Review: Mists of Noyah (PS5)

There are too many games out there with promises that don’t quite hit the mark when it comes to delivery. As discouraging as it might be, in the gaming realm, it’s crucial for developers to keep their promises. We’ve seen so often what happens when expectations aren’t met. Take No Man’s Sky, for example. Although now regarded as a great game, it didn’t start that way. I remember the initial launch—high hopes, and yet, a letdown right from day one. This isn’t a bash at Hello Games, mind you. They went on to do something spectacular and deserve recognition. However, it serves as a warning to other developers yet to fulfill their promises. And that brings us to the newest title in our PS5 lineup: Mists of Noyah. While it sounds groundbreaking on paper, the reality proves to be rather underwhelming.

Imagine merging the crafting elements of Terraria with a roguelike Metroidvania, a game that offers new experiences every time you play with interesting crafting mechanics. It’s the kind of concept that piques interest. If only Mists of Noyah delivered that promise. Instead, it feels like a half-hearted effort, a game with potential but seemingly left midway in development.

Booting up Mists of Noyah, I was thrilled to dive into a world where I would defend a village from night-time horrors. This was supposed to be a strategic mix of daytime gathering and building to fend off nocturnal monsters. I couldn’t wait to see the mechanics of exploration with potential consequences affecting my village. And then, without much ado, I was plopped unceremoniously into a forest.

Here’s where the game stumbles: no tutorial. A game that expects you to figure it out by yourself can be refreshing, but it should provide at least the basics. Give me a simple control guide, an idea of objectives—I’ll gladly piece the rest together. But Mists of Noyah doesn’t do this. It feels as though a crucial component put in place to guide players was overlooked.

Despite grasping the controls quickly enough and busily hopping from platform to platform, engaging enemies, a sense of aimlessness lingered. I cracked the code on resource gathering like chopping wood and mining. Even managed to craft a set of wooden armor. However, this was mostly achieved through tedious menu navigation that felt more like button-mashing guesswork. I died, only to restart at the level’s beginning, still none the wiser but now with an added nocturnal challenge.

Nighttime seemed especially brutal—enemies were stronger, and my beginner weapons felt like peashooters. Evading foes became the priority instead of exploration. Finding the village turned into a confusing endeavor further compounded by repeated deaths and constant re-runs through the forest until I finally reached it. My arrival brought… more confusion.

The village was a shell, a bare-bones collection of NPCs lacking engagement. Vendors were silent, their wares mysterious, leaving me uncertain of what to purchase. Spending my hard-earned gold was less satisfying and more frustrating. A fairy offered a dungeon run option, and taking it, I quickly met my demise from one hit, proving I wasn’t equipped for it.

Exploring new biomes failed to impress. They turned out to be mere variants of the starting woodland, dressed in desert and icy themes. They lacked uniqueness, offering instead an odd mix of environments that transitioned awkwardly. Combat was serviceable, and level designs worked, but my motivation waned. Day and night cycles, an intriguing concept, merely complicated things without clear objectives.

A constantly running clock undermined attempts to uncover the plot or linger over menus. In this game, where figuring out the story on the go seems crucial, the time limit felt like an oversight more than a challenge. While reading an intricate storyline scroll, I realized too late the clock still ticked mercilessly on. The absence of an auto-pause feature screams oversight rather than intentional choice.

Mists of Noyah gives off an unfinished vibe, a skeleton of possibilities that ultimately lacks substance. It feels rushed out rather than a labor of love—a game let loose long before it was truly ready. Such a half-hearted attempt leaves players questioning the value of their investment. It’s unfortunate, as visually, the game has appeal. To borrow a British expression: all fur coat and no knickers. If only the basics had been nailed down; then we’d be telling a different story.

Had Mists of Noyah been released as Early Access, expectations might have been tempered with understanding. Instead, facing an £8 price tag, and even more on Steam, it feels rather like a cash grab. Between a years-old PC version and this console port, the discrepancies become clear. Charging essentially double for what’s essentially the same unfinished game just doesn’t sit right.

In conclusion, Mists of Noyah is a miss. It had the makings of something special; instead, it’s a muddled, unfinished mess. What you’d pay for here is an incomplete package that doesn’t quite fulfill its potential. Save your money and look elsewhere for an experience that values both your time and gaming dollar.