Aphelion Review: Don't Nod's Cosmic Drama Pits Saving Humanity Against Your Ex (and Some Clunky Parkour)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Don't Nod's *Aphelion* delivers a powerful sci-fi narrative about ex-lovers on a desperate mission to save humanity, featuring top-notch emotional storytelling and character development that shines despite occasionally clunky parkour and straightforward stealth gameplay. It's a poignant journey where personal stakes are as cosmic as the mission itself, proving that human connection is Don't Nod's true north.
Alright, mates, buckle up because Don't Nod, those narrative wizards behind *Life Is Strange*, have dropped another emotional rollercoaster into our laps. This time, it's called *Aphelion*, and fair dinkum, it’s a sci-fi adventure that manages to grapple with the end of humanity *and* the spectacularly awkward mess of a broken relationship, all in one go.
As Austin Manchester's review over at Polygon perfectly sums up, while some sci-fi needs a PhD in astrophysics to get your head around, *Aphelion* excels at the deeply personal. Picture this: Earth's a goner, climate change has kicked us right in the planetary backside, so we send two astronauts, Ariane and Thomas, on a Hail Mary mission to find a new home. Oh, did I mention they’re ex-lovers? Yeah, I'm still scratching my head over that one. Who thought, 'Right, let's send the last hope of mankind into space with a couple who just hooked up and broke up years ago'? Talk about adding a cosmic-sized wrench to the mission, eh?
But here's the kicker, and where Don't Nod truly shines – that intensely personal drama. As our hapless duo crashes on Persephone and gets separated, *Aphelion* transforms. It's not just about finding a new planet; it's about Ariane navigating an alien world, battling her own buried feelings for Thomas, and wrestling with the mission's bleak outlook. It's like Orpheus heading into the underworld, but with more space rocks and unresolved emotional baggage. The voice acting from Vanessa Dolmen (Ariane) and Eric Geynes (Thomas) truly makes every triumph and heartbreak resonate, keeping you utterly invested, even when they’re not on screen together.
Thomas gets his fair share of narrative moments too, with audio logs revealing discoveries about Persephone that are both imaginative and grounded. Turns out, Hope-01 wasn't the *first* manned mission – always a good sign when a game leaves you pondering unanswered questions, isn't it?
Now, let's talk about the bits that had me wondering if my controller was just having a bad day. While the story's pulling at your heartstrings, the moment-to-moment gameplay, particularly the parkour climbing, feels... well, a bit like trying to navigate a digital obstacle course after a few too many space beers. Manchester rightly points out it doesn't quite innovate beyond what we saw twenty years ago, and I reckon he's spot on. Sometimes Ariane's movements are as predictable as a rogue meteor shower, and not in a good way. The game doesn't quite hit the elegant complexity of Don't Nod's own *Jusant* in its climbing mechanics, which feels a bit of a missed opportunity, doesn't it?
The stealth sections? They swing between genuinely tense – especially when that black, snake-like alien cloud first slithered by – and a bit too 'press X to distract alien because I told you to.' It’s a bit like a wizard casting a spell and then loudly announcing the incantation and its effect to everyone in the room. You know what's coming, which drains some of the magic, doesn't it? But, despite the occasional clunky climb or a stealth sequence that felt more like a guided tour than a challenge, *Aphelion*'s narrative pull is so strong, so compelling, that it absolutely carries the show. Don't Nod consistently proves they're masters of character and relationship-driven stories, regardless of the genre. They make you care, genuinely care, about Ariane and Thomas, and in the end, that's what makes this adventure worth the bumpy ride. It reminds us that even when the world's falling apart, human connection is still the ultimate quest.
So, if you're keen for a story that'll warm your heart before gently breaking it – all set against a dying Earth and a new, mysterious planet – *Aphelion* is probably one to check out, despite its gameplay quirks. As reviewed by Austin Manchester over at Polygon, this is Don't Nod doing what it does best: making us feel something profound amidst the chaos.
Tags: Sci-Fi, Narrative-Driven, Adventure Game, Don't Nod, Character-Focused
Original article: Polygon