Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley Review

thesixthaxis.com:

Moomin is one those shows that just sticks in the mind, and is a source of nostalgia. For some that will be due to the books by Tove Jansson,  and for others the animated series that was based on those stories. It’s a series that is wholesome and full of little adventures, with Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley carrying the torch of the books, comics, TV and films into video game form.

But it’s not the Moomins who take centre stage here. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is an exploration adventure in which you play as Snufkin, friend of the Moomins. Returning to Moominvalley in the Spring, when the Moomins are waking up from their winter hibernation, to find that things have changed and that her best friend, Moomintroll, has gone missing. What was once an idyllic natural area, has been cut down in places, drained out, and transformed into more orderly parks. Snufkin’s main objective is to find Moomintroll and get rid of the parks so Moominvalley can return to its more natural state.

A real core part of the game is music, both in terms of the soundtrack provided by Sigur Ros, and with Snufkin having access to a total of three instruments throughout. Snufkin starts with a harmonica, later acquiring a flute and a drum. Different creatures and environment aspects react to one of these instruments, but only if Snufkin’s inspiration level matches or is of a higher value.

To increase his inspiration level, Snufkin can find it out in the wild, but the big boosts come from completing quests given by the inhabitants of Moominvalley. These can range from finding lost items or clearing paths. The quests are generally quite simple, and thanks to the world design do not take long to complete. They all have some puzzle elements to them, which can include creating paths using rocks, or avoiding guard patrols, and at no point did any quest feel repetitive. What is also appreciated is that you can do the side quests in any order, and find items in the wild related to quests. That means