If you enjoy a bit of mysterious, suburban-Gothic storytelling, then Neversong is one heartfelt adventure you shouldn't miss out on. The short game follows the strange experiences of Peet, a young boy who is desperately trying to piece together an explanation for the strange events that surround him – chiefly the kidnapping of his childhood sweetheart, Wren.
Thomas Brush created Neversong (previously titled, Once Upon A Coma) as the spiritual successor of his flash game Coma, a viral hit at the time of its release 11 years ago. Story elements, themes, and songs from the original are called back on throughout Neversong, serving as a touching tribute to those who experienced Coma. However, the new release has plenty of new substance for the game to stand on its own two feet.
Handcrafted
Rarely will you stumble upon an indie game as beautiful and unique as Neversong. Thomas (Atmos Games) is responsible for the art, music, story, and design behind the game. Neversong shines in its ability to immerse players into the world of Peet, from the odd charm of Redwind Village to the unsettling walls of Blackfork Asylum. Thomas' gorgeous visuals, wacky characters, and enchanting music unify cohesively to forge Neversong's strong identity.
None of this should understate the importance of his collaborators however, specifically Erik Coburn/Serenity Forge, Neversong's developer. From what I experienced, the game's physics system is smooth, intuitive, and bug-free.
Bite-Sized
The game itself is quite short. My play-through took approximately four hours – roughly the same size as his previous game, Pinstripe. A lot of the intent behind Neversong persuades the player to drink in the quirky world around them; speeding through the game would be an injustice.
Neversong is Metroidvanian in style. Peet slowly gains access to sectioned-off areas, contingent on acquiring certain items. Players will find themselves grappling with minor puzzles to solve, minions/bosses to slay, and miniature-dialogue trees to navigate. The actual gameplay isn't necessarily innovative, but I found that my captivation with the story and world overrode any potential dullness. That being said, Neversong certainly isn't for everyone. Players that only play for gameplay alone will find it a bit lacking; those who play for overall experience, immersion, and style will be in for a treat.
Bizarre
Neversong has a distinct style to it. Just as Thomas' visuals have a particular feel to them, so does his bizarre approach to characters and story. Nothing in the game's curious world feels quite... normal – and that is by design. Nevertheless, Peet and his group of neighborhood friends seem familiar. Neversong's guts are somewhat reminiscent of the "gang experiences trouble, then goes on a wacky adventure" format, much like protagonists from Super 8, Stranger Things, and Stephen King's It. However, the way events unfold in the game is certainly unique and unexpected. Be ready for some outlandish substance!
For those who've played Pinstripe, you know that Thomas aims to move players' hearts with his games, too. He doesn't seem to be interested in developing addicting gameplay mechanics as much as he is in telling a touching story. He's also a fan of letting that story unfold in obscure ways, not holding the player's hand at all. After finishing the game, I was still left with a lot to interpret and solve for myself – and I like grappling with that difficulty.
While there could be a laundry list of complaints for the game if compared to industry titans, that would simply be unjust. Neversong has a strong identity in that it is a short, colorful experience – it doesn't try to be more than it is. Appropriately, it is priced at only $14.99 and offered at 15% off until May 27. If you love indie games, zany worlds, and obfuscated storytelling, then Neversong shouldn't be missed.
A PC copy of Neversong was provided to TheGamer for this review. Neversong is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Neversong