You cannot escape the void. It is impatient, unmovable and will never die.
Originally released for iOS devices in 2012, Nihilumbra is out today for Nintendo Switch. Per developer BeautifFun Games:
On May 3rd, the award-winning platform-adventure game Nihilumbra will be out on Nintendo Switch. After being named “App Store Best of 2012”, winning many other awards (such as“Casual Connect: Indie Award 2012”) and releasing the game in almost every existing platform, the studio from Barcelona BeautiFun Games will release the Switch version.
2D-platforming and Nintendo go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it is a definite no-brainer. Uniquely fun mechanics and an interesting narrative sets Nihilumbra apart from the rest in a simple yet powerful way.
At the game’s start, your character is Born (in action and name). A creature from the void whose journey will take players through vivid locales while developing and attempting to escape its insatiable parent. As Born flees and attempts to fit into its new world, there are puzzles to solve and enemies from the void to face.
Contrary to its dark appearance and origin, Born uses color to essentially surpass both environments and enemies. Players can attain different colors to paint their surroundings for specific abilities like making the ground slippery for quick slides and longer jumps.
As shown in the trailer, you are guided by the ethereal voice of an all-knowing narrator with on-screen subtitles that give this game a nostalgic story-time vibe. It is through this solitary voice that you learn game mechanics as well as your character’s place in the world and the unrelenting darkness that stalks it.
Ultimately, what really blends all these aspects together is the richly dense soundtrack.
Going perfectly hand in hand with the ominous narration and each level’s unique design, the game’s music provides huge context in between the lines of simple art and engaging platforming mechanics.
Nilhilumbra‘s port for Nintendo Switch is now available on the Nintendo eShop for $7.99.