Heaven’s Vault, developed by Inkle Studios, is a unique narrative-driven adventure game that blends the thrill of discovery with an immersive, linguistic puzzle-solving experience. Released in 2019, this game takes players on a remarkable journey through a rich and vibrant world where ancient languages hold the key to uncovering forgotten histories. In this review, we will dive into the various elements that make Heaven’s Vault stand out, including its storytelling, gameplay mechanics, visual design, and the overall player experience.
Introduction: Unraveling the Mysteries of an Ancient World
In Heaven’s Vault, you play as Aliya Elasra, an archaeologist and explorer, tasked with unraveling the mysteries of the Nebula, an interconnected series of moons floating in the vastness of space. Accompanied by her robotic companion Six, Aliya embarks on a quest to discover the secrets of the past by deciphering an ancient language. The game’s core focus lies in piecing together a forgotten history by interpreting inscriptions found on relics, monuments, and ruins.
With its focus on exploration and puzzle-solving, Heaven’s Vault offers a compelling blend of narrative and gameplay that challenges players to think critically while immersing them in a captivating world. Let’s explore what makes this game a standout experience.
Storytelling: A Deep and Thoughtful Narrative
A Richly Layered World
One of the most striking aspects of Heaven’s Vault is its world-building. The Nebula is a collection of diverse moons, each with its own culture, history, and secrets. From the bustling streets of the city of Iox to the desolate ruins of the farming moon Maersi, each location feels alive with a history waiting to be uncovered.
- Cultural Diversity: The game introduces players to various societies that have evolved across the Nebula’s moons, each with its unique way of life and interpretation of the past. These societies have left behind relics and writings, providing clues to the ancient civilization that once flourished.
- A Living History: The story is nonlinear, allowing players to choose how they explore and interpret the evidence they find. Your decisions shape the outcome of the narrative, creating a sense of ownership over the discoveries made.
Character-Driven Exploration
The relationship between Aliya and her companion robot, Six, plays a central role in the story. Their dynamic is a fascinating blend of tension and camaraderie as they navigate the challenges of the Nebula. Six’s logical, programmed nature often contrasts with Aliya’s curiosity and emotional investment, adding depth to their interactions.
- Dynamic Dialogue: Heaven’s Vault employs a dynamic dialogue system that allows players to choose how Aliya responds to situations. This system gives players control over the tone of the conversations, influencing how characters interact with her and the choices she makes throughout her journey.
- Personal Growth: As Aliya delves deeper into the mysteries of the ancient language and its history, players witness her growth as a character. Her increasing understanding of the Nebula’s past is mirrored by her own reflections on identity, legacy, and purpose.
Gameplay: Puzzle-Solving Through Language
The Core Mechanic: Linguistic Puzzles
The defining feature of Heaven’s Vault is its language-deciphering mechanic. As Aliya, players encounter inscriptions written in an ancient script that they must translate to uncover new information. The language is composed of hieroglyph-like symbols, each representing a word or concept.
- Learning as You Go: The game doesn’t hold your hand when it comes to translating the language. Players must use context clues and previous knowledge to make educated guesses about the meaning of certain words. Over time, as you encounter more inscriptions, you begin to piece together the meanings of symbols, unlocking new layers of understanding.
- Nonlinear Discovery: What makes the puzzle-solving in Heaven’s Vault unique is that there is no single “correct” path. Players can approach translations in multiple ways, and the game allows for trial and error. Even incorrect translations can yield valuable information that may make sense later on.
Exploration and Discovery
Exploration plays a significant role in the gameplay. Aliya travels between moons using a ship called the Nightingale, navigating rivers of light that connect the Nebula. While the navigation mechanics may feel slow at times, they emphasize the sense of vastness and isolation within the Nebula.
- Open-Ended Exploration: Players are free to explore different locations at their own pace, and the order in which they uncover relics and ruins affects how the story unfolds. This open-ended exploration encourages players to think critically about the significance of the relics they find and how they relate to the larger narrative.
