Aspire: Ina's Tale

The game looks great, having a seemingly perfect choices in coloring and lightning. The music is void from being annoying and is so constant it sinks into your mind without you realizing it’s still in the background. Puzzles are casual but at the same time thought-provoking, giving you a sense of accomplishment when you finally figure out you were just overthinking things. I really liked the way the game handled jumping, but not so much with turning and putting in/taking out the shapes for the puzzles. They make you pause for a second and wonder what you’re doing wrong, which takes away from the otherwise great flow. You don’t have to worry about sinking hours into this title, as it’s short and allows those who don’t have much time to finish it in an evening. For those that have more time, it might have been nice to have another section of puzzles thrown in. A lot of the ending is the same chase sequence with what could be considered a boss, but there are little breaks between that allow you to go back to doing some puzzles. I really enjoyed my playthrough and even going back to do some of the areas over again to finish up on my achievements was quite welcoming.

With such potential on show, it was disappointing that Aspire: Ina’s Tale didn’t go far enough. I desperately wanted to see it evolving, but this was never to be. The developers played it safe, and this was at the detriment of the end product. Though it could have been spectacular, it was still great, albeit very familiar.

Despite a short lifespan and a feeling of cumbersomeness in certain movements, the title remains a pleasant surprise. The environments are varied, rich and colourful. Although not revolutionising the genre, the gameplay mechanics and various puzzles aren’t repetitive. The top-notch soundtrack brilliantly follows the poetry of the experience we’re offered. The enigmas’ moderate difficulty allows a wide audience to participate and we're thrilled to know that Wondernaut’s next title will be a horror game.