Grim Adventures and Nordic Fables: Bramble The Mountain King

Most of us can recall a time in the past when we were getting cosy in our beds at night, ready to read our collection of Fairy Tales. Checking in on our favourite characters, we revisited magical realms, consisting of Dragons, Elves, Witches, Princes, and Princesses. But every tale has its darker side … enter Bramble The Mountain King.

In this formidable adventure, we play a young boy called Olle, as he searches for his older sister Lillemor, who was kidnapped by a spiteful troll. Olle trudges, scrambles, frolics, and wades through this harrowingly ethereal world, making spirited friends along the way. However, we must remain aware and watch our step, as malicious, hungry creatures lurk along our path.

Throughout this enriching experience, we are inundated with dark Nordic folklore. We meet each of these mythical creatures in the form of a boss fight, and learn of their origins, derivative of a fairy tale book, only after defeating them.

It is important to note, that some of these tales are very dark, and the game itself warns anyone of potentially triggering subjects before the game begins.

Bramble keeps a linear path, so you won’t find yourself lost, which is handy, as the game likes to switch its tempo continually, from platforming one moment, to problem-solving the next. Sometimes both, under time constraints, leaving the player unsure of what to expect next. It can be tricky, as the movement control is not the easiest, and at times the character is hard to manipulate.

There is limited talking, with the narrative focusing heavily on the emotions and environment. We are instead adjoined with a narrator, who depicts our story, as we travel through others, in both gameplay and cutscenes. Swallowed into a world where we can bask in the beauty around us, from flowering meadows and quaint villages to purely horrific habitats engulfed in gore and organs.

Each moment is courted with music, either peaceful, ominous or even silent. The character models also add an eeriness to the game, possessing doll-like features and some unusual movements we sometimes see in the cut scenes, all of which add to the chilling atmosphere of this game.

I went into this game with no prior knowledge and a very limited knowledge of the folk tales within. It quickly became a favourite game, which I first played on PC and then purchased on PS. I thoroughly enjoyed all that this game had to offer, including the rollercoaster of emotions. It was not too hard but challenging enough to keep my interest and make me wonder what creature I would meet next.

The only downside I would put to Bramble The Mountain King is the movement. It can be slow, even when running, and sometimes hard to manipulate. However, this is not at all a dealbreaker when considering the rest this game has to offer.