Nairi: Rising Tide

Nairi: Rising Tide is a fantasy-themed graphic adventure game and sequel to Nairi: Tower of Shirin. Set in a whimsical anime-style world, players follow Nairi and her companions as they navigate intricate puzzles, unravel a mysterious narrative, and confront new challenges in an expanded setting. While praised for its charming visuals and detailed design, some critics note uneven puzzle difficulty and a divisive cliffhanger ending. The game blends point-and-click exploration with puzzle-solving mechanics, appealing to fans of story-driven adventures.

Nairi: Rising Tide: A Rich yet Flawed Voyage Through Shirin’s Shadows

Introduction

Six years after their charming debut Nairi: Tower of Shirin (2018), Dutch indie duo HomeBearStudio returns with Nairi: Rising Tide, a sequel that seeks to expand its whimsical world while confronting the weight of expectations. Set in the politically fractured city of Shirin, this point-and-click adventure blends Studio Ghibli-inspired aesthetics with dense lore, but stumbles under the tide of its own ambitions. This review explores whether Rising Tide refines its predecessor’s formula or drowns in narrative and mechanical missteps.

Development History & Context

Studio Vision & Challenges
Developed by partners Joshua van Kuilenburg and You Miichi, Rising Tide faced a tumultuous six-year gestation. Personal hurdles, including Miichi’s care for her ailing mother in Japan, delayed production, while technical overhauls—such as revamping loading times and hint systems—demanded meticulous polish. The duo aimed to double the scope of the original, adding 25% more dialogue, intricate “puzzle dungeons,” and refined animations.

The 2024 Gaming Landscape
Released into a crowded indie market dominated by cozy titles (Loco Motive, Smushi Come Home), Rising Tide struggled to stand out. Yet its commitment to hand-drawn artistry and hybrid gameplay—melding visual novels with Zelda-like puzzles—offered a niche appeal.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot & Characters
Picking up weeks after Tower of Shirin, Rising Tide alternates between Nairi, a privileged girl turned revolutionary, and Shiro, the repentant son of a corrupt council leader. Their quest to expose a conspiracy—centered on a prophecy about a “Great Storm”—unfolds through a sprawling cast, including the fan-favorite thief Sayo and the scholarly rat Rex.

Themes & Execution
The game tackles class divides, religious manipulation, and colonial oppression, but critics argue these themes feel surface-level. The Soluna Council’s tyranny and the resistance group “The Rising” echo real-world strife, yet lack nuance—villains like Pontiff Yasir lean into Bond-esque clichés, while the cliffhanger ending leaves arcs unresolved.

Legacy of the Cliffhanger
Like its predecessor, Rising Tide concludes abruptly, with Nairi’s parents vanishing, Rex mortally wounded, and Shiro brainwashed. While setting up a third chapter, the lack of a post-credits teaser left players feeling “hopeless” (Comfy Cozy Gaming).

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Loop & Innovations
The gameplay blends inventory puzzles, environmental riddles, and timed quizzes. New additions like the toolbelt—for crafting keys and tools—add depth, but disjointed tutorials leave players fumbling (Checkpoint Gaming).

Puzzle Design: Highs & Lows
– Puzzle Dungeons: Ambitious multi-room challenges, such as the Tower of Vaeir, require laser redirection and rune alignment. Yet their complexity frustrates, prompting HomeBearStudio to release an official walkthrough.
– Hint System: The coin-fed Hint Chick often provides vague sketches, forcing players to brute-force solutions.

Skipping Controversy
Players can bypass entire dungeons, but this strands them narratively. As Missy Taylor (Checkpoint Gaming) notes, skipping the Schism dungeon results in a jarring, context-free finale.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Splendor
Shirin’s districts burst with vibrant, hand-painted backdrops—from the steamy bathhouses to the austere Soluna Cathedral. Character designs, inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service, charm with exaggerated expressions, though critics note dissonance between the cute art and bleak narrative (3rd Strike).

Sound Design
A minimalist score of marimbas and guitar plucks complements the mood, though repetition grates over time. The absence of voice acting accentuates the visual novel feel but strains readability in text-heavy scenes.

Reception & Legacy

Critical Divide
Scoring a modest 70% on MobyGames, reviews highlight polarizing strengths:
– Praise: “A great adventure full of heart” (Nindie Spotlight, 87%); “Gorgeous art style” (Screen Hype, 8.2/10).
– Criticism: “Convoluted mess” (3rd Strike, 55%); “Frustrating puzzles” (Nintendo Life, 7/10).

Commercial Performance & Influence
Despite muted sales, Rising Tide solidified HomeBearStudio’s reputation for artistry. Its legacy hinges on a promised third chapter, which must reconcile the sequel’s narrative loose ends.

Conclusion

Nairi: Rising Tide is a paradoxical gem—flawed yet endearing. Its lush world and endearing cast are hamstrung by uneven pacing, obtuse puzzles, and an unsatisfying cliffhanger. For fans of Tower of Shirin, it’s a mandatory but imperfect voyage; for newcomers, a beautiful yet baffling entry point. As the series sails toward its conclusion, one hopes the finale will balance ambition with clarity, ensuring Nairi’s journey culminates in a tide worth riding.

Final Verdict: A visually stunning but uneven sequel that shines in moments but buckles under its own scope. Worth playing for the art; patience advised for the puzzles.