REVIEW / Mists of Noyah for PS5

There’s a peculiar trend with many video games these days—often, the initial concept promises much more than what is ultimately delivered. In the gaming universe, promises should hold weight, reflecting a commitment to fulfill the experience teased during development. Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed numerous instances where developers fail to meet the high expectations they’ve set. Let’s talk about No Man’s Sky. It serves as a textbook example here. Now, before you raise your pitchforks, hear me out—I do recognize it’s a fantastic game today. But when it first launched, I, like many others, was swept away by the hype only to land in disappointment. However, props to Hello Games for eventually transforming it into the stellar game it has become. This is truly a tale of redemption, and one from which other developers should learn. Now, this segues us into the latest PS5 title that’s caught our attention—Mists of Noyah. While it sounded like a genre-defying masterpiece on paper, the reality wasn’t as harmonious.

Imagine a game that blends the crafting intricacies of titles like Terraria with a roguelike Metroidvania twist. It promises endless exploration and a different adventure every time you play. Such a concept should have us all clamoring to play, right? But here’s where Mists of Noyah stumbles—it feels like it’s been abandoned mid-development, missing the polish that could have made it a standout.

Jumping into Mists of Noyah, I was eager to explore the world as my chosen warrior, poised to defend a village from nocturnal horrors. The premise had me expecting a tense balance between day-time gathering and night-time fortification. But instead of strategizing, I found myself aimlessly wandering through a forest.

Shockingly, Mists of Noyah provides zero guidance or tutorial. Now, I’m all for games that encourage a little self-discovery. Give me basic controls and a hint of narrative, and I’ll happily dive in, piecing together the story from found tidbits. This can add intrigue. However, here it came across as though the tutorial was simply overlooked.

Within minutes, I’d figured out how to jump between platforms, chop trees, and smash rocks, but not without some blind menu navigation. Crafting my first wooden armor felt more like fumbling through a dark room for a light switch. And then I died, tossed back to the start, re-entering the fray under the moonlight, even less sure of what I should be doing.

Nighttime raised the stakes—enemies toughened up, and my weak little bow felt ineffective. I ended up dodging opponents, racing through the map, in my pursuit of a village that seemed like it should’ve been my starting point. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, I stumbled upon the village and found the confusion had only just begun.

Half-baked is the only way to describe the village experience. Vendors loitered around, offering no dialogue, leaving me to discern their wares on my own. Spending my gold? A shot in the dark since I had no clue what items were essential. And then there was a fairy offering me the option to dive into a dungeon—one where the first encounter brutally dispatched me.

Exploring various biomes showed just how superficially they were designed—a desert here, an arctic chill there—but nothing truly stood out. Navigation felt erratic, with abrupt transitions between landscapes that left me even more bewildered about my objectives. Sure, combat was serviceable, and level designs weren’t horrific, yet I found myself lacking any strong motivation to continue.

Now, the game does feature a day-night cycle—a neat concept that should heighten the challenge. But the constant ticking of a clock on your screen turns into a spectacular flaw. As I grappled with clueless menu screens and narrative elements like 12-page scroll stories, I barely found time to actually absorb the plot—a timer relentlessly counting down set against you pausing your progress to learn the tale.

Ultimately, Mists of Noyah feels like a beta masquerading as a full release. A game that promises narrative depth set in a captivating world but leaves you listless and uncertain. It’s as though the developers were too eager to move on, leaving players with a product that lacks the polish and love needed to create a compelling experience. The visuals may invite you in, but once you peek past that, there’s minimal substance—it’s all dazzling promises with little delivery.

Had Mists of Noyah been marked as Early Access, there would be room for optimism, potential for growth, and a very different perspective in this review. Instead, they’re asking for your hard-earned money for a shell of an idea. Checking the game on Steam revealed it’s even pricier than on PS4/5—nearly double the cost for a game that hasn’t seen meaningful updates in two years. Instead of investing in this unfinished venture, I suggest saving your funds for something more gratifying and complete—a more rewarding use of your resources.

In summary, Mists of Noyah is a title best passed over. It holds promise but ultimately fails to fulfill the expectations that accompany a polished release. It’s best to save your money for a project that has been given the time and care to deliver a fulfilling gaming experience.