Review: Run, jump and climb through Scotland in 'A Highland Song'

Beautiful moments with nature are aplenty between all the carefree running and jumping in 'A Highland Song'. — Photos: Inkle Studios/dpa

BERLIN: Fantastic landscapes as far as the eye can see: Nature seems to be in the foreground of the adventure game A Highland Song. However, anyone who starts playing will quickly notice that there are challenges in this environment.

Players take on the role of young Moira, who lives in the Scottish Highlands. Her dream is to see the sea one day. When a pen pal invites her to his lighthouse, she packs her things and sets off. But the heroine has a long, exhausting road ahead of her.

A moment of rest by the fire in 'A Highland Song'. But what should we ask this man?

You often have to figure out which direction you're going in the vast landscape so it's important to familiarise yourself with the surroundings.

In a simple platforming style, you slowly run, jump and climb forward but Moira's endurance is limited so don't move too much at once. Getting there in time for Beltane, the Gaelic start of summer celebrated on May 1st, can take more than just one attempt.

Players take on the role of young Moira, who lives in the Scottish Highlands. Her dream is to make it to the sea one day.

But thanks to the breathtaking mountain and coastal worlds and the magical story, it's always worth starting over from the beginning. Whether you are successful on the journey also influences the outcome of the story.

At first, A Highland Song may seem like a quiet, pleasant journey through the countryside, but the game is trickier than expected. To steer Moira to her destination, you need a real survival instinct.

To navigate Scotland's Highlands, you need maps and clues to help you stay on the right path.

What awaits is the kind of journey you won't find in other games. A Highland Song is available for PCs and the Nintendo Switch, and costs around €16/US$16 (RM45 in Malaysia). – dpa