Everdeep Aurora review: Searching for a home at the end of the world

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A small cat wearing a hood cloak stirs from slumber in the pouring rain on a bench at the world’s edge. The moon has been cleaved asunder, casting an angry, blood-red glare and fragments across the heavens. Meteors cascade from the sky. All other creatures have retreated to burrows. A note left by her mother is all Shell has – it’s cryptic, offering no explanation for the current chaos but instructing Shell to meet her mother in their usual spot if she doesn’t return promptly.

As Shell wanders, she encounters a frog named Ribbert, who like her, is searching for someone. Ribbert intends to remain a while longer, but the surface has become too dangerous. He hands over his drill to Shell and explains that her mother must be seeking refuge in one of the underground shelters beneath the world. He’ll join her if she calls, but he cannot accompany her. With no other options, Shell takes up the drill and descends, heading towards the Everdeep, hoping against hope to reunite with her mother and avoid loneliness.

Everdeep Aurora is an extraordinary game, unlike any I’ve encountered before. It appears to have been crafted with the retro 16-bit systems of the past in mind, featuring a user interface reminiscent of the Game Boy. Although it couldn’t have operated on those devices, its design clearly pays homage to them. Everdeep Aurora is a game born from machines that never truly existed, yet they persist in our collective memory. This game is genuinely breathtaking, showcasing the unique beauty only pixel art can convey. Its world may be shattered and melancholic, but it draws you in nonetheless.

In Everdeep Aurora, there’s no fighting involved. Instead, you embody an explorer, not a warrior. Your primary objective, shared by Shell, is straightforward: locate your mother. However, during this journey, you’ll map out the underworld, interact with its diverse inhabitants, and confront your deepest fears. As you venture into the darkness, you’ll rely solely on your intelligence and drill to illuminate the path ahead.

In the realm of Everdeep Aurora, everything is arranged on a grid system. Initially, your drill can shatter any tile it encounters, but be mindful of its energy levels. Once depleted, while the drill will continue functioning, it will do so at a slower pace. What makes Everdeep Aurora unique is that you are free to carve out your own path. There’s no single correct route for either you or Shell. Your objective remains consistent: to reach the bottom.

You won’t find a manual here, but some rocks have red crystals that act as currency for your drill recharging, while others contain ore for upgrading it to improve speed and efficiency. Taking the most direct route down might be quickest, but unexpected detours may prove useful. Let the rocks serve as your guide; weave a winding path. Leave a platform for Shell to leap onto. Carve a road between two rock rows that Shell can walk along. As you traverse the underworld, not only do you adapt it for immediate use, but also for future travels.

As you journey downward, you’ll encounter various inhabitants of the underworld. A blindsmith with extraordinary skills in sharpening tools, who can transform your weak drill into a powerful one. An owl sharing tales by the flickering light of a campfire. A secluded tavern filled with the downtrodden and forgotten. A band of children hiding within an abandoned, dilapidated mansion. A secretive girl tending to a hidden garden she cherishes dearly. An otter who prioritizes fishing over personal loss. A thief acting for reasons that remain unclear. And throughout it all, Ribbert continues his quest, much like yourself. The Everdeep is teeming with tales, lives disrupted by events aboveground. Some will aid you, others may harm you, some require your assistance, many will choose to ignore you. Your interactions with them and the choices you make will weave their stories and yours together.

Shell displays bravery and compassion. In situations where trouble arises, such as a “monster” being trapped with another child, she rallies assistance from others. During frightening moments, she employs fireflies to illuminate their path. When a girl requests water for her concealed garden, Shell obliges, and when instructed to maintain the garden’s location a secret from the girl’s guardian, she complies – even at personal cost. She retrieves a misplaced glove for the blacksmith and returns a lost dog home. She offers assistance wherever it is required.

Most, but not all, of these tales are alternative, less traveled; they’re not necessary to finish. However, experiencing Everdeep Aurora’s full charm is enhanced by exploring them. I find Shell endearing, despite her limited communication through meows and physical expressions. In a world where she feels lost and isolated, she dedicates a significant portion of her time aiding others.

As a result, the world becomes improved, as an elderly woman overcomes her jealousy and grief from losing her father. An outcast relearns compassion. Not everyone shows kindness like Shell does within Everdeep Aurora, but her influence often transforms them for the better. The world may be nearing its end, yet that doesn’t make it any less valuable to protect, and unexpected small moments can significantly impact a life in ways we wouldn’t anticipate.

As you delve deeper into Everdeep Aurora’s narrative (expecting to spend approximately 4-6 hours, with over a dozen hours needed to uncover all endings), Shell acquires upgrades for her gear that enhance her capabilities. For instance, old boots enable wall-jumping and reaching greater altitudes; the drill undergoes improvements, and so on, unlocking new paths to previously inaccessible areas. Navigating to a new location involves solving puzzles and making strategic decisions. Along the way, you might stumble upon hidden platform challenges that require moving blocks, traversing unstable platforms, and resolving puzzles. These are optional, serving as rewards for your exploration efforts, with additional rewards at their conclusion, and they provide a refreshing change from navigating the underground. There are also various mini-games such as a crane game, dice, fishing, among others, to prevent monotony. However, keep in mind that Everdeep Aurora shines most within its underground setting; while the gameplay feels satisfying regardless of location, each choice you make significantly impacts the world around you. Your presence in the Everdeep alters it.

The expedition yields enhancements for drills, rare crystals, images, sketches, anecdotes, charming mini-hats for Shell, melodies from the game’s enchanting soundtrack. The piano compositions are hauntingly beautiful, melancholic, and serene, and they vary according to location. Similarly, the backdrops and color palette shift, reflecting the ever-changing world of Everdeep Aurora. Pay heed, and you’ll discern the underlying narratives, though the writing itself is sometimes repetitive yet generally good. The creative use of moving, vibrant, and occasionally varying-sized text effectively communicates the tone. It’s rewarding to observe the world transform due to your actions, to unearth its mysteries, to delve deeper into these characters. Even seemingly trivial actions like summoning Ribbert back to his camp or listening to him strum a tune on his guitar reveal stories and insights about the world and its inhabitants. Every detail is deliberate. Nothing exists in isolation. Each tale is woven into every other tale.

The captivating Everdeep Aurora stirred curiosity within me, touched my emotions, and led me on a journey of exploration. It subtly guided me without me fully realizing it. It required me to learn the layout (though there was a map, it didn’t show everything), navigate backtracks, delve deeper into unexplored areas, remember key details, uncover what was requested of me and solve problems that weren’t explicitly stated. I had to carve my own path, knowing that I would return to this place someday, wherever “here” might be. It immersed me in a world that felt ancient yet inhabited, as if it could have been created two decades ago but is likely only achievable today. It acquainted me with Shell, who embodied the importance of kindness and helping others.

The tale I encountered was a composite of stories, serving as a reminder that our actions, no matter how aimless or isolated we may feel, can significantly touch others. It emphasizes our interconnectedness – no narrative is penned in solitude, no society built by one individual. Our actions and choices create ripples that extend beyond our sight. A stray kitten I discovered napping on a rain-soaked bench at the edge of the world rekindled my zest for life.

This assessment is derived from a pre-release PC version supplied by the game’s publisher. The title “Everdeep Aurora” will be accessible on both PC and Nintendo Switch platforms starting from July 10, 2025.

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2025-07-09 17:58