Sure thing, here you go:
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So, a couple of years back, I found myself at PAX West 2023—because why not? Loads of games to check out, obviously, but one I tried really stuck: Everdeep Aurora. No battles, just chill puzzles and wandering around. Kinda refreshing, if I’m being honest. I left super curious, so when I got the chance for a proper review—yeah, I was all in.
I remember, there was this image—couldn’t shake it. A kitten named Shell (cute, right?) looking for her mom. The planet’s getting pounded by meteor showers, everyone hiding below ground. Shell’s got this, uh, basic drill? Yeah. To dig through dirt, to find her mom or something. Things get interesting underground though—characters popping up with stories of their own. There’s a girl missing her dog, a frog with family issues, a sneaky snake, and these otters—never knew I’d care about otter drama, but here we are. Anyway, being nice helps, ‘cause you get stuff like a better drill and some crazy jumping abilities.
Let’s talk about exploration, which is like, the game’s thing. By the end, Shell’s got a bunch of stuff—hats, documents ‘bout the world, gems to keep the drill going, and more. All wrapped in a retro Game Boy style. But hey, there’s more—dice games, cranes, computer puzzles, and some old-school scenes. You could blitz through it, but hang around, and find secret paths, surprise endings. Just, you know, bring your “patient explorer” hat.
Okay, real talk. Exploration’s not all sunshine. No waypoints anywhere, I’m always getting lost. You meet all these great characters, sure, but man, a radar or proper map? Wouldn’t hurt. Also, there’s no quest log. Yup, better have a good memory, remembering who needs what. And on the Switch, it’s like—hello, screen jitters? Not the end of the world, but come on.
So, is it worthwhile, this Everdeep Aurora? Mixed feelings here. The music slaps, graphics are ace, the characters? Complex (which is rare!). It’s chill, no combat, just puzzle-solving—a cool twist. But ugh, getting stuck, wandering around cluelessly? Kinda kills the vibe. A few guidepoints, or something, could make a big difference. Depending on your threshold for getting lost, this game… it either hits or misses, you know?
Anyway, that’s Everdeep Aurora, in all its quirky glory. Chill if you like wandering, just keep that sense of direction sharp!
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