There are countless games with concepts that sound amazing on paper but fall short when brought to life. In gaming, just like in literature, you shouldn’t be quick to judge a project by its cover. However, in the gaming world, developers need to deliver on their promises. We’ve been disappointed too many times by teams that promise us a masterpiece but fail to hit the mark. Take “No Man’s Sky” for instance. Today, it’s an outstanding game, and to be clear, I’m not here to knock Hello Games; they deserve credit for turning things around spectacularly. But as someone who eagerly jumped in on launch day, I can say the initial experience was a letdown. It’s a cautionary tale for other developers who might not be as committed to improvement. This brings us to our current PS5 title of focus, Mists of Noyah. The idea behind it sounds like it could redefine its genre. Yet, as we delve deeper, we’ll find it’s another case where results don’t meet expectations.
Imagine a game that blends the crafting elements of something like “Terraria” with a roguelike Metroidvania style. Especially one where exploration is key, with ever-changing environments and captivating crafting systems. It could have been a hit. But the truth is, Mists of Noyah gives off an unfortunate vibe of having been forgotten.
From the moment I entered the character selection, my excitement ramped up. Here was a game about shielding a village against nighttime beasts, with daylight hours meant for gathering supplies and crafting defenses. My anticipation grew at the thought of racing against time to keep my village safe. Instead, I found myself wandering aimlessly in a forest.
Mists of Noyah offers no onboarding experience. Presumably, you’re intended to start blindly, learning as you go. In theory, I don’t mind trial by fire, figuring out the controls, and discovering the story through bits and pieces. This can create intrigue and suspense. In this case, though, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a tutorial was missing simply because it was easier not to include one.
I quickly figured out the basics—jumping, fighting enemies, mining resources—and even managed to complete a quest to craft wooden armor. All of this was achieved by trial and error in the menus. It wasn’t the intuitive experience one hopes for. Then, when I died and was sent back to the beginning with no newfound clarity, I was left fighting the same battles—only now under the cover of night.
Facing tougher enemies with little more than a fragile bow made combat frustrating. My strategy evolved into dodging foes rather than engaging them, just trying to discover the village I felt was central to my mission. After several attempts, I stumbled upon it, introducing a new layer of confusion.
The village felt as half-baked as the rest of the game. The vendors were speechless, leaving me to decipher their wares. Spending gold felt like a gamble without understanding the true value of the items. A fairy offered me a dungeon run, which promptly ended in my swift demise. Determined to continue, I ventured into new biomes.
The different biomes didn’t feel particularly unique, more like the same forest environment with different skins—one snowy, another sandy. The transitions were abrupt and nonsensical. Each area came with no clear objective, making exploration feel pointless. The day-night cycle, a clever concept, only added pressure to an unclear purpose.
On-screen, a clock relentlessly ticked toward night, signaling impending danger. In theory, this should raise the stakes. But the game doesn’t pause when you’re reading text or navigating menus, meaning you risk sudden death while trying to understand your objective. It might have been a design choice, but it felt more like an oversight. An auto-pause could have remedied this glaring flaw.
Ultimately, Mists of Noyah seems like an unfinished project, released prematurely. It gives off a sense of abandonment, like the developers rushed to move on to something else. Visually appealing as it is, it lacks depth. The phrase “all style and no substance” comes to mind. It’s a game that could have been something great with the right foundations in place.
If Mists of Noyah was in Early Access, my thoughts might be different. However, asking gamers to shell out for a complete experience that feels anything but is disappointing. The Steam version, which predates the console port by two years, sells for nearly twice as much, suggesting a profit-driven tactic rather than a finished product.
All in all, Mists of Noyah is a title you might want to pass on. It could have been a standout, but in its current state, it’s a promising idea that doesn’t deliver. If you’re looking to spend wisely, consider investing your time and money elsewhere. This game, while visually inviting, leaves much to be desired where it counts.
