Nairi: Rising Tide, the sequel to HomeBear Studio's 2018 point-and-click adventure, Nairi: Tower of Shirin, arrives on the Nintendo Switch eShop. While it builds upon the charming world and characters of its predecessor, it's not without its minor shortcomings. This review explores whether Rising Tide successfully navigates the currents of expectation.
The game's narrative picks up where Tower of Shirin left off, though prior knowledge isn't strictly necessary. An optional recap cleverly integrates the previous game's story, allowing newcomers to jump in. However, those familiar with the original will have a head start in understanding the complex lore. The story unfolds primarily from the perspectives of Nairi and Shiro, two children caught in the political turmoil of Shirin, a city starkly divided into rich, middle, and poor districts. The narrative focuses on their attempts to navigate corruption, uprisings, and mysterious magical forces, all while dealing with several interwoven subplots.
This abundance of subplots, however, can sometimes feel overwhelming. The sheer number of characters and concurrent narratives can make it difficult to maintain a clear understanding of the overarching plot. While the individual story arcs are engaging, the overall narrative can feel somewhat fragmented at times. The best approach appears to be focusing on Nairi and Shiro's central quest, allowing the peripheral storylines to unfold organically in the background.
The gameplay itself is classic point-and-click, with a strong emphasis on dialogue. Extended conversations between characters give the game a visual novel feel. The writing is lighthearted, featuring childlike humour that occasionally borders on cheesy, yet subtly interwoven with more serious themes of corruption and social inequality. The puzzles, while generally straightforward in the city sections, involving tasks like trading, filling blanks, or delivering items, require a keen eye for detail. Many interactive elements blend seamlessly with the background art, making them difficult to spot.
The game's dungeons provide a stark contrast, offering more challenging and intricate puzzles. These multi-levelled environments become the true highlight of the gameplay experience. The reduced character interaction in these sections allows the puzzles to take centre stage, demanding creative problem-solving and the strategic use of collected tools. Though rarely frustratingly difficult, some puzzles can feel obtuse, relying on subtle environmental clues and even obscure elements of the game's lore.
Fortunately, HomeBear Studio has addressed criticisms levied at the first gameâs overly cryptic puzzles. Players can access a "Hint Chick," who offers cryptic yet helpful visual clues for a small in-game fee. While not strictly necessary, these hints proved invaluable in several instances, proving a valuable addition that prevents excessive frustration.
Technically, the game performs adequately, though not flawlessly. While the hand-drawn watercolour art style is charming and visually appealing, evoking a picture book aesthetic, some performance issues were encountered. Lag and occasional freezing during cutscenes, along with slow load times between areas, were observed. These issues, while not game-breaking, detract slightly from the overall experience. The game plays well in handheld mode, though docked mode can present some minor control issues with menus.
The soundtrack subtly complements the gameplay, never overwhelming the player's attention but providing a pleasant auditory backdrop. The music deftly shifts from cheerful marimba tunes in the town to more subdued guitar pieces within the dungeons, creating an appropriate atmosphere for each environment.
In conclusion, Nairi: Rising Tide is a commendable sequel that expands the world of Shirin with engaging characters and intriguing puzzles. While the narrative can occasionally feel convoluted, and minor technical issues persist, the charming art style, clever puzzles, and captivating story ultimately create a satisfying experience for fans of the first game and point-and-click adventure enthusiasts alike. The challenging but fair puzzles, aided by the optional hint system, provide a rewarding challenge. While not perfect, Nairi: Rising Tide leaves players eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Nairi and Shiro's adventures.
