I don’t think Neva inspires to come off as political, but it’s far too relatable not to draw tagents from it. You can’t help but have a real emotional response to this main game and DLC. It is very impactful on the mind and soul, at times.

The controls are exactly the same, so there isn’t much to report upon there, but there is the inclusion of some new enemies and mechanics to the platform. There are new enemies, such as black birds, that need to be timed precisely to get a boost to a new area and an innovative new platforming style with platforms that disappear in and out of sunlight and moonlight.

What is cute and everyone will love is the fact that you can pick up Neva now in a little bear hug and run along with her, choosing when you need to let her go to traverse or not. These are such great little additions that add more complexity to what I considered not an overly hard base game.

The visuals and sound representations are also still aligned to the main game experience. You will encounter the same beautiful pastel watercolour stylings of the graphics that contrast so starkly with the grotesque black ooze of the enemies.

Sound design, too, is scored still in a whimsical ambience and still has the ability to develop suspense when confronted by the blight. Pulsing lightning and the drone of the sun bearing down on you is an addition that adds to the dire sense of platforming areas.

I don’t know, it might be the hormones from the pregnancy or the state of the world at the present moment, but a tear rolled down my face at the conclusion of this DLC. I just have this overwhelming feeling in my stomach as the credits rolled and the whole experience culminated, and not many games have the ability or the power to do so.

Neva: Prologue is very short, I clocked it in about just under 2 hours, but it does cost only $AUD 4.99 on the Steam page. I wish this had been a little longer in play, but what it brings is inspiring, and I am glad to have experienced that sense of hope and love in a game. It’s been a while. Nomada Studio really knows how to punch you in the heart, and I thank them for it.

Written by: Stacey