Review: Everdeep Aurora for Switch

So yeah, a couple years back, I found myself at PAX West 2023. I remember it vividly—maybe because of this game, Everdeep Aurora. Don’t ask me why, but the chill vibe stuck with me. No bad guys, just you and puzzles. I left feeling kinda curious about it, so when the chance came to dive deeper, I was all in.

Trying to Find Mom, I Guess?

Alright, so imagine this: you’re a kitten. Shell is her name, and she’s looking for her mom. The world’s a mess thanks to a meteor shower, so everyone’s hiding underground. With this simple little drill in your paws, you gotta dig deeper and deeper beneath the surface to find her. Seems straightforward, right? But it gets wild fast. You bump into all these quirky characters—like, there’s a girl on a dog quest, a frog with family drama, this sneaky snake, and some lovelorn otters. Helping them isn’t just about being nice; it’s kinda crucial. Turns out, Shell’s drill gets some handy upgrades, and soon, she’s wall-jumping and boosting around like she owns the place.

Adventure: The Fun and the Funky

So, exploring’s the name of the game here. Shell’s inventory? Overflowing—with hats, lore-filled documents, shiny gems for that drill, and extra juice containers. It’s a retro Game Boy Color style, mostly 2D, but there are surprises. You’re playing crane games, rolling dice, solving puzzles—event cutscenes even feel like a blast from the past. Takes just a few hours, but oh man, the twists and reveals stretch out forever. It’s this unending treasure hunt, the kind of stuff that keeps you hooked.

But, uh, yeah, there’s a catch. Finding your way? Not so chill. No waypoints for a good part of the way, so getting lost is like… a thing. Sure, making pals and solving their troubles is fun, but a radar or something? Total game-changer. And don’t get me started on the lack of a quest log. Gotta remember which NPC wants what—there’s no escaping it. Also, the Switch version? Bit jittery at times. Not terrible, but I expected smoother.

Worth the Dig? Hmm…

Everdeep Aurora, for me, is like this bag of mixed treasures—or maybe just a mixed bag. It hits the right notes with music and graphics, and the no-combat mystery-solving vibe, it’s refreshing. But the guidance issue? It’s real. You’re wandering, maybe a tad frustrated. Just a few guidepoints would’ve pushed it over the edge into greatness. What you take away really depends on how much wandering in digital caves you can handle without throwing your controller.

So, that’s the scoop? Everdeep Aurora: it’s all about chilling, exploring, and a tiny bit of chaos. Perfectly imperfect.