Tequila Works and Riot gave us an opportunity to chill during a Gamescom preview of Song of Nunu.
September is here but the Freljord wind hasn’t quite reached us yet, so we asked Riot if we could get hands on with Song of Nunu and cool off at Gamescom 2023. The upcoming adventure from Tequila Works and Riot Forge is yet another spin off that takes mainline League fan favorites and presents these legendary heroes in a whole new way. Due to arrive later in 2023, Song of Nunu is a magical tale of family that joins Nunu and Willump on a wild adventure across frozen land, icy caverns, and lush autumnal landscapes. This buddy adventure, however, is a little different from the traditional LoL arena.
Two Best Friends
Meet the stars of this show, Nunu and Willump. They may be a little oddly matched, but they are the epitome of friendship. While many of Riot’s other characters are self-sufficient battle-hardened icons, these two are just adorable. Described as a boy who wanted to be a hero and a Yeti that just needed a friend, these two come thumping onto screen in a stylized form. The adorable characters captured us first. Nunu looks the part as an artfully animated 3D version of his LoL concept artwork, but it’s the depiction of Willump that really draws the eye. While it’s likely you’ll spend plenty of time controlling this big blue from behind, the team at Tequila Works hasn’t spared either half of this duo. Looming over Nunu and his cute blue cap, Willump is depicted using an amalgamation of glistening blues, white, and plenty of big swirling lines that draw on the iconic character’s league look. There’s something a little softer here too, it seems. I feel like there’s inspiration, from the likes of Rime and even the Ori platforming series, giving us a hint at the broad appeal of what’s to come.
Teamwork Does It
The first thing that struck us as we took control of Nunu and Willump is that these two tackle the world together. When Willump takes center stage, you’ll likely find Nunu perched on the Yeti’s shoulders or riding this huggable beast while shouting encouragement. There’s a definite sense of fun about these two. Even the simple act of getting around feels like it’s entertaining. Where Tequila Works could have made Willump a force to be reckoned with, the four-armed fluff ball seems to undulate to and fro in a jaunty amble through the snow. This big blue is more expressive than the likes of Spyro. Actions are animated to be big and expressive, but never really threatening. That’s the key to Willump, a big softie.
Even in the areas where Nunu dismounts both characters have wonderful little touches that make them both great traveling companions for us. While Nunu has lots to say, Willump will wander off, talk to Nunu, fidget, and can even interact with Nunu when not participating as the game’s main mode of transport. These little touches make the two feel present and create a sense of connection that makes them seem important to each other.
The Rest of the World
While we spent some time navigating Nunu around the world, most of our time was spent in the arms of a giant yeti. During our preview we got a look at a good slice of the game’s content. If you haven’t guessed already, the overall tone of this title makes it far more approachable than many of Riot Forge’s other titles. Not just from a skill perspective, but a tonal one too. There’s a heavy emphasis on 3D puzzle platforming out in the Freljord. While carrying our young hero through much of our hands on, Willump managed some wall crawling. Despite his monstrous size players can expect to feel right at home clambering up sheer ice ledges, crossing frozen streams, and crawling around cliff ledges.
This movement isn’t as simple as point and click. There are lovely little interactive elements that tell the player a little more about each of the characters. While Willump seems unstoppable, the Yeti can’t swim. Nunu will need to freeze open water for the two of them to cross. This sort of co-operation between the two is crucial to getting through the game. Both have specific skill sets. While it might mean Nunu needs to throw snowballs as Willump toboggans down a snowy slope, there is an opportunity for each of these friends to shine on their own.
Willump does engage in a little light combat. When the wolves appear, it makes sense that this hulk can chase them off with a quick couple of swipes. Nunu leans into the puzzle parts of this adventure, with a range of musical pattern puzzles. These are not particularly overbearing but adds a nice touch to the experience that is both strikingly familiar to Rime and draws out Nunu’s own story.
Song of Nunu is, at its heart, a tale of friendship. While Convergence: A League of Legends Story might excel at intense roguelike combat in the dark corners of Zaun, the latest from Riot Forge seeks to give us a joyful adventure through an inviting world. It might be venturing out into the from wilds, but I left my hands on with a cozy glow. I cannot wait to spend more time with this wholesome adventure when it arrives in Fall 2023. Check out more about Song of Nunu over on the Song of Nunu website.
