Welcome to Elk from Triple Topping is a biographical adventure set on a very interesting island. Learn more in our Welcome to Elk review!
Welcome to Elk from Triple Topping is a biographical adventure set on a very interesting island. You’ll take on the role of Frigg, a young carpenter who goes on a trip to the titular Elk Island for an apprenticeship under one Jan, who just happens to be an old friend of her father. While the slower-paced life of the island is something that worries Frigg, she soon discovers there’s a lot going on on this small island. There are many stories for Frigg to experience in Welcome to Elk island, as you absorb the wonderful hand-drawn art and get to meet the many characters in Elk.
Bottles will pop up with the stories that you’ll get to experience, so be ready for some light reading! The twist is that these are based on real stories. They’re told by those who were there when events took place, all told from memory. To use these stories in an ethical way, names, locations, as well as some of the details, have been changed, renamed, or reframed, in order to protect the real people that are part of said stories. There have also been some liberties taken in order for it all to come together under one cohesive narrative, such as having a character that was not part of one story be present. You’ll also get to see some live-action video sequences with real people talking about some of the stories.
As for the gameplay, you’ll move your character with the left analog stick or the D-Pad as you interact with characters and objects by pressing the A button. If you’re ever lost, press the Y button, and you’ll pull up a map that will show you where you’re located and where you need to head to. There will be some mini-games here and there to take care of between the story segments. These include a dance-off – with a lot of drinking on the side -crafting a squirrel trap, or carrying a frozen corpse to a nearby sled. You know, the usual.
I didn’t know what to expect going into Welcome to Elk, as I was lured in by its hand-drawn art and its characters. Having played through the game’s story – which should take you around three hours or so – I can say that it’s a game you have to add to your Nintendo Switch collection. The characters come to life thanks to the stories, and the superb sound design does a great job of supporting the experience. The game’s charming art style and colorful presentation might make you think this is a different type of experience, but it’s very much a narrative-driven Rated M for Mature journey. Welcome to Elk is out on Nintendo Switch with a $14.99 asking price.
Disclaimer
This Welcome to Elk review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Triple Topping.
