Genre
Puzzle, Platformer
Release Date
December 17th December
Publisher
Platforms
Xbox, PS, PC.
Aspire: Ina’s Tale Review
In Aspire: Ina’s Tale, we start with a girl locked up in an imposing structure that she must escape from. With each step you take a mystery is to be uncovered and the more you explore the more you will uncover. However, can she break free from her captors?
Genre
Puzzle, Platformer
Release Date
December 17th 2021
Publisher
Platforms
Xbox, PS, PC.
Want to see some gameplay first?
Her Journey
As Ina ventures forth on her journey, she must solve a slew of puzzles so she can continue onwards. Most of the puzzles she comes across require her to either activate levers or push and pull objects to solve. Ina can also acquire crystals that contain magical elements. These crystals can be used to power doors and even help her levitate blocks that can help her complete a puzzle.
They can also be used to power ancient lanterns that can light the way and protect her. However, her movements are limited when she is in possession of them. It can lead to frustrating moments when you are in a constant motion of move a bit, drop, move a bit etc… While it does offer up a variety of challenges for you. They are well laid out and switching between the platform portion and puzzles are seamless, but again, frustration can set in.
This frustration is more evident due to a lack of a HUD. There are times that when you are trying to solve a puzzle, something feels missing. This becomes more apparent after you quit the game and restart it. Upon restarting the game, you will notice that items that were not interactive have become available to you.
The only plus side to this is that the game will save regularly for you, and you won’t have to restart a level/section like most games.
The art style in Aspire: Ina’s Tale are beautiful in how the landscape and environments are presented in the game. The areas that you come across while exploring are quite diverse with harsh sunlight breaking through the shadows on interior hallways. Where the outside of the environments is more subtle and soft in terms of how light shines and reacts to objects. The world is overall beautiful and colourful which also tells a story that accompanies the main character as she moves across her journey.
To accompany the beautiful visuals is the atmospheric soundtrack. The subtle sounds dance about the world as your journey through it all the while complimenting the visuals. The soundtrack in the game while you play helps convey a message to Ina as she explores the Tower, telling you a story of what was and what’s to come. I feel that this is the highlight of the game and throwing on a good set of headphones really emphasis it.
Ina’s story is a short one and with no real incentive to jump back in, is it enough to play? Well yes. The journey itself is what will keep you playing and finding out what mystery unfolds is the hook. While it’s a relatively short game, there is more than enough reason to enjoy the experience first-hand.
Overall
Aspire: Ina’s Tale is an enjoyable game, with a wonderful and well thought out story. The world is designed beautifully with puzzles that offer up a suitable challenge. While there is a big issue in relation to the sections based on platforming, it shouldn’t hinder your enjoyment too much. A short tale but a memorable one.
SSG Rating 8/10