Is Nova better than Grease?

Key foods

• Grace is like a watercolor painting, while Nova is like a dream.

• Grace focuses on exploration, while Nova emphasizes teamwork and combat.

• Both games deal with the themes of grief and effective therapy with different approaches.

Human emotions are complex and messy and can be confusing when you're going through major life events. In this gap of confusion lies the beauty of shared emotions at the unconscious level. Many artists in a variety of media have spent hours trying to capture these complex and conflicting emotions well.

Many games, both triple-A and indie, try to capture these emotions in the most interactive and interpersonal way possible. Nomada Studio has delved deeply into the spectrum of human emotion and loss with two games: Gris, a lonely game about grief, and Neva, which follows two main characters through time. Is it fair to compare them? You can't put these games together, so let's dig in and find out which one might be better.

5

Art style – Grace

Like walking in a painting

Nova's imagery is dreamlike. The titular wolf, Nova, moves like a sentient cloud full of teeth and power towards the remnants of the darkness that takes its color from the world. When you start the game, you are taken to the inner pages of a nostalgic storybook, full of bright colors and bold shapes that represent each season.

While Nova is like a storybook, it's as if you've stepped into the pastel world of a watercolor painting. Couple that with a hand that has the grace and lines of the world, and you have a masterpiece of artistic design. The way the colors blend, blend and contrast with each other while being so emotional is unique.

4

Gameplay – Neva

Teamwork makes the dream work

In Gris, the gameplay focus is simple: exploration. There isn't much in the way of combat, but it doesn't have to be need for every This is the best parallel for you to discover his feelings using puzzles and secrets. The fight was “good”, but in the end, it's not necessary to make the difficult journey into a new normal for Gris.

On the other hand, Neva's struggle perfectly reflects the theme of finding family and working together to fight against insurmountable odds. The way the fights grow from Neva passively warning you of danger, to fighting together as a unit, is a subtle but masterful example of storytelling that makes you appreciate the game even more.

3

Characters – tie

It does not mean that it is negative

Alone in theme, Grace is a story about the experience of grief, an often isolating experience for those who have experienced it. She makes several friends along her journey, but this is never a permanent scenario and Grace is often left alone again. This is a fitting parable of how there may be people in your life who help you in your time of need, but your healing must be done by you.

Alongside this, you have Alba and Nova, who are stuck together because of the collective loss of their loved one. A mother to Nova and a friend to Alba, these two must learn to survive without them and adapt to life with each other. A shining example of, even though healing must come from within, that doesn't mean you have to suffer alone. Both characters do a fantastic job portraying their respective themes, doubly so without the dialogue.

2

Theme – tie

Human emotions have a wide range

Each game explores emotions differently. Grace's journey is one of healing – she begins broken, lost in an empty white world, where the path forward is uncertain. Grief is messy and can be all-consuming, and Grace demonstrates this masterfully by reflecting her broken state of mind in a fragmented, colorless world. As she works through her grief and rebuilds pieces of herself, color gradually returns, capturing the messy and pervasive nature of loss and healing in a deeply visceral and resonant way.

Tragedy can happen in unexpected ways, and while you may want to stop and let it go, the passage of time simply won't let you. There are two themes here in Neva: the passage of time is inevitable, and you must not fight the darkness alone. There is a lot of care and love in both games and ultimately they are two sides of the same coin.

1

In general – a tie

Both are beautiful and worth your time

No matter which game you choose from Nomada Studios, you're in for a deeply emotional journey that's sure to touch your heart in some way. If you're looking for a “simple” adventure with minimal combat, you'll probably prefer Gris. However, if you like to feel strong against all odds, as well as make a new friend, then you'll love Nova.

Or, you can get both! None of these games are very long, lasting five or so hours per piece, so if you're good at puzzles, you can enjoy them in one sitting. It's all about experiencing familiar themes through a new lens, something that resonates with every human being but is difficult to put into words. Opening your heart and giving these games a chance is worth the experience.