A Highland Song Reviews
While platforming, rhythm, and navigation mechanics might clash at times, turning the map upside down reveals a game that puts all in service of nature and experience.
Exploring the mountains of the Scottish highlands and having bizarre encounters are at the heart of A Highland Song, packaging up everything into a cute side scroller with rhythm action and fun dialogue that feels very unique. Not only is the game a love letter to Scotland, it feels like a very personal project full of talented individuals and while the game has occasional slow moments it is overall a lot of fun. If an atmospheric adventure featuring a wee Scottish lassie is on yer cards then this comes highl(and)y recommended.
A Highland Song is a game with a special place in my memory. The fact that it is a peaceful journey through the Scottish Highlands or has stunning hand-drawn images is not why it is so popular. Throughout the entirety of this game, the Celtic way may be found in every single aspect. Seeing the Gaelic language on the screen and listening to the traditional music as you run over the highlands are great experiences.
A Highland Song is a beautiful adventure, platforming and rhythm game that perfectly captures the joy of exploration and the magic of a journey through the wild, untamed Scottish Highlands.
And yet, as you struggle through the game's often abstruse systems, there is something rewarding in it all. More clarity both over where to go next and what the game itself is built upon would be welcome, but what is here is worthwhile and, for those with a greater tolerance for getting lost over and over or finding the right way and being unable to progress because the search has tired you out to much, A Highland Song holds some promise. After everything, the view is just about worth the climb.
A charming mix of local folklore, some music, and a sense of adventure
A Highland Song is a beautiful game about a difficult journey, uplifted by gorgeous watercolor art and a gracefully told story. I felt a deep kinship with Moira. This is a game for anyone who has ever looked at the world beyond their window and felt an ache to crest the horizon. Inkle’s newest release is a meditative adventure that would be perfect for anyone who’s a fan of games like Old Man’s Journey, A Short Hike, or Inside (if Inside was happy and not a horrifying nightmare). It’s not for everyone, but then again, neither is running away. A Highland Song is a game for and made by those who know what it is like to yearn and dare to try.
A Highland Song, though occasionally a little frustrating, invites you to learn more about its heroine, her uncle, and the hills.
I’m in a weird spot with A Highland Song. On one hand, the game didn’t provide me with the kind of experience I was expecting from the trailer. On the other, what actually is here was an interesting and engaging experience. Exploring and finding the various ways forward constantly kept my interest, even through occasionally frustrating moments. The rhythm runs, while disappointingly uncommon, provided nice breaks from the core gameplay flow and some wonderful tunes to listen to alongside. While it wasn’t what I expected, it was a journey worth going on. The Scottish Highlands are calling, and it’s a call that you may just want to answer.
A Highland Song looks good and has plenty of impressive moments. Moira is a great character, able to take her love for her uncle and Scottish legends to imbue the world around her, harsh as it might be, with magic.
Despite the often confusing world design and the anxiety-inducing timer, every other aspect of the game was strong enough that those complaints became mere blemishes on an otherwise fantastic experience. Elevated by tight controls, some excellent writing, and an art style that only becomes stronger the more you look at it, A Highland Song is such a unique and touching experience that I can’t help but recommend it. Get in, indeed.
A Highland Song is frequently beautiful, elegiac and magical, but one’s tolerance for its somewhat uneven gameplay will impact how much you will get back out of it. It should also be mentioned that on PC there is no mouse support, and while it plays fine with a keyboard, a controller is certainly the preferred method. Nevertheless, I did enjoy my jaunt across the Highlands, whenever I wasn’t falling off them or getting lost in the rain.
A Highland Song has amazing atmosphere and audiovisuals in general. The rest is quite lacking in direction, though.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A Highland Song combines 2D platforming, adventure game elements, survival mechanics, and rhythm sections into a compelling but occasionally confusing package.