A Cinematic Game That Feels Like An Interactive Movie

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A Cinematic Game That Feels Like An Interactive Movie

Aphelion is the newest game from DON NOT NOD, the creators behind Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, and many more. This experienced team set out to create something a little different with Aphelion, and in many ways, they achieved success, but nothing could really go wrong.

It’s not a very long game, but the mystery and journey of Persephone’s unknown planet is important nonetheless. The developers clearly knew how to write a good story and make flawed but interesting characters. That, combined with some help from the ESA (European Space Agency), made for an interesting and realistic story.

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During my conversation with the developers a while back, we talked about some of the background work going into the game, and I was very excited about it all. While my excitement didn’t diminish as I progressed through the story, I will say that very few parts of the actual game held me.

What is Aphelion?

That’s a much harder question to answer than you might think because of the way the game works. If you had to boil it down to its essence, I’d say it’s an adventure-thriller style game. You will play as two characters throughout the story, Arianne and Thomas, who have crashed on Persephone’s world.

Originally, they were sent here to test a mysterious electromagnetic force called the Source. They have a close relationship, but for Arianne, the mission goes ahead, until she finds out that during the crash, Thomas was injured, and there is no way to contact him directly.

Playing as Arianne, you’ll climb icy cliffs and traverse icy landscapes in an attempt to solve the mysteries of Persephone. Eventually, you’ll encounter an alien life form called Nemesis that you’ll need to sneak up on. It can’t see you, but it can hear you, so every step you take can be your last.

Like Thomas, you’re just trying to survive your injuries and reduced oxygen supply. Go through the levels and find out more about what causes the planets ice to melt so quickly. Thomas must find oxygen tanks scattered throughout the levels as he looks for clues in an attempt to piece together the past.

The Game Is Only a Game

I’m going to get this out of the way first because, for me, that’s what bothered me the most. This game doesn’t feel like a game, and the gameplay works more as a way to take you from cinematic to cinematic. That sounds a little harsh, and it is, but Aphelion doesn’t have amazing gameplay elements that will engage you on a deep level.

In fact, you are playing the story game and unraveling the mysteries presented, rather than playing the gameplay. Each level basically amounts to an opening cinematic followed by some walking or riding while Arianne or Thomas explain what they’re seeing in a way the player can understand.

There are secret logs that must be revealed and other items in each level to be scanned as available, but in reality, all levels are straightforward. Even when the Nemesis appears, sneaking around it isn’t too difficult, and there aren’t any noticeable additions to that gameplay as the game progresses.

The game is neither bad nor bad, as it is made more interesting by all the information you get from the characters and notes and so on, but there are a few moments that are really fun. Those episodes are worth it as you deal with tension from various aspects, which you don’t fully understand.

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The High World of Cinema

Aphelion looks great. That’s all. There is not much to say when it comes to the world of Persephone, because even if things are less than colorful, they still look very beautiful. With so many views to look at and so many interesting world structures, you can find yourself looking at some of the most beautiful places.

It’s very clear that the cinematics in the game have received a lot of love and attention, as each one looks incredible and hits all the notes it needs to. The scene where Nemesis appears, for example, is intense and terrifying but also awe-inspiring as you stare at this monster that seems to be made of living water.

This game doesn’t feel like a game, and the gameplay works more as a way to take you from cinematic to cinematic.

This is definitely where the game shines. Every cinematic scene and every scene looks and feels real. If you cut them all together, you may have a short film, which may be very interesting, although some elements will be missing. They really nailed the beauty of the planet and the character models and actions.

These cinematics are what I found that drove me forward. I wanted to uncover the story of Persephone, but more than that, I wanted to know what was really going to happen to Arianne and Thomas.

Music That Makes You More Happy

I don’t usually bring up music or lyrics as a whole category for discussion because I tend to find it too hit or miss. That being said, the music here just magnified everything so much that I couldn’t help but notice it. Each scene has a strong soundtrack and excellent sound design.

The moments when Nemesis appears are full of this tension, thanks to the beautiful music that accompanies the scary sounds that Nemesis makes alone. The transition from that to the music that fills the space as you look out over the tundra is very well done and really highlights the enormity of what’s in front of you.

Although the gameplay may not please most people, the music is good enough on its own to give you the emotions you deserve. If it needs to be toned down a bit, it is and it gives you a nice background to everything that’s being said without feeling like it’s taking over the story.

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A Story About Love and Mystery

The best part of Aphelion is the story, by far. It’s on the short side for most adventure games, but it has enough powerful moments to keep things going. Without trying to spoil too much, there seems to be something wrong with the planet itself, and uncovering the truth of that is the main goal.

At least it should be, but for the sake of our main character, Arianne, it’s about finding Thomas. In the first level, Arianne can find some clues that Thomas is seriously injured, and without her help, he may meet his end. On every level, he grows closer and more sensitive as he remembers their past together.

The moments when Nemesis appears are full of this tension, thanks to the beautiful music that accompanies the scary sounds that Nemesis makes alone.

Of course, their relationship isn’t all cake and rainbows, with Arianne seemingly breaking things off before they go on a mission, only to ‘hook up’ while en route to Persephone in what Thomas refers to as “the best mistake ever.” [he’s] made in years.” From the beginning, the game sets the stage for something emotional and difficult.

Unlike other games, our heroes are just ordinary people who make mistakes, love and want to be loved. There are very few games that manage to strike a balance between the hero and the sane to keep you hooked. At Aphelion, you will feel their personality right from the start and watch as things start to come true when it may be too late.

A Short Game Packed to the Gills

All in all, you could finish the game in less than ten hours, especially if you just breezed through the levels and didn’t do much exploring or interacting with the side content. Honestly, I’d like to have a few more hours of gameplay to play. I don’t think it was too short per se, but more time would have been nice.

We don’t really see much of their lives before Persephone, and while we don’t need to, I think an introduction covering the time leading up to the journey would have been nice. It’s not something I felt was necessary to connect with Thomas and Arianne, but it would have given us a clearer understanding of who they are as individuals.

Regardless, the writing packs a lot into this short burst, and I loved every second of it. It doesn’t waste time trying to explain the finer details of science and instead chooses to move on to the next thing. Every cutscene, every dialogue, and every interaction is full of information that gives some insight into the mystery or our characters.

Aphelion is a cinematic master of storytelling. From the start, you can tell that every moment of the game will be important. While it doesn’t seem to keep up with the same kind of engagement in the game from time to time, it works well enough to keep you going. It’s a short and engaging stealth adventure that satisfies from a story point of view, but leaves a little to be desired in terms of gameplay.