Warning: This game is not suitable for children, viewer discretion is advised. Additionally, the trailer in this article is not suitable for children.

I have made it no secret over the years that I am a fan of Indie games. In fact, some Indie games can tell more powerful stories than AAA games. Pinstripe, created by Thomas Brush of Atmos Games is one such example. Now, after a successful Kickstarter campaign and a few name-changes, Thomas Brush’s latest game is finally available on PC. Neversong is a game that tackles strong subject matter but does so beautifully.

Before I go into too much detail on what Neversong is, I should mention that you may know the game more prominently as “Once Upon a Coma,” which is what the game’s initial title was during its Kickstarter campaign. Also, I should clarify that while Thomas Brush creates beautifully done indie experiences, Neversong is not for children. It deals with dark themes including depression and has disturbing imagery throughout.

The story of Neversong seems simple at first. The protagonist, Peet, and his friend Wren spent an entire summer together and became very close. At one point during their adventures, Wren is taken by a mysterious man named Mr. Smile and as a result of the trauma, Peet slips into a coma. When he wakes, nothing is as it seems. The parents of all the children in town have disappeared and Wren is still missing.

Peet must then gather the courage to figure out what has happened to the adults, as well as figuring out a way to save Wren from the mysterious and terrifying Mr. Smile. The story is presented beautifully, with fully voice-acted dialogue and storybook-esque cutscenes. The game itself plays similarly to a Metroidvania, where you explore the environment and unlock things, which allow you to progress further past obstacles you couldn’t overcome previously.

By playing songs you learn from killing bosses, you are able to play music on Wren’s piano to unlock new equipment and abilities. This has an almost Wind Waker feel to it and it adds a lovely bit of flair to the atmosphere of the game. It stands out from other Metroidvanias, not just in gameplay but in visual style.

Neversong is a beautiful game, combining serene atmospheres with horrifying elements that range from unsettling sounds and environments, all the way to terrifying sections. Thomas knows how to blend the weird, the macabre, and the terror together in order to make something spectacular and it shows here. I’m not a man that likes horror games but Neversong keeps things just light enough to keep you from feeling overwhelmed and there are plenty of save points (fireplaces) to take breaks if you need to.

I should also mention that the game recommends that you play with a controller. However, because I haven’t been able to do so, I decided to try using the keyboard and mouse controls. So far I haven’t had too many issues, though I can see why the controller is preferred. I also notice that the game doesn’t (yet) have resolution or graphics options, to the point where I had to use the alt+enter trick to play the game in windowed mode.

Despite this, I’ve been enjoying my time with Neversong immensely. The game seems to carry an underlying atmosphere that has an almost melancholy undertone when put against the more outlandish (and often disturbing) characters. However, I find that it only seems to add to its odd charm, even when you feel deeply unsettled by what you and Peet experience.

The cast of characters is very well done, including all of the voice acting. I find that the only problem is, they aren’t really given enough of a chance to have a presence. There are a few characters that you see multiple times throughout Neversong’s short story but most of them don’t appear more than a few times, and the story is so focused on Peet and trying to save Wren that it sometimes feels like characters that could have been fleshed out more were abandoned partway in.

With that being said though, I think that it is fitting that Neversong released during Mental Health Awareness month. Each of the supporting characters struggles with some form of mental illness, from body dysmorphia to OCD. These struggles aren’t touched on very thoroughly, but there is an underlying theme throughout that really carries things through.

Because Peet was in a coma for so long, nothing about his world is as he remembers it. There are aspects of reality that are grim, disturbing, and many times I wondered if Peet himself had lost his mind somewhere along the way. However, it is more the sense of melancholy and solitude throughout this experience that really hits home.

Thomas Brush and the teams of Atmos Games and Serenity Forge captured the idea of being distant from those you once loved perfectly. We’ve all experienced it, whether we went off to college and drifted apart from people we once knew, or people started building families of their own and drifted apart from their friends who were still focused on other priorities.

Neversong is not a game that you will spend 40 hours on, far from it. However, I think it is worth your time regardless. There are plenty of collectibles to find, cosmetics to try on, and a well-crafted story to enjoy. Just like Pinstripe, I think Neversong is a unique experience that should just be enjoyed. I can sing its praises all day long but it needs to be experienced firsthand. If you can’t play it on PC, it will be coming to consoles soon enough as well.

A PC review copy of Neversong was provided by Atmos Games for this review.

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Neversong

$14.99 USD

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• Quirky, Interesting Characters
• Serene Atmosphere Balancing Out Disturbing Imagery
• Solid Gameplay with Zelda-Influences
• Lots of Collectibles and Cosmetics
• Great Voice Acting

Cons

• Side Characters Aren't Fleshed Out Enough
• No Graphics/Resolution Options