Best Of
Logic and gaming are two words that mutually cannot co-exist.
Now imagine playing as a sly fox.
With their adaptability and adventurous spirit, these cunning creatures can fit into almost any story.
While both games share the same furry character concept, they each take a unique approach.
Curious to know how?
What is Spirit of the North?
Spirit of the Northis an atmospheric adventure game brought to life by Infuse Studio.
The game leans heavily on minimalism gameplay and draws inspiration from Nordic folklore.
The game starts slow, but things soon become mystic when a spirit fox rescues you from exhaustion.
With this newfound power, you’re able to traverse the desolate Iceland to solve puzzles.
What is Endling Extinction is Forever?
Yet, the serenity is short-lived, as tragedy strikes when a human captures one of the vulnerable cubs.
You must guide your cubs through a harsh environment and ensure their survival.
Gameplay
Spirit of the Northhas a mystic approach to its gameplay.
Occasionally, you’ll bump into magical objects that ease your journey.
For example, barking at blue flowers lets you take in their energy.
Or it’s possible for you to transcend into a spirit to get through barriers.
Aside from the puzzle gameplay, you’ll also experience platforming.
The environment is characterized by moving platforms and steep drops.
Although the gameplay sounds simple, the fox’s reactions to your inputs are slower.
Occasionally, you’ll find yourself missing a step, which infuriates you.
Admittedly, for a game that lacks a narrative, you’d expect the gameplay to be top-notch.
However, it’s an adventurous bore that lacks consistency thanks to poor controls.
Moreover, you don’t get any special abilities.
You have to brave the desolate world and survive.
The survival element is carefully thought out and put together.
Neglecting your cub’s hunger ultimately results in their death.
While it may be painful to watch, it’s one less mouth to feed.
Plus, your actions directly affect the game’s outcome.
You must choose between making acquaintances or braving the journey alone with your cubs.
Aside from puzzle solving, you’ll spend much time aimlessly traversing the Icelandic terrain.
It’s the kind of game you’d want to immerse in after a hectic day.
It only calls for a little commitment.
So you could easily drop it and pick up your progress days or weeks later.
Plus, the moral lesson couldn’t be more relatable.
What would you do when the survival of those who matter to you is at stake?
There’s only one way to find out.
Cynthia Wambui is a gamer who has a knack for writing video gaming content.
Blending words to express one of my biggest interests keeps me in the loop on trendy gaming topics.
Aside from gaming and writing, Cynthia is a tech nerd and coding enthusiast.
