“The first game since Breath of the Wild that gives me a sense of adventure” We may have found the most unusual game at the end of the year!
Game news “The first game since Breath of the Wild that gives me a sense of adventure” We may have found the most unusual game at the end of the year!
You've probably never heard of this recently released little game. However, the meditative and musical adventure it offers risks awakening the curious adventurer in you. It's time to tell you about the love letter to the Scottish Highlands developed by Inkle Studio, A Highland Song.
Adventure in the Scottish Highlands
It is not only in the titles of articles that we find unlikely comparisons. Also in our Steam reviews, we regularly draw parallels between seemingly very different video game experiences. On paper, there's not much that connects Highland Song to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. On the one hand, we have an indie game that is very rooted in Scottish culture and nature. On the other hand, we have a continuation of the historical license from the world of video games that immerses us in a nature that is certainly prosperous but also fantastic. On the one hand, we have a fairly linear adventure that prioritizes music and 2D. On the other hand, a giant 3D open world pushes the gaming experience to hundreds of hours. On paper, the two titles don't seem to have anything in common. And yet, according to TotoThey have one thing in common: the sense of adventure it provides. “First game since Breath of the Wild that gives me a sense of adventure” Can we actually read Steam reviews of Inkle's minigame. Obviously this made us curious.
We immediately launched Highland Song on the Nintendo Switch. It all starts with a landscape, like a lighthouse in the distance where an old hermit might live. You soon realize that this is where your Uncle Hamish is. The latter has invited you to join him by means of Beltane, which here refers either to the great religious festival of the proto-Celtic year or to May 1st in Scottish Gaelic, quite simply. So far, it seems easy, no. But by zooming out to your house, the game will quickly make you understand that the mission will be very difficult. The road ahead is amazing. The mountains come one after another and we immediately feel that making the way will not be easy. This is confirmed by the gameplay. You will play Moira, a young girl in the prime of her life who is in very good physical condition, but she is not a champion runner or mountain climber. Inaccessible roads, need to rest, shortness of breath, fatal fall… You have been warned: to find the way to the sea, you will have to arm yourself with caution, patience and, above all, curiosity.
All roads seem to lead to Rome, and there are roads in Song of the Highlands. It's up to you : Will you explore to find the slightest shortcut or take every time the first sight of a path or tunnel that presents itself to you? For our part, we chose the first option. Something a little shiny? You need to pick it up quickly, it might come in handy later. Was the route mapped out thanks to the few maps we had? We'll see later, now I'd like to see what's behind that little rock over there. Without much effort, “Highland Song” got us exploring. Somehow, we feel again that feeling that the breath of the wilderness (and then the tears of the kingdom) gave us, of finding ourselves facing a clear path but unable to resist the urge to go and see what is hidden on the other side, behind that distant glow. And then, of course, that curiosity is rewarded! In addition to the possibility of discovering new paths, Above all, the history and tales of the Scottish Highlands are gradually revealed before our eyes.
The Highland Song is clearly a love letter to Scotland's stunning nature and folklore. As you progress, you'll learn more about the Highland Mountains and the history that brought them to life. From whiskey smuggling to urban legends, Song of the Highlands is a goldmine of information for curious adventurers. It's well done, it's interesting. We can't wait to relaunch the title to learn more and more. Everything is narrated through a strong Scottish accented voice-over, which introduces us to the peculiarities and expressions of Scottish English. Suffice it to say that the immersion is complete. Especially since the sound design is really well polished. From tiny drops to heavy rain, including pebbles rolling down slopes or wind sliding through tree leaves, everything is there to provide you with an audio-successful adventure. Then of course there are these stages where The title blends with the rhythm game to let you enjoy a real breath of fresh air under the melodies he created Lawrence Chapman, TALISK or Fourth moon Especially for this occasion.
The exotic game you need?
If we enjoyed our short time with Highland Song, it's clear we're not the only ones. The game received very positive reviews on Steam and managed to achieve a score of 79 on Metacritic. Gamers and testers especially welcome the more exotic and relaxing experience. The love letter to the Scottish lands presented by the developers from Inkle also did not leave them indifferent. Then, of course, there's the art direction and game's soundtrack which are real assets. As for the negative points, however, critics point to passages that can be frustrating when they get a little lost, the lack of French subtitles or even the vision that is sometimes too polluted by the Scottish rain. By reading all this, we also learn that the lifespan of a title can start from From 2 to 6-8 hours. Needless to say, not everyone will like it!
In short, if you're looking for a different, short, and quirky video game experience, A Highland Song is probably tailored to you. The same applies if you are the curious and adventurous type. To repeat another Steam review, our short experience coincides with one Yomzid : “An excellent game that will help you relax or give you that little smile of nostalgia that you haven't experienced yet.” As a reminder, Highland Song is available for less than €10 on PC and Nintendo Switch.