When I saw the first trailer for Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story, I immediately wanted to learn more. Every Riot Forge title so far has expanded on the already incredible IP of League of Legends and the world of Runeterra. And based on the trailer, it looked like Song of Nunu would be one of the most lore-rich titles from Riot Forge yet. I’m happy to say that I wasn’t wrong.
Throughout my journey as Nunu, I had fought off evil wolves with Braum, commanded Krugs with Nunu’s flute called the Svellsongur, and even forged a cauldron with the help of the legendary blacksmith Ornn. Song of Nunu was a pleasantly enjoyable voyage through the Freljord. And while it had its flaws, at the end of the roughly ten-hour adventure I was happy to have experienced it. Developer Tequila Works tells superb character-focused stories, and Song of Nunu may be the studio’s best tale yet. While it may not be its most hard-hitting, it still manages to tell an impactful and immersive narrative in Runeterra.
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story (PC [reviewed], Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Tequila Works
Publisher: Riot Forge
Released: November 1, 2023
MSRP: $29.99
Once upon a time there was a yeti, and a boy!
Song of Nunu starts with Nunu telling Willump a story his late mother once told him. A story about a mystical item called the Heart of the Blue. According to the tale, the Heart of the Blue is located in the Winged Mountains. Nunu and Willump set off to traverse the Freljord and trek to the Winged Mountains, which is where the journey begins.
Of course, things are never that easy. The ice witch Lissandra tracks the duo as they head into the Winged Mountains. For her own reasons, she has her eyes on Willump. Well, not literally, because she does not have eyes, but yeah. She’ll send ferocious dark Murk Wolves to impede your progress, which sets the stage for some light-combat segments. It’s nothing game-changing, as the combat system is simple with left-click for light attacks, middle mouse button for heavy attacks, and the shift-key to dodge out of the way. But it’s a good reminder that this isn’t just a peaceful trek through the Freljord. It’s a dangerous place, especially for a ten-year-old.
Lissandra isn’t the only character you encounter. Several other key characters from the League of Legends universe make an appearance. As someone who hasn’t played LoL recently, but has hundreds or maybe even over a thousand hours in it over the years, it’s always cool to see the characters in a more realistic setting. You know, moving around, talking, expressing feelings. Not just trying to last hit for some extra gold.
One of the early characters you encounter is Braum, who as always, is an absolute delight. The voice of Braum, JB Blanc, nails it again. He joins Nunu and Willump on their journey for a bit, but doesn’t overstay his welcome. He does play a role in the story, but mostly he’s there to be Braum; the comical strong guy with a big heart. I wish I had a friend like Braum.
Stand behind Braum!
At its core, Song of Nunu is a tried-and-true narrative-driven adventure title. While the focus is on the story, you’ll still have some fun along the way as you engage in platforming, puzzle solving, and lots of exploration. Most of the puzzles involve using Nunu’s magical flute, Svellsongur. Using the Svellsongur, Nunu can interact with different entities in a special way. For example, a specific sequence of notes on the Svellsongur can cause Krugs to follow you, which you can then climb to access harder to reach locations.
Mixed in with the puzzles are fun mini-games. At some points, Nunu will jump on Willump’s back as he belly-surfs down massive snowdrifts. You’ll break out into a snowball fight with Willump several times throughout the adventure as well, which is a nice break from the bleak and harsh landscape of the Freljord.
There are also some collectibles for those who really explore every nook and cranny. You can find Poros to feed, ancient murals that tell the history of the area, as well as chimes where you can learn how to play the songs of the region on your flute. I didn’t go completely out of the way to hunt them all down, but I did try to explore everywhere I thought I could. Even still I missed a few Poros and a couple of murals, so there’s quite a bit to uncover here for those who like to explore.
Yeti power!
There are a few faults that I feel are important to point out with Song of Nunu. Its best moments involve encountering staple characters for the first time. Seeing them in the vast environment of the Freljord, using their actual abilities from League of Legends is really cool. But I wish there were more characters in Song of Nunu. I won’t spoil who’s in the game, but aside from Nunu and Willump, Braum, and Lissandra, there are only a couple more that you encounter. There’s another character that gets referenced to, but you never actually see them, which was kind of a bummer.
I certainly understand that Riot Forge wants to spread out the love with putting characters into each of its titles. But in a story-driven game like Song of Nunu, where the characters are the focal point, and really are the story, I wish there had been more.
My only other gripe is near the end, you have to progress through some stealth segments as Nunu. This by itself isn’t necessarily bad. You essentially crouch-walk to not make noise as you sneak around, while throwing your snowballs at gongs to cause distractions. But these segments dragged on for a bit and ran a little longer in comparison to the rest of the game. At one point it seemed like I had finally gotten through it, only for me to realize the next area was also a stealth segment.
But despite these flaws, Song of Nunu still manages to capture the essence of its story-driven narrative. As I said before, this is a story about a ten-year-old boy and his best friend, a yeti. And Tequila Works tells this story well. It’s constantly moving forward. And while games of this genre can often fall into the problem of feeling like a walking simulator, that’s never the case here. You’re always doing something, whether it’s solving a puzzle or platforming across the icy mountains.
Every adventure is better with a friend!
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story may be the best Riot Forge title yet. It’s more proof that the universe League of Legends has created deserves to be explored in as many ways as possible. I can’t imagine a better outing for exploring the relationship between Nunu and Willump. And to take it a step further, I think Tequila Works was just the right developer for telling the story.
Fans of the world of Runeterra, and therefore of League of Legends, should absolutely check out Song of Nunu. It’s a fun way to explore some of the most prominent characters in the universe, as well as a popular area: the Freljord. And for those who aren’t as familiar with the setting, Song of Nunu is still an entertaining and heartwarming experience worth your time.
[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]
Published: Oct 30, 2023 03:37 pm