A Highland Song Review
Inkle are hands down one of the most interesting developers in terms of their treatment of narrative. From their most famous title, 80 Days, to my personal favourite, Heaven’s Vault, they have a knack for telling incredible stories in innovative ways. It’s no surprise, then, to hear that I was hugely excited to get my hands on their newest title. A Highland Song is a departure for Inkle in terms of genre and style but very much continues their impressive track record.
Rather than traversing the globe (or space), A Highland Song is a much more personal and localised story. It does, however, share the feeling of escape and personal growth that seems so characteristic of their oeuvre. The studio description for the game begins with the simple phrase ‘Moira McKinnon is running away’, and this is exactly how the game starts too. Moira is a young girl in the Scottish Highlands who wants to escape from home to visit her Uncle. There is no backstory, no history of trauma, no real motivation provided aside from a young girl’s desire to explore. This immediately puts you in Moira’s shoes and the sheer joy of traversing the Highlands is infectious – as well as the sense of desperation when you find yourself lost.
Aesthetically, A Highland Song is an absolute treat with beautiful cartoony visuals and atmospheric sound design. The Scottish Highlands is presented as a series of layers which Moira can move between when pathways are discovered. There is an incredible sense of depth and scale thanks to this approach which really contributes to the joy of exploration and discovery. The atmosphere is further deepened through immersive weather effects that can limit your visibility, make climbing more treacherous and even damage your health.
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