14 DAY TRIAL // Nocturnal is one of the games that takes its title from a core mechanic. A love letter to classic side-scrolling games, Nocturnal adds its own twist to the traditional formula, one that’s well-thought out and very well implemented.
In Nocturnal, you take on the role of Ardeshir, a soldier of the Enduring Flame who deserted to return to his home island, which has been suddenly overrun by a dark mist. The core mechanic of the game is “fire.” Throughout the levels, Ardeshir must light up the torches to avoid being engulfed by the dark magic, which is only weak to fire.
This isn’t just a simple side-scrolling platformer where you have to go from A to B making perfect jumps and solving occasional puzzles. There are enemies spawned from the mist that Ardeshir must kill in order to progress.
The game becomes more challenging when many of the enemies that you must purge are right in the middle of the dark fog. Finding ways to keep your sword engulfed in fire for longer times is the key to success in these fights. Nocturnal also has a rather basic skill tree where you can unlock abilities that boost Ardeshir’s survivability skills or attack power. The currency used usually drops from enemies, but it can also be found in vessels that can be destroyed throughout levels.
Puzzles usually involve having to reach certain areas covered in fog to light up torches that open the way forward. Sometimes it’s an elevator, other times it’s a door that can’t be unlocked. There are always hints regarding the solution, but more often than not they’re not in the same screen with the puzzle.
The combat system is tight, smooth, and pretty satisfying, especially when you get rid of 3-4 enemies in just one hit. When your sword is engulfed in flames, you aren’t just able to light up the torches, but you also dish out a lot more damage to enemies. There’s no parry move in Nocturnal, but Ardeshir can dash away before the enemy’s attack lands.
Usually, I found that it’s better to wait for the enemy to attack, then squeeze in a few attacks of your own, then dash away. Rinse and repeat. Nocturnal is not a challenging game, but there is a permadeath mode for those who think they go through each level without dying.
To avoid losing too much progression and make the experience frustrating rather than enjoyable, developers have added plenty of checkpoints. However, upgrading abilities can only be done at the Phoenix statues, and these are quite rare.
This isn’t an issue though since upgrades require a high amount of currency, so by the time you gather enough to unlock an upgrade, you’ll most likely find the Phoenix statue. Exploration is usually rewarded with more “ashes” in Nocturnal, which will help Ardeshir boost his stats and gain new abilities faster.
The story is delivered through notes for the most part, but there are other characters that Ardeshir will meet throughout his journey, who will reveal more about the protagonist. There’s no voice acting in the game, but it does have a pretty good soundtrack.
Conclusion
Although it’s not as challenging as most similar games, Nocturnal is entertaining enough to make it worthwhile. If you’re into side-scrollers, you’ll want to keep your eyes on this one. Nocturnal is expected to launch later this Spring on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Preview key provided by the publisher.
