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Snufkin: Melody Of Moominvalley review: a simple pleasurePut a spring in your step
Put a spring in your step
Image credit:Raw Fury
Image credit:Raw Fury
I didn’t really know anything about Moomins going intoadventuregameSnufkin: Melody Of Moominvalley, besides that their heads always looked palatable to me - like bleached kidney beans. Plus the Moomin merch I’d seen over the years in official Moomin shops or the odd gift store was delightful, so if someone had rocked up with a pencil case adorned with Moomin heads back in school, you bet I would’ve been jealous.
And having finished the game, I’m unsure whether I’ve truly learned any more about the Moomins and their friends. But then again, I’ve come away thinking that it’s a pleasant universe to spend a few hours in, where the wild is celebrated with rebellious song. If you’re after the video game equivalent of a walk through the woods on a warm afternoon, Moominvalley is the place to wander.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Raw Fury
Anyone is welcome in Moominvalley, as its premise doesn’t require of you a frightening familiarity with its lore. The story begins as you, an adventurer called Snufkin, bid farewell to your pal Moomintroll (it’s at this point I learned that Moomins aren’t cows, but trolls) as winter rolls in. Time passes until the snow melts, spring awakens, and Snufkin decides he’ll venture back to Moominvalley to see his pal again. But wait! There are signs ordering people not to do things? The earth has been trampled? And Moomintroll has gone missing?!
No, it’s not a nuanced take, but it’s arguably one that needs hammering home no matter what. And I think Moominvalley’s brand of environmental respect is taught well, as Snufkin’s success lies in spreading joy through music. Well, specifically a harmonica, then later a flute and a drum. You’ll explore a small open world map, sending out sound waves of delight to see the kindness of your “bwee"s and “bmmm"s repaid in little gestures that simultaneously rejuvenate the valley, and help you navigate its challenges.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Raw Fury
Each of your instruments sends out an aura of some form, and you’ll need to match said instrument with a creature who bears a “use this particular instrument on me” badge. Do so and it’ll raise a circular bar (a bit like Breath Of The Wild’s stamina wheel) which, when maxed out, makes the creature do something. For instance, the harmonica’s tune creates an AOE ripple that might befriend cutesy Creeps hiding in a load of bushes, and you can then lead them to a big boulder that’s clearly got outlines of two Creeps next to it.
So for the most part, Moominvalley is a simplisticpuzzle gamewhere the solution is easy (even I found the solutions easy, thisneverhappens) and the path forward requires little to no brain power. You’ll shift rocks to climb ledges, pull logs to create makeshift bridges, and sometimes parp your flute if you need to send a snake to sleep. IfCocoon’s puzzling adventure is smooth, Moominvalley is a Skittle skimming across an ice rink.
Most of the sidequests fall into a similar camp of charming and mildly exciting. They’re the sort of fetch quests you’ll complete before you’ve even talked to some of them, as you naturally pick up lost toys or mushrooms or whatever else Moominvalley’s inhabitants seem to have misplaced (everything). Sadly these quests don’t necessarily lead to a better understanding of each of Moominvalley’s curious residents. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Raw Fury
Folks expecting a challenge won’t find it here, but I think the frictionless puzzling suits the breeziness of the adventure. Moominvalley is a chill place designed primarily for a bit of fun, and it’s lovely being able to explore and progress in a world that’s not out to get you. And even if there’s not much experimentation to be had with its musical instruments, some stealth sections do have you use your noisy nous in novel ways.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Raw Fury
While Snufkin: Melody Of Moominvalley wraps up a bit abruptly and doesn’t get the band back together as deftly as I’d have liked, I can’t be too harsh on it all. Snufkin’s adventure is focused on simplistic fun, where you meet some pals and uproot some order, all within the span of an afternoon. Pair this with a cuppa and a fluffy blanket andthat’sa holiday to remember.
