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An ancient legend tells that before the human race another lineage of sentient beings lived on Earth, the Nephilim. They lived in symbiosis with nature, and through shamanic rites they were able to obtain extraordinary powers from the four fundamental elements of the world, which they called Neadeital.

Their peaceful existence was severely put to the test when a civilization from outer space invaded their land, using terrible weapons that brought death and destruction. Okikuy, the leader of the Nephilim, went north with her warriors to help those who had been attacked, but the warriors were slain and Okikuy's traces were lost. The witch-shamans have assigned the young warrior Lelak the mission of finding her and bring her back to their camp. However, as will be seen not long after the start, finding Okikuy will only be the first in a long series of quests to tackle.

Neadeital is a dynamic adventure that explicitly recalls the two Gargoyle Games classics Tir Na Nog and Dun Darach, in turn inspired by the stories of the mythical Celtic hero Cuchulainn. Lelak, represented by a large and well animated sprite, moves quickly in the centre of the screen; the action is always seen from the side, so a compass at the bottom left helps to understand in which direction he is heading. In the background, you see the Sun rising and setting, the Moon shining on the water, and the landscape changes depending on the point of view. The effect is really nice to look at, but it is not just for scenery, as some actions must be performed at a certain time.

Lelak can interact with non-player characters to get directions on what he needs to do, or ask boatmen to ferry him to the location where another one of them is. Some cryptic clues come from the descriptions of the dreams he has when he retires into a tent to sleep. Tents also serve to "save" the position: if he is hit by an enemy, Lelak will resume moving from the last one he visited.

To proceed, you need objects and blessings, one for each element. The former can be found along the way, and some can also be crafted from others by placing them on special altars: when all the necessary objects have been placed there, the new object will appear. The latter are activated when certain tasks are completed and are granted by touching menhirs bearing the symbol of an element. For example, in order to cross a lake, Lelak must bring a certain object to a shaman, so that he will receive the water blessing, with can be employed to freeze the lake water into ice that can be walked upon.

"Atmospheric" is an overused adjective maybe, but it absolutely fits Neadeital. From the very first minutes of the game it is difficult not to be captured by the charm of its setting, from kneeled shamans praying in dark caves to mysterious drones that emit deadly rays. The graphic aspect is certainly evocative, but creating an atmosphere is not just a matter of aesthetics. In Neadeital you find yourself immersed in a vast and deep environment, full of quests to try, places to discover and characters to interact with, and every result achieved pushes you to keep going on. Of course, that means it is not one of those games you should give a spin to every now and then. It requires time and dedication, but this is precisely where its greatest quality lies: making the player feel part of a world.

Neadeitalwas initially offered as a prize for the Kickstarter campaign of the new edition of Crash magazine, but was later put up for sale in digital format for charity. All proceeds from sales will in fact be donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a British society for the assistance of people affected by those illnesses. By purchasing it, then, you will be doing a favour not only to yourselves, but also to many people who suffer. For this reason, it can be said that Neadeital is worth twice its price.