14 DAY TRIAL // 
Rearranging runes to power a magical elevator is not an easy task. One has to look around the world and consider which of its features are hints and which can be safely ignored. And once that puzzle is resolved, it pays to be ready for a deep conversation and a potential fight, depending on how the talking goes.
Maybe it’s a good idea to try and solve another puzzle first and see what the old man who mysteriously travels across the world can offer for that. Or maybe it pays to go back to the traveling vendor and see whether he has anything that can help, even if I have only gathered a few coins recently and maybe there will be more need for them later.
The fight comes and the foe vanquishes my character, despite my best rhythm game efforts. Because each battle has a unique song, it’s pretty easy to fail the first time around, while learning how the piece of music moves and how my character needs to reach it. But I’m confident that the second time around I will get the better of my opponent and push this narrative forward.
ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree was developed by Wildboy Studios and published by Untold Tales. I played it on the PC via Steam. It can also be picked up on the Nintendo Switch, the PlayStation 4, and the Xbox One. The title mixes adventure, puzzles, and rhythm combat with a great visual style.
The story is centered on Estra, a human that seeks to save the mythical lands of Midgard and the sacred tree at its center. She starts off as the daughter of a leader that seeks to hold back the taint affecting the universe, abandoned by the Norse gods and other guardians. The entire universe is built around Nordic myths, with interesting characterization for both gods and humans.
After a short prologue in which her father is the protagonist, Estra sets off on her journey, quickly joined by a spirit named Yri. Through both cutscenes and books spread through the world, the game reveals the extent of the danger and shows how a varied cast of characters deals with it and more mundane concerns. There’s a lot of emotion in the writing but there’s also some humor to provide balance.
There are also many choices with clear impact, so make sure to watch the cutscenes carefully and read everything you can. Much of Nordic lore involves tricksters and the issue of trust, so keep that in mind when making dialog decisions.
The gameplay mix of ATONE is intriguing. Players will spend most of their time moving through the world, seeking a new yellow object or characters to interact with to then move the narrative forward.
The game’s screens are lovely enough that exploration feels satisfying, despite the relatively slow walking pace. But to see more of the world and uncover more of the story, gamers will have to talk to characters, fight enemies, and solve puzzles.
Estra needs to engage with plenty of puzzles, both to unlock new areas and to acquire extra abilities. The game offers variety in terms of its design. Solutions for those that gate narrative progress are mostly logical, with a constant increase in difficulty. The level of complexity is heightened for the optional puzzles and sometimes their solutions can feel obscure.
Players can fail these challenges, with consequences for their character and the world around her. Make sure to only submit solutions when you’re fairly sure of them. The game does have a hint system but it is pretty limited. Sometimes there’s no way to solve a problem with a conversation or a puzzle. That’s when Estra prepares her axe while gamers prepare for the rhythm game. Music plays and two tracks show up on the screen. The player needs to hit two buttons at the right time to catch incoming song sections.
Because each of the songs is unique, the rhythm action can be surprising, with frantic sections followed by quieter moments. The music is good enough that I liked these moments even when I failed them and, mostly, won on my second attempt.
None of ATONE’s mechanics have a ton of depth but each is well-executed. Puzzles can sometimes frustrate but I found my brain continued considering solutions even when not actually playing. Movement is a little slow but the world is beautiful. Combat can be hard but I didn’t mind trying again.
The entire experience is more than the sum of its various parts. There are plenty of modern games inspired by Norse mythology but the emotional moments of Heart of the Elder Tree remain impressive, with some unique twists.
ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree certainly has style. The game is slightly abstract but knows how to weave its influences into the world and the characters. The cutscenes are excellent and I would gladly watch an entire animated series that uses it. The puzzle interfaces give players the information they need to focus on finding a solution and even the combat scenes are beautiful in their own violent way.
The sound design is equally great. There’s voice acting for the main cast, who infuse their characters with emotion. And the soundtrack uses Nordic influences well and manages to enhance the atmosphere. This entire universe feels alive and the unique songs make every combat encounter thrilling.
The Good
- Mix of exploration, combat, and puzzles
- Norse-inspired story
- Impressive presentation
The Bad
- Conversation stakes are sometimes unclear
- Some weird puzzles
- Slow walking pace
Conclusion
The relatively slow pace of the experience might be an issue for some players and a more robust hint system should have been included. But these are relatively small problems when compared to the charm and immersion it creates. Play it in small chunks, don’t be afraid to walk away from a puzzle for a few hours, and allow ATONE to provide a spark of magic with its mix of story and gameplay.
A review key was provided by the publisher.
