Review of Nunu's song: I need a hug, please
Our Verdict
A wholesome story full of laughter and love, fanatics lore, enamoring environments, and likeable characters all come together to make Song of Nunu one of the best LoL games to date. Unfortunately, performance issues on Nintendo Switch mean it’s not the optimal platform for the game.
A new champion, Nunu, a ten-year-old child, joined his closest buddy Willump, the last of the Yeti, in League of Legends in February 2009. When combined, they play the tank role, which makes them a good option for players who like to hang out in Riot's well-liked MOBA, the Jungle Lane. Nevertheless, there aren't many of such players, thus a lot of gamers pass up the opportunity to meet Nunu and Willump.
I fit that description because, while I like the mythology behind them, I never really enjoyed playing League of Legends' jungle lane, therefore I don't really have a strong bond with Nunu and Willump. That should really say "didn't," as I've been playing Song of Nunu for the past two weeks, and it seems that Tequila Works is familiar with these two characters.
I had a peek at Song of Nunu back at Gamescom and had some great conversations with Tequila Works and Riot Forge. I could tell the team was creating something unique even after only twenty minutes of playing the game. But it was Nunu and Willump's selection that really convinced me of how amazing this game seemed to be. They informed me that they chose Nunu and Willump for their tale because they thought it was worthy of being shared since it is human and often disregarded because so few League of Legends players choose to utilise them in combat.
Even though I don't play as Nunu and Willump, I am aware of their narrative, which is that it tells of a little child who was inspired to show he is a hero by defeating a formidable monster. Nunu tried to do this, and the little kid reached Willump, meeting his closest buddy and learning that the other Yeti were alive. Through his relationship with Willump, Nunu acquires something much more unique even if he doesn't turn into a conventional hero.
Now the two are out on a mission. In addition to throwing snowballs at one another and creating joyful memories, they are desperate to locate Nunu's mother. This is what Song of Nunu allows you to explore, and it's clear right away that this is a well built narrative-driven experience in which two best friends attempt to reconcile with Nunu's mother while facing all the dangers that come with it.
I'm sure that many of you can identify in some way with this narrative. The game takes us back three days earlier, when you wake up as Nunu in a cave before venturing out into the Freljord in pursuit of the Yeti who has a little present for his friend. This comes after a short sequence in which we go through a snowstorm to reach Willump. I had such a warm fuzzy feeling when the snowball struck me as I was leaving the cave and turned to find Willump laughing and holding his tummy; in fact, I think of this as my Grinch moment. I'm not the kind of PT staff member that gets sucked into adorable games, but I need assistance right now because I'm feeling something!
After Willump stops laughing, you go off on an expedition to find the Heart of the Blue by travelling towards the Winged Mountain. Take it all in, because this frozen wasteland is quite breathtaking until you start moving. It's crucial that you get how everything works in the early going since the game does a terrific job of teaching you the basics in the first twenty minutes by having you utilise Nunu's flute, solve puzzles, and climb walls as both characters.
It's fun to explore the caverns and find abandoned pirate ships. Here is where you get familiar with the traverse and sample the first of the problems that lie ahead of you. You must utilise the vines that are tied to the red and green plants you encounter throughout Song of Nunu in order to advance. If a green plant is in your path, you must move quickly since the red ones burst and do not come back, while the green ones momentarily vanish.
When reaching a certain pirate ship, a green bolus on the mast allows you to shoot snowballs at it to cause it to burst and shift the orientation of the mast while a red one blocks your path. By doing this, you'll be able to securely traverse the mast and reach the other side, where you may remove the red bolus. Although this is just one example of the challenges you may encounter in Song of Nunu, it provides you with a decent indication of what to anticipate.
Once they have gone a little farther, Nunu's flute should be used. You must play the triggers on your controller in the sequence that they appear on the screen. The triggers function like various notes. Sometimes the door that blocks the way may be opened by just playing and holding a single note. One of the most crucial elements of the game is the flute, which is also enjoyable to play. Given that Nunu's mother is a bard, it should come as no surprise that he is skilled with the flute after seeing him play the one she gave him.
