Welcome to our review of Aspire: Ina’s Tale, a game that looks and plays the part, but it feels so familiar in many ways.
Ina was trapped, placed in perpetual slumber inside the Tower – where she dreamed. Suddenly and unknowingly, she is woken. Ina must now explore the Tower’s inner chambers in search of a way out and a reason for her imprisonment. Along the way, she’ll traverse marvelous scenery, meet enigmatic characters, solve intuitive puzzles, and conquer platforming sequences as she comes closer to her goal – but farther from innocence.
For this isn’t a story about how Ina was saved. This is the story about how she discovered she could be so much more. Get lost in a mystical side-scrolling adventure through beautiful sprawling levels, each with their own distinct feel. Every region presents its own peculiarities to unravel. Ina’s dreams shape reality while the Tower feeds. Hopes and imagination satiate its hunger. How are the two connected?
Learn about the other denizens of the Tower as you search for the truth. Uncover their pasts, their memories, and set them free. Ina was trapped for a reason, and her powers resonate with the spirits that inhabit the Tower. Use them to manipulate objects, solve puzzles, reveal hidden passages, and navigate the environment to find your way out.
Aspire: Ina’s Tale is a gorgeous side-scrolling game, where you spend most of your time-solving puzzles and platforming your way to the next point of your adventure. When I say it felt familiar, it is because I played very similar games before, like Planet Alpha, a really good game as well. The main appeal of this kind of game, the experience, and in this case, the battle to free the spirits. The game is basically easy when you keep your wits about and have a sense of direction.
The puzzles themselves are pretty smart and they do increase in difficulty as you go. It does always help to look at everything around you and to make proper use of all things possible. There is this mechanic where you can bring a light with you, moving it from one item to the next. Use it to protect yourself and the next moment it is to open up a previously closed blockage. There really is a lot to do and explore.
Aspire: Ina’s Tale really is a standout game, despite having many alternatives on the market right now. What stood out most, the graphics, do not make it the best game of the year, but it sure comes in that “almost great” category. I just can not find anything it can do better. I do feel that in its genre (or even niche) it might be one of the better ones out there and that is saying a lot.
In conclusion, Aspire: Ina’s Tale is gorgeous and while it is no Game of the Year material, it sure is one to keep your eye out on.
