A Highland Song Review (BioCelt)
(+15 hours on Nintendo Switch version)
A Highland Song is a hiking platformer where you follow Moira as she crosses a fictionalised version of the Scottish Highlands as she runs away from home.
100% of what you'll be doing is climbing peaks, traversing caves, and even running through fields during the odd rhythm section. Once you reach a peak and gather your bearings you'll be trying to spot locations that match those you have sketched down or highlighted on maps. These can lead you to items or hidden routes to make your journey easier. You'll also have to find shelter overnight or when it starts raining, or take a penalty to your health (don't worry if all this sounds a bit daunting; there are plenty of accessibility options to make the Highlands as welcoming or as harsh as you'd like!). As you progress, you'll also get to know Moira through the odd monologue (accompanied with some fantastic voice acting) or other such events. If that sounds annoying, it really isn't. She's great, very likeable, real, funny at times, and not too obtrusive or anything.
The thing you have to ken about this game is that it's one of those that's designed for you to finish relatively quickly, and the replayability comes from repeat 'NG+' runs. Personally i've never really been a fan of these types of games, but this one ended up being an exception. The Highlands are split into a collection of 'valleys', and once you progress from one to the next, you cannot return during that run. This might seem annoying at first but it's integral to the gameplay, and it works after you get used to it. While the Highlands stay the same every time, each run is different as you take different routes. The amount of character the Highlands themselves have keeps it from getting too similar to previous runs as you're introduced to a new story as you near a new peak. The world is really fleshed out, features plenty of surprises, and subsequent runs are almost incentivised by the desire to experience more of it.
I won't go into too much detail as i don't want to spoil the game too much; there's really a lot more to it than just running around looking at maps. It's also worth mentioning that this is one of those that you want to play in the dark and really immerse yourself in (If you have a Deck or Switch, especially an OLED, it may be best on that platform for this reason alone). For the typical player, this is where i'd probably end the review. If you like what you've read, i'd recommend it. If you don't, i'd still recommend giving it a go since i really think it all works very well. If you have any sort of interest in Scotland, however...
I feel this game's primary appeal is to provide a little slice of Scotland to anyone who's interested. Most likely you're like me and you're interested in your ancestry, or maybe you're just interested for other reasons, and you just can't scrape together the time or the money for a real trip. A Highland Song absolutely has you covered. While a lot of this game (as far as i can tell) is an accurate fiction or reimagined history, there is a lot of real history and folklore as well, which i won't spoil as it plays a large role. There's even a bit of Scottish Gaelic and real Scottish folk music here and there! Either way, it certainly scratches that itch to experience just a little bit of Scotland. If from this aspect you're interested at all, then this game is absolutely invaluable.