Although each area you dock in is relatively small, I was impressed by the amount of ground available for exploration, and while it isn’t difficult to find artefacts, there is always a meaning in where they are found that makes your ‘detective work’ all the more engaging. The more you collect, the more regions will be unlocked on the map for you to visit and explore even further. ![]() ![]() Throughout your travels across various moons, you will be investigating dozens of artefacts, pieces, treasures, knick-knacks and any other synonyms for ‘relic’ you can think of as you attempt to trace them back to their roots. What truly makes it shine is in how it never loses itself in its broad scope, and that its expansive size is justified by the amount of things Aliya and Six can interact with. It’s deceptively vast, with a map, language system and world lore that surpasses even large budget games. Close-up faces were often fuzzy and certain poses could get clunky during my playthrough, but these barely put a scratch on the beautiful art style that carries Heaven’s Vault with a sparkling polish.Īlthough I’m reluctant to apply generalisations behind the typical ‘size’ of indie games, I have to admit that I did not expect Heaven’s Vault to be as big as it is. ![]() The combination of 2D character models rendered onto stunning 3D landscapes is so effective in showing off the Nebula’s vibrant colours and soft textures in the most consistent way, with charming ‘snapshot’ walking animations that are surprisingly fluid when worked into the environment. Inkle, after all, proves that you don’t need photo-realistic textures to convey a believable interactive world. People have taken a single glance at the graphics and called Heaven’s Vault ‘cheap’, but I implore you to not undervalue its simplistic style. From the verdant farm moon of Maersi to the slums of Elboreth and dozens of forgotten settlement moons in between, there’s seriously no shortage of places to explore. While traversing space, you are free to visit a vast and diverse collection of civilisations, environments and lost regions of early history waiting for you to discover. Once you leave the modern haven of Iox University in the opening segment, the entire Nebula is virtually yours-and to be frank, I was astounded by the sheer scope of locations Heaven’s Vault had to offer. Before embarking, she is presented with her sixth companion robot, aptly named ‘Six’, who will analyse newly-gathered artefacts and, of course, offer ironic and hilarious responses for any snide ‘robotist’ comment you think you’re clever in making. You play as Aliya, an archaeologist sent on a mission to track a missing academic by following traces of mysterious ancient relics scattered throughout the Nebula. The minute I started Heaven’s Vault, gorgeous sounds of a cello introducing an emotional and unexpectedly cinematic main theme was enough to assure me that there was more to this game than meets the eye. Yes, the notion is enough to pique interest and earn the game a download, but do the developers ultimately hold out on their word to mould an entire narrative thread around players deciphering a handful of ancient symbols? With more developers than ever experimenting with ways to make a playthrough entirely unique, even genres with linear roots - such as platformers and puzzlers - have been adjusting their conventions to fit the growing trend.īut when Inkle described how their own puzzler, Heaven’s Vault, was going to integrate a story that fluidly reflects the player’s choices, I was hesitant. ![]() You don’t have to look very far today to find a game capable of shaping its narrative around the player’s choices.
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