“How do you know what is of the devil and what is not?” is the thought that plagues Indika’s protagonist, a nun with the same name tasked with delivering a letter from her convent.
Indika, developed by OddMeter, is set in 19th century Russia. The snowy landscape is filled with half built bridges, abandoned homes and massive factories. There is an odd atmosphere apparent from the beginning of the game. The other nuns in the convent seem to be disgusted by the protagonist and assign her with tedious chores before sending her to deliver a letter on foot.
The introduction is dialogue and scenery heavy which reads as a walking sim. However, the gameplay is so unique throughout that it is difficult to categorize. There is a point system, various types of puzzles, collectable items and mini games.
Indika offers a unique perspective by including both realistic motion-captured models and pixelated graphics. The former is reminiscent of “Hellblade”, developed by Ninja Theory, as the player can view Indika’s eyes dart back and forth, hallucinate and talk back to voices in a similarly bleak atmosphere. The latter is presented mainly through flashbacks of the nun’s past. These short pixelated mini-games tell the story of her family, relationships and view of herself.
The soundtrack, composed by Mike Sabadash, clashes with the environment in a hypnotic way, offering techno-beat rhythms against the harsh war torn climate. The music builds intensity at the perfect moments which unite the chaotic emotions of the player and protagonist- offering a glimpse into her psyche.
The best part of this game is the story. Players looking for combat and open world exploration should stray from Indika’s linear and simulatory gameplay. Indika’s dialogue with Ilya, an escaped convict she travels with to help fix his necrotic arm, and the voice in her head that tells her she is sinful are very important aspects of the game. Her relationships are un-changeable by the player which makes for more of a commentary than a game.
There are some mechanics I would have liked to see more, like the ability to pray to change the worldview and hop platforms and the running sequences from a supposed hell-hound. However, I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this game. With a run-time of about 4-6 hours Indika excels at telling a story that leaves players with thought provoking questions.
Indika is available for purchase on Steam, The Xbox Store, and The Playstation Store for $24.99 or through Playstation Plus Extra’s game library. You can visit the game website here.