The fact that you can play the flute by the campfire is one of my favourite things about it. During their well-earned nap following a long day of travel, Nunu rehearse the song he's composed just for the two of them. Willump will dance if you play it correctly; if not, the Yeti will give you a funny look. Nunu, don't misunderstand; the judgement is genuine. In addition, the game has additional songs that you may discover and learn. Nunu explains the meaning of the song with a little narrative after each of them.
It's time for you to experience fighting a pack of wolves for the first time after learning how to play the flute. Yes, there is fighting. Yes, the whole experience is story-driven, but you didn't expect there to be no conflict in a League of Legends game, did you? A dodge button allows you to launch both weak and powerful assaults; it's a simple but efficient method. Regarding your health, you may restore some HP by using finishers on your adversaries. Once again, it's simple yet effective.
It's time for some legend as you discover more about genuine and dark ice after you beat the wolves and advance. This game has incredible backstory. In addition to learning new things via music, the glossary is there to provide you with knowledge on whatever you encounter. While die-hard League of Legends players may already be familiar with all the characters (I was definitely startled to see some familiar faces), Tequila Works has done a fantastic job of bringing this world to life for newcomers, providing enough backstory to make you an expert Nunu and Willump player by the end of the game.
I mentioned recognising certain faces. Braum is in the game, as the trailer makes clear, and it's reasonable to assume that Nunu is one of his fans. The Frejlord hero is prepared to assist Nunu and Willump on their journey to the Winged Mountain, but while on a task for him, they wind up travelling through the ice to a whole new location. The realisation that I was at The Forge caused me to shriek with pleasure. Indeed, Ornn also plays this game, and he has certain assignments for you.
The humorous sequence when you acquire a fruit and Ornn eats it when you return, startling Willump and puzzling Nunu, is one that highlights how real this narrative is, even if I won't reveal what the tasks are. I won't go into much more detail about the narrative since it's something you should personally experience. This winter, the lighthearted camaraderie, wholesome narrative, and snowball battles will keep you toasty and cosy.
Although Song of Nunu has additional champions, Lissandra, The Ice Witch, is the primary one you should be aware of. I'll let you all figure out her intentions for yourself, although LoL aficionados can probably predict her part. Be cautious if you're new to this world since Lissandra is a strong and cruel magician.
Song of Nunu on the Nintendo Switch has a poor performance, even if I like the game and its plot. I noticed a rather regular dip in frame rates throughout the game; even though it only lasts a few seconds when it occurs, it happens often enough that I can't ignore it. But when a game captures my attention like this, a few frames per second loss isn't always the end of the world; rather, it's a game-breaking issue that makes me have to restart from scratch.
Thankfully, I had only played the game for 45 minutes or so, but it was still really annoying to have to start from where I had left off. As you can see, even though I love the game's checkpoint system and how you restart just where you were in case you die, it does mean that you're stranded if a glitch happens. I repeatedly attempted to restart the game and the checkpoint, but to no avail. Since there were no manual saves nor save slots, I had to start again from the beginning, which made me quite nervous as I approached the location once more.
I was able to view all else the game has to offer after getting beyond the questionable section without encountering any further game-breaking glitches. After speaking with Riot, I learned that I am the only one who has had this problem so far, thus it seems to be an isolated incidence. But the devs are keeping a watch on things in case this flaw is discovered by gamers when Song of Nunu launches.
Although it's terrible that I ran across that kind of glitch, Song of Nunu accomplishes everything else so well that I can't discount it as a worthwhile Nintendo Switch buy. whether you're adamant on having it on Switch, I suggest waiting a few weeks; this allows you time to observe whether other players have similar problems. I beg you to give Song of Nunu a try on the PC, Xbox, or PlayStation if this turns you off. It is a heartwarming tale that should be heard since it contains a moral message.
Check out our reviews ofRuined King andConvergence, as well as our list of the topLeague of Legends games for Switch and mobile, if this has you itching to catch up with otherLeague of Legends champions.