- Environmental Storytelling: Each location in Heaven’s Vault is filled with environmental storytelling, where objects, buildings, and landscapes offer clues to the past. Whether it’s a broken statue, an abandoned temple, or an ancient artifact, the world itself tells a story that players must interpret.
Visual Design: A Striking Blend of 2D and 3D
Art Style
Heaven’s Vault features a unique visual style that blends hand-drawn 2D character animations with 3D environments. This combination creates a distinctive aesthetic that sets the game apart from traditional adventure titles.
- Hand-Drawn Characters: The 2D character animations are beautifully crafted, giving each character a distinctive look and personality. The fluidity of the animation adds to the game’s storytelling, with characters’ expressions and movements conveying their emotions and thoughts.
- 3D Environments: The 3D environments, on the other hand, provide a sense of depth and scale. The Nebula’s moons are varied and visually distinct, from the lush, overgrown landscapes of Maersi to the technological wonders of Iox. The contrast between the 2D characters and the 3D world creates a visually engaging experience.
Atmosphere and Mood
The game’s art direction emphasizes mood and atmosphere, with a focus on the passage of time and the weight of history. The use of light and shadow, coupled with the game’s muted color palette, creates a sense of mystery and wonder, perfectly complementing the narrative’s themes.
- Attention to Detail: Small details, such as dust particles floating through beams of light or the sound of wind sweeping across ancient ruins, enhance the immersion. These elements contribute to the game’s overall tone, making the Nebula feel like a living, breathing world.
Sound Design: Immersive and Subtle
Soundtrack
The music in Heaven’s Vault is composed by Laurence Chapman, and it plays a key role in setting the tone for the game. The soundtrack is understated, with ethereal melodies and ambient soundscapes that perfectly match the game’s themes of exploration and discovery.
- Dynamic Soundscapes: The music evolves as players uncover more of the Nebula’s secrets, shifting from tranquil and serene to tense and foreboding. This dynamic approach to the soundtrack adds to the emotional depth of the game.
Voice Acting and Sound Effects
While Heaven’s Vault does not feature full voice acting, the use of sound effects and occasional voice snippets helps bring the characters to life. The robotic voice of Six and the atmospheric sounds of the Nebula further enhance the immersion.
- Ambient Sounds: The game’s sound design is subtle yet effective, with ambient noises like rustling leaves, distant machinery, and creaking ruins adding to the sense of place and history.
Themes: Language, History, and Legacy
The Power of Language
At its core, Heaven’s Vault is a game about the power of language and how it shapes our understanding of the past. The act of deciphering an ancient language becomes a metaphor for uncovering lost histories and understanding the legacy of those who came before.
- Linguistic Exploration: The game challenges players to think about how language evolves over time and how it can be used to control or conceal knowledge. The process of translation is central to the story, and the game rewards players who pay close attention to the nuances of the language they are deciphering.
Themes of Legacy and Identity
The game also explores themes of legacy and identity, as Aliya grapples with her role as a historian and the responsibility of uncovering truths that may have been intentionally hidden. The discoveries she makes force her to question her beliefs and the legacy she will leave behind.
- Historical Reflection: Heaven’s Vault encourages players to reflect on the nature of history and the ways in which stories are passed down, altered, or forgotten. It raises important questions about the responsibility of historians and the role of memory in shaping the future.
Conclusion: A Thought-Provoking Journey Worth Taking
Heaven’s Vault is a masterclass in narrative-driven gaming, offering players a unique blend of linguistic puzzle-solving, exploration, and storytelling. Its rich world-building, complex characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics make it a standout experience in the adventure genre.
For those who enjoy thought-provoking games that challenge them to think critically about language, history, and identity, Heaven’s Vault is an unforgettable journey. Its open-ended exploration, dynamic narrative, and deep thematic resonance make it a must-play for anyone looking for a game that goes beyond the typical adventure experience. In the end, Heaven’s Vault leaves players pondering the weight of history and the stories that shape our understanding of the world.
