Enotria: The Last Song Review

Enotria: The Last Song is a new addition to the increasingly popular souls-like RPG genre. It was developed by Jyamma Games, a passionate studio that has rooted its vision in Italian culture. Like other games in this genre, Enotria delivers a challenging experience through complex combat, intricate world design, and atmospheric storytelling. However, it stands apart from its contemporaries by drawing on Italy’s rich folklore, a choice that imbues the game with a distinct personality and artistic appeal.

Enotria is Rooted in Italy

The game tells the story of a character who embarks on a journey through a mythic, almost dream-like Italy, a land that blends real cultural elements with the supernatural. You are on a quest to uncover long-lost secrets about the land and its people. Enotria: The Last Song makes good use of Italian folklore as the backbone of its story, and this is what truly sets it apart. The lore is deeply rooted in Italian history, mythology, and old tales that give players an insightful and authentic feel of Italy’s cultural heritage.

What’s unique about Enotria’s storytelling is that it doesn’t just borrow from these cultural elements for aesthetics but instead weaves them into the very fabric of the game’s world and narrative. Myths of ancient spirits, dark creatures, and vibrant festivals are skillfully incorporated, offering players not only an engaging narrative but also an educational experience that uncovers hidden aspects of Italian folklore. This approach makes Enotria a rare gem in the gaming world, where few games have fully embraced and celebrated Italian culture in such a vivid and immersive way.

An Artistic Take on the Genre

Visually, Enotria: The Last Song strikes a remarkable balance between realistic environments and artistic expression. While many soulslike games rely on a dark, grim, and monochromatic aesthetic, Enotria takes a different approach, inspired by the colors, textures, and architectural beauty of Italy. The game brings to life cobblestone streets, rustic villages, and sprawling landscapes reminiscent of Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast, all bathed in warm, natural hues that feel welcoming yet mystical.

The game world itself is richly detailed, with every corner of the landscape filled with historically-inspired architecture, beautiful frescoes, and lush scenery that evoke the Italian Renaissance era. Enotria sets itself apart by combining this beauty with a haunting ambiance, creating an experience that feels both beautiful and unnervingly eerie. Unlike most soulslike games that lean into dark fantasy, Enotria’s color palette feels vibrant and alive, even when depicting dangerous or eerie environments. This commitment to a unique visual identity is commendable, especially as it brings a breath of fresh air to the genre, where visual styles often feel repetitive.

A Hauntingly Beautiful Soundtrack

The music and sound design in Enotria: The Last Song play an essential role in creating an immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack fuses traditional Italian music with haunting, melodic tones, amplifying the game’s mythical feel. Each track seems to complement the setting, with quieter, melancholic pieces filling the more serene parts of the game, while intense, heart-pounding compositions underscore high-stakes battles.

The ambient sounds, from the subtle breeze sweeping across a field to the distant call of birds, further enhance the experience. Together with the visuals, the soundtrack works harmoniously to create an atmosphere that is as engrossing as it is unsettling. It’s a credit to the developers that they have married such seemingly opposing sensations—warmth and unease—into one cohesive world, pulling the player deeper into the experience.

The Gameplay is Challenging yet Familiar

The gameplay in Enotria: The Last Song remains true to the formula familiar to souls-like fans, with intense, calculated combat and intricate level design that encourages players to explore. The controls are mostly responsive, and combat is designed to be demanding, rewarding patience and skill. Attacks, dodges, and parries all need to be timed carefully, as enemies are quick to punish mistakes. The game’s combat mechanics align closely with the standard souls-like formula, so players familiar with these kinds of games will find the learning curve manageable.

Level design is also well-executed, with a clear sense of progression and pathways that often loop back to previous areas. This layout encourages exploration and a sense of familiarity as players traverse areas multiple times, discovering new items or secrets along the way. The world is crafted with enough hidden lore and side areas to keep players engaged, though the general structure of exploration and progression is relatively typical for the genre.

However, while the combat and level design are solid, they do suffer from some repetition. Many of the bosses and enemy types share similar mechanics or visual designs, making the encounters feel repetitive over time. This lack of variety in enemies can be a drawback, especially for players who prefer more diverse challenges. Bosses, in particular, tend to fall into familiar patterns, which can detract slightly from the excitement of encountering a new foe. Despite this, the core gameplay remains enjoyable and challenging, but to be fair it has almost nothing new to show.

Enotria is Accessible to Play

Enotria: The Last Song is a well-crafted experience that brings a unique cultural perspective to the familiar souls-like formula. Its celebration of Italian folklore and heritage is refreshing and a welcome addition to a genre that often recycles dark fantasy tropes. The game’s visual and audio design elevate the experience, creating a world that feels alive and distinct. Moreover, Enotria includes an option for an easier mode, making it more accessible for newcomers to the genre. This choice by the developers to include a “story mode” is a positive step, as it opens up the game to a broader audience who might find traditional souls-like games too challenging.

The review code was provided by the publisher