Cairn PS5 Review. Time to admit something upfront, Cairn might be mistaken for Jusant on face value alone. Look at that lavish art style, the fact the gameplay revolves around the activity of climbing, and it’s a story-led experience which has the pleasant attraction of being an indie title with a clear vision. Looks of course can be deceiving, and in the case of Cairn this is certainly the apt, but does it climb up to the summit of classic indie games, or does it fall off and smack the ground below?
Cairn Review (PS5)- A Successful Climb
Developed by Furi and Haven developers The Game Bakers, Cairn tells the story of Aava, a keen mountaineer who is looking to ascend a mountain that has never been climbed before known as Mt. Kami. Aava’s ambition is to achieve her dreams and the temerity to reach them by overcoming and surviving all the perils this ascent has in store for her.
There’s much to admire about Cairn and the focus it has on immersing players with Aava’s character and building a story of courage and overcoming challenges that’ll no-doubt resonate with many people.
Furthering our infatuation with the game’s world are the documents and scribblings that detail and colour the setting and the game’s vibrant world. Of particular note, the dangers and trepidation of ascents, including details of victims who succumbed to the treacherous conditions helps to amplify tension, which melds convincingly with the simulation gameplay style. Similarly to the Life Is Strange games, Aava reacts and provides verbal commentary to what she reads
What is quite deflating though is Aava’s attitude. Yes, Aava is a seasoned climber, but her stoic disposition pierces excitement. Yes, Aava is focused and wants to concentrate on her colossal conquest, but her lack of enthusiasm, especially when talking to her associate Chris at the start of the game, is so very tame and doesn’t do a good job of making us excited like it should. Chris might be a bit too annoyingly excitable that you’d wish he’d pipe down; he behaves a bit like Safi in Life Is Strange: Double Exposure and that’s not a good thing. It’d be nice if the voice acting and script were more believable and authentic rather than try-hard and ostentatious, but thankfully neither aspect makes up the crux of Cairn.
A Survivalist’s Dream
If you’re waltzing into Cairn with expectations that it’ll be similar to Jusant purely on the basis that it’s a climbing based game, you’ll be sorely mistaken. Cairn has more in common with Baby Steps than it does Jusant, due to how you’ll be required to manipulate Aava’s limbs to ascend every structure. Unlike Baby Steps, you won’t be constantly slipping up and falling into ravines, but you will find yourself plunging to the ground if you haven’t carefully positioned Aava’s limbs on the climbing surface.
Fiddling with and placing each limb requires shoulder button input and careful feathering of the thumb stick to attach the limb to where you want it. From here, you need to align Aava’s other limbs without trying to mangle her body positioning. It’s like a game of Twister and it might feel like you’re controlling a spider, but once you get the gist of it then you’ll be satisfied with your chances of survival.
Staying The Course Against The Perils
Visual and audio cues can keep players aware as Aava loses her grip, as you hear her struggling murmurs and the screen changing colour. Without a user interface present, players will need to be observant of the signs related to Aava’s gradual exhaustion as she makes her way up Mount Kami, which is a layer of immersion that gives Cairn a feisty challenge.
To alleviate some of the frustrations of Aava losing her grip and tumbling, there are accessibility options available to keep you on track like a rewind function, where you can backtrack to a point Aava had stability on a rock face for you to keep ascending upwards. You’ll also be relieved to know that you can set up tents to save your progress and they act as checkpoints, so that you don’t need to proceed from even further back. Be sure you place your pitons strategically as well, as they’ll act as checkpoints, but be careful too as they are breakable, yet they can be mended by your companion climbot- a semi-sidekick that’ll accompany you and provide reasonable guidance during your mountaineering pursuit.
Aava has access to various resources to ensure she can survive her endeavours. You can pick up foods and herbs for cooking, access your backpack where you can pick out medicines to keep you healthy, as well as water to keep you hydrated. You’ll need to ensure Aava is well looked after because if you do not, that’ll be reflected in her climbing performance, so you really need to be as vigilant off the mountain face as you are attached to it.
A Verdant Ascent
Unsurprisingly for a game where you take on the activity of mountaineering, there are a range of beautiful vistas and horizons to ogle at as Aava travels further and further up the mountain. Some of these views are breathtaking and include verdant waterfalls and landscape views of swirling white clouds overlooking an assemblage of greenery. Furthermore, the drawbridges you cross can make you want to stop and take in the sights. These majestic views are contrasted by the nasty ever-changing weather conditions Aava comes up against. There can be some almighty pathetic fallacy in Cairn when you consider her need for survival alongside the utterly dismal weather she sometimes brushes up against.
If a harsh climbing simulator is your thing, Cairn does a great job of providing you with the treacherous conditions of an ambitious mountain climb. It’s an outstanding little game in respects to how strategy and perseverance can assist you in reaching your goals and ultimately the Mount Kami summit. Yes, Cairn will definitely put off those who want a more relaxing ascent, however it is worth a shot because it’s so thoughtfully designed and has evidently been developed by a team who has put a lot of passion into this project – even if the characters’ personalities are stiff as a wooden board. Those views and the art style are lovely too, and should help you appreciate Cairn that much more. So, grab your climbing apparatus and prepare to endure; hopefully you can weather the storms and feel a thorough sense of satisfaction once you reach the top.
Cairn is out now on PS5 and PC.
Review copy was generously provided by the publisher.