Nomori: Prologue is a preview of an upcoming puzzle adventure game, currently in Early Access, developed and published by Enchanted Works. With its mix of mind-bending levels, time- and space-altering mechanics, and surreal scenery, this intriguing little taster caught my attention as soon as I saw it. Naturally, I took my chance to dive in and see if it lived up to my expectations.
My time with Nomori: Prologue was pretty short, lasting just under an hour, but even within that small amount of time, the game left quite the impression on me. The game takes place in the shattered spirit world of Nomori, with its marriage of East Asian architecture with some Ghibli charm providing a real treat for the eyes.
In this world, you play as Kiko, a young girl who is now trapped in this unfamiliar place. With the help of your spirit companion Usa, you must navigate your way using an assortment of unique powers to manipulate and bend the world to your needs. That is, according to the game's Steam page, as this prologue had no mention of the story, but this didn't dampen the experience.
Gameplay and puzzles blended seamlessly in Nomori, with a few core mechanics and 4 well-designed levels making up this prologue. The gameplay revolves around navigating the twisted and shifting levels, with players able to grab and move cubes to create platforms, thus enabling you to traverse and platform through them. Crucially, you can manipulate time with regards to certain objects, causing them to move back and forth through their timeflow and act as moving platforms and bridges.
The levels themselves were very self-contained experiences, without being too big or taking too long to finish. Their main quirk comes in the form of portals, which players can activate to move between different areas in the level. More impressive is the ability to rotate them, which alters the direction of gravity as well as rotating the level geometry through that portal, fundamentally transforming the whole level and your perspective on the puzzles with each section.
For the majority of my time playing, I enjoyed the experience. The puzzles and mechanics interacted well and complemented each other, making for some great moments that felt natural and rewarding. The process of solving puzzles involved experimentation and curiosity that made figuring out each level satisfying, without any unnecessary stress or confusion.
Those who fancy trying the prologue can find it on Steam and should keep their eyes peeled for more content as the game continues to develop in Early Access.
Disclaimer: Thinky Games is part of the Carina Initiatives and may have professional relationships with individuals and businesses related to the subject of this article. Please see our Editorial Policy for details.
