VASILISA AND BABA YAGA REVIEW - WHEN SLAVIC FOLKLORE GETS ITS GAME ON
Ever wondered what would happen if a Russian folk tale had a baby with a video game while listening to haunting Slavic music? Well, Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is here to answer that question with more style than a witch's fashion show.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BABUSHKA
You play as Vasilisa, a young girl whose evil stepmother (because of course) sends her on a delightful evening stroll to borrow some fire from everyone's favorite forest-dwelling witch, Baba Yaga. It's basically like asking to borrow sugar from your neighbor, if your neighbor lived in a house with chicken legs and had questionable dining habits.
PRETTY AS A CURSED PICTURE
Let's get this out of the way: this game is gorgeous. The art style looks like a dark fairy tale book came to life after drinking too much vodka. Every frame could be hung in a gallery dedicated to "Slavic Horror But Make It Fashion." The music and voice acting (especially in Russian) are so authentic they'll make your babushka cry tears of joy.
GAMEPLAY OR GAME-NAY?
Here's where things get more divisive than a family argument over borscht recipes. The gameplay is simpler than a bowl of cabbage soup, with just four main mechanics that repeat more often than your uncle's stories at family gatherings. You'll hide from monsters, jump across stuff, navigate mazes, and beat up supernatural baddies with your surprisingly badass doll companion.
Some folks find this repetitive loop more tedious than peeling potatoes for a village feast. Others argue it's perfectly paced for a folk tale adaptation. The truth lies somewhere in the middle, like a compromising house spirit.
FIGHT LIKE A BABUSHKA
The combat system is... interesting. Your doll companion throws down like it learned to fight from watching wrestling matches, but the hitboxes are about as reliable as village gossip. Expect to button mash more than you would making pierogi dough.
CONCLUSION
Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is like your grandmother's folk tales - beautiful, meaningful, and occasionally frustrating. If you're here for the atmosphere, art, and authenticity, you'll find more joy than a witch finding a new cauldron. If you're looking for deep gameplay mechanics, well... maybe stick to Dark Souls.
It's a short but sweet journey that captures the essence of Slavic folklore better than most attempts, even if the gameplay sometimes feels like it was cursed by a minor deity.
7.8/10 - Like a folk tale that learned to play video games: charming, occasionally clunky, but ultimately enchanting.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn't impact our review in any way. Though we might need therapy after getting chased by various Slavic mythological creatures.