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.
Reviews
- The game features incredible storytelling and beautiful art, effectively weaving together multiple timelines into a compelling narrative.
- The voice acting is praised for its quality, and the inclusion of Inuktitut adds authenticity to the characters and their stories.
- The gameplay mechanics are simple and intuitive, allowing players to focus on the narrative without being bogged down by complex puzzles.
- The game is criticized for being too short, with some players feeling that the story lacks depth and character development.
- There are complaints about awkward dialogue and glitches, particularly with audio files, which detract from the overall experience.
- The gameplay is described as passive, with minimal interaction and no significant puzzles, leading to a feeling of dissatisfaction among some players.
- story40 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 8 % 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 the connections between characters, 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 engagement and pacing.
“This is a quick 2-hour point and click narrative game with a beautiful interweaving of different timelines all encompassed by one greater story.”
“The voice acting is amazing, the story writing is one of the best I've ever seen.”
“The influence of Inuit mythology probably is responsible for the impression we get that this is definitely not a story told a thousand times before.”
“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.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are highly praised for their beautiful art style and impressive cinematics, contributing to an intriguing atmosphere. While some users noted minor issues with dialogue and audio glitches, the visuals and soundtrack were consistently highlighted as strong points, enhancing the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding emotional engagement, the aesthetic appeal remains a standout feature.
“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 art style and soundtrack are strong, yes, but that's not enough to carry a game like this.”
“Its premise sounded promising, and its art style looked pleasing.”
“I'll say some positives - the art style 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.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Inua is characterized by its simple and intuitive mechanics, effectively supporting the game's compelling narrative and beautiful art. While the interaction between different time periods and characters adds depth, the gameplay is primarily plot-driven, with minimal puzzles or challenges, making it more suitable for casual players rather than hardcore gamers. Overall, it offers a well-crafted experience that emphasizes storytelling over complex gameplay.
“It all comes together so beautifully at the end, and the gameplay mechanics are simple and intuitive.”
“Inua is a nice story game with beautiful art and really great and clever mechanics.”
“Gameplay wise, it's smart and simple.”
“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”
- music9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % 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 contributing to the game's immersive mood. While some voice acting may falter, the music remains a strong point that elevates the storytelling and exploration.
“Great soundtrack, beautiful graphics and intriguing atmosphere.”
“The music is also a huge boost to the mood, bringing us to places I never thought I'd visit - eerie, chilly places!”
“Its art style and soundtrack are strong, yes, but that's not enough to carry a game like this.”
“I'll say some positives - the art style is consistently pleasing, its soundtrack is powerful, and its dialogue mostly works, even if some of the voice actors end up botching some of it.”
“The game is beautiful with its gorgeous art style and powerful, inspired music.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as engaging and satisfying, though some players felt it lacked depth and failed to evoke strong feelings within a short playtime. While the graphics and core concept were appreciated, they did not fully resonate on an emotional level.
“Emotional, engaging, satisfying.”
“To end on a positive note, I liked the graphics and the basic idea was exciting, but it couldn't really pick me up emotionally in such a short time.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally solid experience with minor stability issues, including awkward dialogue, audio glitches, and repetitive ambient sounds. However, the visuals, particularly the cinematics, are praised, contributing positively to the overall impression.
“I've encountered several small issues - parts of the dialogue are awkward, there are glitches when playing audio files, and the 'mind reading ambient' becomes rather annoying pretty quickly. However, I felt like the general experience was solid, especially the conclusion, and some of the visuals, mainly the tiny cinematics, looked great.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its captivating soundtrack, stunning graphics, and overall intriguing ambiance, creating an immersive experience for players.
“Great soundtrack, beautiful graphics, and an intriguing atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % 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.”
“Once you complete the game, there's no incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of different endings or choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
