Inua: A Story in Ice and Time
- February 10, 2022
- The Pixel Hunt
Get on Steam"Inua: A Story in Ice and Time" is a point & click narrative adventure game set in the Canadian north, where players navigate through different eras to uncover the truth about the disappearance of the Terror. The game follows three characters, Taïna, Peter, and Simon, whose fates are intertwined. Players solve original puzzles and delve into Inuit stories and legends, influenced by extensive research and with the participation of Inuit advisors and an author.
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Reviews
- The game features incredible storytelling, beautiful art, and a compelling narrative that intertwines different timelines effectively.
- The voice acting is praised for its quality, including the use of Inuktitut, which adds authenticity to the characters.
- The gameplay mechanics are simple and intuitive, making it accessible for players who enjoy narrative-driven experiences.
- The game is criticized for being too short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, leaving players wanting more depth and character development.
- There are complaints about the lack of engaging gameplay elements, such as puzzles, making it feel more like a passive experience.
- Some dialogue is noted to be awkward, and there are technical issues like glitches with audio files that detract from the overall experience.
- story80 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game features a compelling narrative that intertwines multiple timelines and explores themes of Inuit mythology, human greed, and time travel, all presented through beautiful art and engaging voice acting. While many players appreciate the story's depth and character evolution, some feel it lacks sufficient development and nuance, leading to a rushed conclusion that diminishes its impact. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy visually stunning, story-driven experiences, despite some criticisms regarding character relatability and pacing.
“Incredible storytelling, beautiful art, and a simple yet rewarding play style!”
“The voice acting is amazing, the story writing is one of the best I've ever seen.”
“Having the three time periods interact with each other, with each of their protagonists' struggles overlapping, was nice - but since this game is mostly plot-driven, none of the struggles its characters face, which are foundational to the story's overall message of hubris and over-determination, translate into a mechanic with which the player can interact and relate.”
“The ending of the story is too shallow and wasted the hype built in the whole game.”
“This game feels too short and too long simultaneously - too short because it seemed nothing had happened yet when the ending finally arrived, too long because none of its characters made me want to progress the story anyway.”
“Unfortunately, the story in this game didn't pull me in at all.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and unique art style, contributing to an intriguing atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the impressive visuals, particularly the cinematics, and commend the powerful soundtrack that complements the aesthetic experience. However, some minor issues, such as awkward dialogue and audio glitches, detract slightly from the overall presentation.
“Great soundtrack, beautiful graphics and intriguing atmosphere.”
“I loved the graphics and the voice acting was *chef's kiss*.”
“The game is beautiful with its gorgeous art style and powerful, inspired music.”
“Its artstyle and soundtrack are strong, yes, but that's not enough to carry a game like this.”
“Its premise sounded promising, and its artstyle looked pleasing.”
“I'll say some positives - the artstyle is consistently pleasing, its soundtrack is powerful, and its dialog mostly works, even if some of the voice actors end up botching some of it.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Inua" is characterized by its simple and intuitive mechanics, primarily serving to enhance the compelling narrative rather than offering complex interactions or puzzles. While the integration of three time periods and character struggles adds depth, the game is largely plot-driven, making it more suitable for casual players rather than hardcore gamers. Overall, it combines beautiful art and effective point-and-click gameplay, but lacks substantial gameplay elements beyond the story.
“It all comes together so beautifully at the end, and the gameplay mechanics are simple and intuitive.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's smart and simple.”
“Don't expect a hardcore gamer title but rather a well-crafted game mixing history, myth, and mysticism, all served by superb art, good voice acting, and simple yet effective point-and-click gameplay.”
“Having the three time periods interact with each other, with each of their protagonists' struggles overlapping, was nice - but since this game is mostly plot-driven, none of the struggles its characters face, which are foundational to the story's overall message of hubris and over-determination, translate into a mechanic with which the player can interact and relate.”
“This is all the more a pity because the game only lives from the story; actual gameplay or puzzles are virtually non-existent.”
“Same as what others have said, the gameplay part of the game is lacking.”
- music18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its powerful and atmospheric qualities, significantly enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, complementing the beautiful art style and immersive storytelling. While the music and artwork receive high marks, some note that they alone may not be sufficient to elevate the game's overall impact.
“Great soundtrack, beautiful graphics and intriguing atmosphere.”
“The game is beautiful with its gorgeous art style and powerful, inspired music.”
“Its artstyle and soundtrack are strong, yes, but that's not enough to carry a game like this.”
“I'll say some positives - the artstyle is consistently pleasing, its soundtrack is powerful, and its dialog mostly works, even if some of the voice actors end up botching some of it.”
“The music is also a huge boost to the mood, bringing us to places I never thought I'd visit - eerie, chilly places!”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is described as engaging and satisfying, though some players felt that it struggled to create a deep emotional connection in a limited timeframe. While the graphics and core concept were appreciated, they did not fully resonate on an emotional level for all players.
“Emotional, engaging, satisfying.”
“To end on a positive note, I liked the graphics and the basic idea was exciting, but I couldn't really connect with it emotionally in such a short time.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that while there are minor stability issues such as awkward dialogue and glitches with audio playback, the general experience remains solid, particularly highlighted by impressive visuals and a strong conclusion.
“I've encountered several issues with stability, including awkward dialogue and glitches when playing audio files. The 'mind reading ambient' can become quite annoying, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The game suffers from stability problems, such as audio glitches and awkward dialogue. These issues can be distracting and take away from the enjoyment of the gameplay.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its captivating soundtrack and stunning graphics, which together create an intriguing and immersive experience for players.
“Great soundtrack, beautiful graphics, and an intriguing atmosphere.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers a brief playtime of only two and a half hours, leading to a consensus among users that it lacks significant replay value.
“Two and a half hours of playing time to finish this game is very little, and it doesn't have any replay value for me either.”
