Heaven’s Vault
Heaven’s Vault, An Indie Game Developed by Inkle, Released for Microsoft Windows and Playstation 4 in 2019
Heaven’s Vault is a game that is based on an archaeologist named Aliya Elasra, who also has a robotic companion called Six. The central plot of the game revolves around the main character’s adventures in Nebula, as she traverses scenic locales and interacts with new people while searching for a missing roboticist named Janniqi Renba.
The main agenda of the game is more educational than it is recreational. The game challenges its players to work through a course of obstacles while mastering a language at the same time. What makes Heaven’s Vault unique is that it doesn’t succumb to the archaeological-thriller stereotype of slaughtering enemies and surviving in the wilderness. The game has much more meticulous thought put into making the adventure as motivating and insightful as possible.
Video source: Youtube
Language central to the theme of the fascinating game
Language is typically a supporting character in several other games, whereas in Heaven’s Vault, it is central to the theme. The spine of the story is based on the ability of the main character to decipher ancient mysterious hieroglyphs. The mysterious words belong to a long-lost language from an ancient civilization, and it makes its presence known from the etched words found on most artifacts and other objects.
When the player discovers these words, they are presented with another bundle of words that will help them translate the meaning of the inscription. The main character, Aliya, engages with the player by providing her opinion or some clues to make sure that the sentence is contextually accurate. The player is given the opportunity to change their mind, which furthers the ambition of the game to increase curiosity for the language.
Intricately designed characters who are essential to the storyline
Heaven’s Vault does an incredible job of bringing in believable characters who are more than just mere props added to the game for conversational ingenuity. The characters are mixed in their nature and willing to help Aliya, and this adds to the intricate characterization and attention to detail that is key to the game. Some characters stand out – such as a mechanist named Oroi, who interacts with Aliya in a way that brews tension, yet showing a streak of genuine concern for Aliya’s well-being. The main character’s robotic friend, Six, is also designed to be imperfect in a way that makes the quest interesting and challenging for Aliya. Huang, portrayed to be Aliya’s friend, is yet another character who is always willing to help out Aliya by giving her factual information to rely on.
Much of the conversations Aliya has with the characters in the game provide some form of information that can help her access her goal. The characters may help her decipher the ancient language, but the accuracy of the same is doubtful. The game stays interesting because Aliya cannot fully depend on any character’s opinion on the language, and has to just move further in the game to truly decide for herself.
A delight for archaeology fans
Heaven’s Vault is true to its theme – in the sense that it maintains Aliya’s adventure to be what it is – a job. As an archaeologist, the game does not give her immeasurable power or authority but moves along with her genuine interest in discovering the ancient language. The picturization of the video game is very intriguing and features plenty of breath-taking landscapes and interesting character detailing. The intricacies are evident even in scenes that feature ancient megaliths or even crowded marketplaces. The game is backed up with an enchanting orchestral soundtrack, which perfectly syncs up with the visuals, allowing the player to fully transport and immerse themselves into this world.
The main attraction of Heaven’s Vault is that it allows players to choose their own route through the story, as it takes on a non-linear approach to storytelling in a video game. The player makes choices that impact their own game story, which makes this highly engaging and informative.
Heaven’s Vault is an immersive archaeology experience that allows players to discover their language-learning skills, and also identify their acumen with regards to finding the right clues and placing them correctly. The choices made by the player affect their overall game, allowing them to choose actions that are new and unprecedented, which keeps the game lively and enjoyable.
Video source: Youtube
Heaven’s Vault is a highly engaging treat that is perfect for those seeking out an interactive adventure game. If you are an archaeology enthusiast, Heaven’s Vault is indeed the perfect game for you.
