Koira Review (PS5) – Journey, But With A Dog

Remember Journey? Of course you do. At this point, it’s as ubiquitous in the video game space as a Call of Duty or FIFA. Well, relatively speaking, of course. Studio Tolima have taken all the hallmarks of that 2012 indie classic and reimagined it to focus on the environment, plight of animal life, and an adorable pup companion. Its nose quite literally lights up the way – what more needs to be said?

Koira is a small, digestible piece of moving art that’s aiming to compel you and emotionally tug at those heartstrings as much as it can. Does it do a good job of emotionally connecting you to its protagonist and animal besties? Throw that stick and let’s go fetch to find out, shall we?

Don’t Be Koi(ra) With Me

Right off the bat, you’ll be immediately confronted with the inspiration of Journey, Limbo, Somerville and the like when starting Koira. No dialogue required, no expositional cutscenes needed. You begin in a forest, unsure of your role or place. This is an experiential game, where you navigate and work out your objective organically as you go. You’ll quickly come across your quirky canine companion and before you know it, you’re off on an adventure to find yourselves a home.

What Koira lacks in narrative direction, it makes up for with its conceits of environmental destruction, exploitation of wildlife and most importantly, the value of companionship. This is a game swimming in empathy, whether it be coming to the aid of a struggling family of hogs or cutting down your trusty doggo from a huntsman’s trap. I was pleasantly surprised that, like many others in the genre, the developers weren’t afraid to mix the melancholic and dark with the upbeat.

In the space of the three-hour runtime, Koira will connect with those around her, suffer losses and even lose herself to rage. It’s an interesting arc, one that’s made all the more enjoyable by the beauty of the quiet moments. I didn’t find it quite hooked me like others in the genre have, but there’s an emotional undertone to Koira that does enough to move its plot along and keep you moving forward.

Stress-Induced Relaxation

Playing Koira is exceptionally straightforward, as most exploration and adventure styled games often are. You traverse across the gorgeous handcrafted maps, using X to interact with objects (which can be thrown), square to wave and circle to sing. Most tasks boil down to throwing sticks for distractions, skulking between bushes in simple stealth sequences, or finding puzzle pieces to repair forest statues.

It’s definitely basic, but the accessibility and simplicity lend itself to the easygoing approach and keeps the focus on the bond between Koira and her newfound companion. Speaking of, this little good boy needs to be fed to keep his nose glowing, as this will guide you through dark clouds. Much like how real life dogs help their humans through dark times, so too does this one help Koira keep herself emotionally grounded.

My favourite moments weren’t really the stealth sections or the basic puzzling, it’s the cute interludes where you play hide-and-seek, fetch or just sit by a campfire listening to the ambient music. There’s a smile-inducing earnestness to just letting time pass as Koira meditates and the dog snoozes next to her, which is amplified effectively by the more tense moments of a chase sequence, for example. Even so, this is a title that’s remarkably straightforward to pick up and play, for better and for worse.

Man’s, And Koira’s, Best Friend

As you can see from the screenshots, the hand-drawn visual style is delightful. When the mood gets dark, the shadows of the trees and the impending doom of a snowstorm are harrowing and powerful. Conversely, when spirits are high, gliding across a frozen lake or skating along an auburn forest path, it’s a treat for the eyes. The character and animal concepts are wonderfully realised, while the hounds and huntsman are imposing, swelling in evil energy.

Moreover, the soundtrack complements the mood and moments perfectly. From the depths of Koira’s despair, ringing with intense backing instruments, to the serene thrum of the melodies when things are peaceful, you’ll find it tough not to be immersed in its stunning backing sound. If you’re in the market for a comforting and moving atmosphere, you’d do well to have this one added to your playlist.

All of which left me feeling pleasantly positive towards Koira. Her journey is simple and straightforward, but takes some engaging emotional turns and has a lovely art style that delivers throughout. It’s less compelling on the gameplay front, with its best moments being when the actual plot takes a backseat as you play fetch, build a snowman or have another round of hide-and-seek. Though how else would you want to spend your afternoons with your favourite canine pals?

Koira is available now on PlayStation 5 (review platform) and PC via Steam.

Developer: Studio Tolima
Publisher: Dontnod Entertainment

Disclaimer: In order to complete this review, we were provided with a promotional copy of the game. For our full review policy, please go here.

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