They’re not difficult puzzles by any means, but their presence becomes a grinding reminder that Spirit of the North really is a just a game rather than a more potent work of art. Each puzzle is an arbitrary mess, where forward progression through the world grinds to a halt while you run around looking to fulfill the conditions that will bring down the wall blocking your way, and far too often that is an obvious, arbitrary wall that just disappears once the puzzle is solved. Spirit of the North’s greatest struggles occur when it tries to play like Journey. I really struggled to finish this one because I couldn’t help but think that if I wanted this kind of game, I could just play Journey again. The problem is that because Spirit of the North is so slavishly devoted to trying to be Journey, it misses out on the opportunity to develop its own personality, and ultimately this hurts the game. That in itself isn’t a slight against it – after all, there aren’t many games that are Journey. Unfortunately Spirit of the North is not Journey. Part of the magic of both of these games is that they always feels expansive, and that you’re very much a part of a world of wonders. This game is not open (it’s deceptively linear and limited), but then, Journey was the same. It’s the moments where you come across a new area, to see expanses of land, water, snow, greenery, and whatever else that Spirit of the North really hits home. The game is also truly gorgeous, even on Nintendo Switch where things have clearly been cut down substantially to work on the more humble hardware. If nothing else, my knowledge on Nordic storytelling traditions is sadly inadequate and this game reminded me that I probably should remedy that at some stage. There’s not a word of dialogue in Spirit of the North, but it has a strong narrative context, and by going into it with an interpretative and inquisitive mind, it does seem to have real cultural value. In this case, it wants you to reflect on the cultural implications of the Nordic storytelling traditions that it explores. It wants to be a Journey-like artistic experience, designed to lift your soul and simultaneously give you something to reflect on. Spirit of the North wears its inspiration on its sleeve. People who participate in those vile fox hunts need to be rounded up and made the subject of a hunt themselves… but we’re not here to talk about that. They’re smart, fluffy, and noble animals, like wolves but more petite and less terrifying if you happen to just come across one (yes I know that wolves aren’t actually the dangerous monsters that popular culture likes to depict them as, but they are still much more powerful animals than the shy fox). They question perceptions of ‘Northernness’ and celebrate places that have shaped the entire world but are totally and uniquely of the North.Įnjoy the Historic England podcast series ‘Spirit of the North’.I love foxes. These photographs explore the North of England’s rich and contradictory character. The landscapes and cities that he visited have incredible histories and continue to evolve as new generations add their mark to the North. He is convinced that the North’s spirit is ever-changing and complex. Kippin visited a selection of the North’s most historically and architecturally significant places. He has used his unique style and inquisitive approach to create a new set of photographs that capture how the North’s extraordinary history of creativity, innovation and cultural influence continue to shape the identity of Northerners today. Kippin has been based in the North for 40 years. To celebrate the North of England’s people and places, in 2018 Historic England commissioned photographer John Kippin to explore the ‘Spirit of the North’.
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