Review: Mists of Noyah on PS5

Sometimes, in the world of gaming, the excitement of a game’s concept doesn’t quite match what you get to play. Sure, the saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but in this industry, when a game developer promises us a groundbreaking experience, we really hope they stick to their word. We’ve been let down too many times by tantalizing previews that fail to live up to expectations, and No Man’s Sky was once the poster child for this. Now, let me clarify before you jump down my throat—No Man’s Sky is fantastic now. But, if, like me, you dove in on day one amidst all the buzz, you likely found yourself disappointed. I’m not criticizing Hello Games—they turned it around brilliantly and should be applauded. But it serves as a reminder to developers who never fulfill their promises. This brings us to the present day and Mists of Noyah on the PS5, a game that on paper should be a standout in its genre. Sadly, as we delve deeper, it becomes evident that the end product falls short of the potential it initially promised.

Imagine a game that combines the creative crafting of Terraria with the dynamic exploration and peril of a roguelike Metroidvania. It sounds like a gamer’s dream with endless exploration and thrilling crafting, each playthrough offering a new experience. Mists of Noyah should be all this and more, but instead, it feels like something left by the wayside, a once-promising endeavor that seems somewhat neglected.

Starting Mists of Noyah, I was excited to dive in and lead my character against nighttime terrors, with daytimes devoted to gathering resources to fortify a village against monstrous threats. The anticipation of managing time wisely, knowing that every moment spent too far from safety could doom both my character and the villagers I was tasked to protect, filled me with eagerness. But then, the game whisked me away to a forest, dropping me in with zero guidance.

Here’s where Mists of Noyah struggles right away—it lacks a tutorial. Now, I get that the game might be aiming for that sink-or-swim experience, where players figure things out organically. Fair enough, if there’s some basic direction and a hint of what to do next or how the controls work, I’d embrace the challenge. I don’t need the whole story upfront; discovering the narrative through exploration can be engaging. But in this case, it felt like I was missing a chapter, a crucial one that just wasn’t written.

I managed to grasp the basics fairly quickly, hopping across platforms, taking down foes, and gathering resources. I overcame some initial obstacles, even crafting my first set of wooden armor after figuring out the clunky menu system. Yet, it was far more fumbling than fun. Dying meant being thrown back to the beginning, still not quite sure of what to do, but now in the dark.

Nighttime threw stronger enemies at me, and my makeshift bow was practically useless. I found myself bypassing enemies more than engaging, simply sprinting onwards in search of this village I thought might exist. Several frustrating deaths later, I stumbled into the village and felt even more bewildered.

The village, unfortunately, felt as undeveloped as the opening stages. NPCs stood mute, not a dialogue in sight, leaving me guessing at their wares and what their items did. Spending hard-earned gold became a gamble, uncertain of any payoff. A fairy offered a dungeon run that I accepted, only to be wiped out immediately by the first enemy. Undeterred, I pressed on to explore different biomes.

Biomes were supposed to add variety but turned out to be more of the same, each one a mere redeskin of the forest I started in with minimal variation. It felt jarring and lacked any real depth or distinction, bouncing me from tundra to desert with nothing tying them together or explaining my objective. Combat and level layout were decent, but there was no drive to push forward. Instead of adding suspense, the day-night cycle became an added source of confusion without clear objectives.

A clock looms in your view, counting down to the next wave of danger, a neat concept if supplemented with understanding. But this clock keeps ticking in a world offering no direction, forcing you to navigate menus and lore mid-game. Purchase a story scroll, and you’ll find it spans a dozen pages, all while the threat ticks closer. I couldn’t understand if this constant pressure was a feature or another oversight.

Mists of Noyah feels incomplete—a game released prematurely perhaps because its creators moved on. What should be thrilling and engaging falls short of occupying our time or interest because the basics weren’t fine-tuned. Visuals may catch the eye, but to use a British phrase, it’s all fur coat and no knickers. Had the developers put heart into finishing it, we might be lauding an entirely different kind of game here.

Had Mists of Noyah been in Early Access, this review wouldn’t be quite so harsh, expectations could be adjusted for something in development. But to ask £8.00 for an incomplete product, even while charging considerably more on Steam, feels off. With two years separating the PC and console releases, it’s surprising to see no apparent improvements—a simple push to cash in that leaves much to be desired.

Overall, Mists of Noyah leaves a big “could have been” echo. It’s not ready for its grand entry onto the gaming stage and certainly doesn’t warrant the investment right now. Save your money for a more enriching experience elsewhere.