Naiad is an attractive puzzle recreation created by a solo developer beneath the identify HiWarp. In it, you play as Naiad, a river spirit tasked with serving to animals as you navigate via a sequence of interconnected rivers in your quest to succeed in the ocean.
This visually gorgeous recreation is unfold throughout 16 episodes, every in its personal biome. For the primary six chapters or so, you are basically in a lazy river, free to work together with no matter you need. Hardly ever are any of the puzzles required to progress, though the in-game rewards positively incentivize fixing them. It is a unusual issue curve, going from virtually a strolling simulator to a correct puzzle.
As you progress and get nearer to humanity, issues turn out to be grimmer. Air pollution is in every single place, silencing your singing (your main technique of fixing puzzles and interacting with animals) and slowing your actions. Cleverly, the colour saturation within the atmosphere additionally begins to lower, taking you from vibrant cerulean streams to trash-filled, oil-stained sewers.
The puzzles additionally turn out to be extra advanced, as you should keep in mind the hazards that humanity has brought about to your beforehand pristine biome. Whereas the problem may be very welcome after operating via the primary few components, the controls are inclined to get in the best way. Making an attempt to maneuver and sing concurrently is temperamental, and discovering what issues you may work together with and the way is usually a headache.
These damaging elements are outweighed by the sheer fantastic thing about the title because of the unbelievable use of colour, in addition to a soothing and eccentric soundtrack and sound design. As a complete, Naiad is a title with unbelievable artwork and sound, in addition to one thing to say, even when the gameplay just isn’t all the time on the similar stage.
