Review: Everdeep Aurora for Switch

Two years back, I found myself at PAX West 2023. Why? Honestly, I’ve got no idea. But there I was, stumbling upon Everdeep Aurora. A game where you do, well, nothing quite like you expect. There’s no battling — just you and puzzles and a world begging to be explored. I left with this odd itch. Intrigued, maybe. So when I got the chance to actually play it, like really dive in, I had to.

Searching for Mom… or Something

The plot? Simple-ish. You’re Shell, a kitten on a quest to find mom. A meteor shower’s gone bonkers, and everyone’s ducked for cover underground. So, you grab this basic drill and start digging. Deeper and deeper. Sounds fun, right? Maybe.

Then you hit this weird part. You meet these characters. A girl looking for her dog. A frog with daughter issues. A snake that’s, well, snaky. And these otters — kind of a mess romantically. Somehow, you’re sorting their lives to progress. Why? Beats me. But Shell gets cool upgrades like stronger drills and a wall jump. So being nice isn’t just good vibes. It’s useful.

Highs and… Umm, Lows?

Exploring — that’s the heart of this thing. “Collect all the hats,” they said. Documents, gems, extra battery life. It’s all in there. And you’ve got this Game Boy Color vibe going on. Suddenly it’s like, surprise! Dice games, crane madness, those retro cutscenes. Wild, right? You can blow through it in hours, yet the end is scattered. So many paths and ends. Finding stuff is the thrill here, I swear.

But then… frustration hits. Everdeep Aurora decided we don’t need waypoint markers. So we wander. Kinda fun, kinda "Why am I lost again?" You meet folks, and there’s this reward, but a radar wouldn’t hurt. There’s no quest log either. Your memory better be on point. Of course, some places won’t even appear on your radar. Remember where that otter is? Good luck. Oh, and on the Switch, it jitters. Silly, small stuff, but for real — shouldn’t it just run smoothly? I’d think so.

Is This Journey Even Worth It?

Everdeep Aurora makes me feel split. You’ve got killer music, cool graphics, layered characters, and a combat-free vibe. It’s all about uncovering secrets. But the path? It’s confusing. It needs guiding points, like breadcrumbs. It could’ve been top-notch. But right now, how much you enjoy it will depend on your patience levels. Can you handle getting lost, like, a lot?

Chill and explore, but bring your own map. Not kidding.

Gameplay: 6/10
Graphics & Sound: 7/10
Replayability: 7/10

Overall: 6.7/10

Everdeep Aurora… it’s chill, a vibe if ever there was. The characters shine, burrowing is fun unless you’re tearing your hair out finding your way.