Game news A nun goes on a trip with the devil? I tested the hottest game of the Steam Neo Fest
I played the Russian game that puts you in the shoes of a nun who travels with the devil. And I can already assure you that this game will clearly divide players!
Indika, the video game makes its own film
Indika is a third-person adventure game that puts you in the shoes of a nun in an alternate Russia of the late 19th century. It’s from Odd Meter, a Russian studio which left the country after the invasion of Ukraine and which had already delivered us the virtual reality shooter Sacralith: The Archer’s Tale in 2018. But with Indika, it’s is a much more unique proposition that the studio offers us. Just take a look at the trailer at the top of this article to understand that this is not a game like any other. Basically, we’re looking at an arthouse film in video game version, with a story that’s as deep as it is compelling.
But what is this story? Well, it’s the story of a young nun who undertakes a strange journey of self-discovery. Between her religious visions and the harsh reality, she will find herself in a world where nothing is certain. And that’s not the only dichotomy that makes Indika’s vibe so special and difficult to describe. The title of Odd Meter is a mixture of black humor and tragedy, but also of raw realism and human madness, or even the apparent innocence of the nun Indika and the perversity of the devil who speaks to her. Because yes, Indika is not alone on this journey. A nun who speaks to the evil one himself? This is the unique proposition offered by the developers at Odd Meter. But then, what does that give?
The Devil Wears Indika
Strange… There is no better adjective to describe Indika. I myself can’t really decide if I liked what the demo offered me or not. As for the game itself, it must be admitted that there is nothing very transcendent. We find ourselves faced with a fairly classic experience, with small puzzles to solve (find a key, find access, etc.) and nasty creatures to flee. It’s not always perfect, far from it. There are inaccuracies in terms of handling and inconsistencies in game design. But the proposition is so unusual that we kind of want to forgive him in order to know what lies at the end of this strange path. You will have understood, what is intriguing in Indika, what is original, what makes it interesting, is its atmosphere and its story.
An atmosphere helped by the dubbing which is particularly successful, it must be said, and certain scenes that are simply striking. But it is above all this mixture of genres, this mixture of realities, which plunges us into such a particular adventure. Between faith and sin, Indika’s journey will deeply tug her and the player that we are. The level system is also based on this dilemma between repentance and guilt. And we are already wondering to what extent taking one path rather than the other will change the course of history.
Odd Meter does not tackle a very easy subject and that also intrigues us. Because for the moment, it’s difficult to see where the studio wants to take us exactly. What is certain, however, is that we are facing a new example of diving into the human psyche and its darkest inclinations. As a result, we can compare it to a title like Hellblade, and that is whata journalist pointed out to the developers. To tell the truth, it’s hard to see how the title could compete with Ninja Theory’s next game. But, a bit like Senua’s adventures at the time, Indika offers us a unique experience that may amaze some and outrage others. We are facing a work that will divide, a bit like auteur cinema ultimately. What is certain is that we undeniably have to watch out for Indika, which will perhaps be the most original video game proposition of the year!
Indika is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2024. Form your own opinion on the title using the demo available as part of the Steam Neo Fest until February 12 at 7:00 p.m.