Last Inua Review

In Last Inua, a father has taken his son on a trip in the form of a rite of passage. Unfortunately, they've stumbled into a mystical conflict between the Keepers (the guardians of natural phenomena) and Tonrar (an evil entity that wants to destroy them). Worst of all, Ataataq's son Hiko is their only weapon against this dark force.

This game bares some similarities to last year's Limbo, mainly in the sense that it is a mystical, intriguing, and beautiful 2D platformer with a simple control scheme. Where it differs greatly is in the reliance on cooperation between the father and son. For example, Ataataq is the only one who can break the blocks of ice to grant access to new areas, whereas Hiko can interact with the various elemental forces. It's this teamwork that guides the gameplay, and it's all done with the tap of a button to switch between the two, followed by the multi-fuction action button to interact with the environment.

The non-active character is hardly passive though. They'll willingly follow players over the terrain until there's an obstacle they're unable to pass. It's this mechanic that makes it feel less like a dependant relationship, and more like that of a team. It's interesting to make use of Ataataq heavy-handed practical skills in contrast with Hiko's special abilities, both of which are necessary to traverse each area successfully. There are also enemies to avoid, from looming yetis to Tonrar's creeping black void.

Unfortunately, the gameplay can quickly become monotonous. Some of the areas are a bit same-y, and the characters move slightly too slow for my liking. The sweeping backdrops, mesmerising weather effects and rich sound effects all add a distinct artistic flair, but the gameplay often ends up feeling a little too sedated in their wake.

Last Inua is certainly something to behold, but for how long for is the question.