Review: Everdeep Aurora for Nintendo Switch

Okay, so—lemme just dive in here. PAX West, 2023. Yeah, two years back, I wander into this massive gaming event, right? It’s like a geek’s paradise or something. Amid the chaos, I stumble upon this game that, seriously, just oozes chill vibes—Everdeep Aurora. No baddies, no stress. Just pure puzzles and poking around. Totally my scene. Fast forward and I’m getting hands-on for a proper review, because why not?

Oh, quick sidebar—there’s this picture of the game. Kinda one of those pixel art things. Vintage charm, like an old-school Game Boy Color. If you’re into that kinda pixelated nostalgia, you know what I mean.

Wait, back to the game: you become this kitten, Shell—kinda cute, right?—digging below the surface of a world dodging meteors or some such apocalyptic stuff. All ‘cause kitty’s lookin’ for her mom. Seems simple, yeah? But soon you’re bumping into all these quirky characters. Like, one minute there’s a girl on the lookout for a missing pup, then bam—it’s a frog with dad issues. Not even joking. It’s weirdly engaging.

And then, there’s a snake. A shifty, deals-in-the-dark kinda snake. Man, what a riot these characters are—like attending a soap opera underground. Fix their junk, and in return, unlock stuff to deepen your dig. Fancy drills, wall hops, propulsion thingamajigs—being nice pays off here.

I should mention—got a snapshot of this, too. The visuals are trippy, lemme tell ya. You’re riding this wave of exploration, hoarding hats, digging up lore docs and sparkly gems to keep your gear juiced. Plus, mini-games galore! Dice rolling, crane games, techno-puzzles… and all in this funky retro display. It’s short but sweet, with versions and endings aplenty.

Anyway—let’s address the potholes on this journey, shall we? Navigation’s a bit of a grey zone. No waypoint markers, nada. You’re left piecing it all together with a basic map that doesn’t quite cut it. Seriously, it could use a GPS or something (metaphorically, of course—I mean, why not?).

And just when you think it’s clockwork, boom! Still lost. Running around, holding mental post-it notes of who needs what item? Bit of a mess, to be honest. And if you’re playing on a Switch… brace yourself for some hiccupy, jittery framerates—hey, it’s not the end of the world, unless you’re a total smooth graphics stickler.

One more visual for ya—kind of a scene with these heartfelt retro cutscenes. It’s bittersweet, really.

So, what’s the final scoop on Everdeep Aurora? Mixed bag. Might be for you if you dig atmospheric tunes, eye-candy graphics, and complex, memorable characters. Combat-free mystery hunting? Thumbs up. But the whole wandering-lost-in-the-abyss experience? Meh, take it or leave it. Could’ve been brilliant with a sprinkle of guidance.

Final thought? A bit of a curated chaos, this game. Super chill, but prepare your patience levels for the underground maze. Apropos, right?

Rating? Uh, let’s say maybe something like 6.7 out of 10. Not horrible, but not blowing my mind either. You decide!