Games in Sigono’s Opus series tend to be thoughtful titles that explore elements of life, the nature of existence, emotion, and humanity. Opus: Prism Peak is no exception. It’s designed to get you thinking about your past, present, and future, as well as how relationships and interactions. It might be a bit slow, asking the player to move at a certain pace when making discoveries and forming bonds with Ren and spirits. However, it feels rewarding if you put the time into it.
Opus: Prism Peak begins with an overview of Eugene’s life starting from when he’s about five years old. We learn that his grandfather, a photographer, played a bit part in raising him. As the two explored the forests near their mountain home, he taught his grandson everything he knew. However, while Eugene did pursue his dream of taking pictures, life didn’t go as expected. One company he worked for in the city shut down. His private cafe business with a friend couldn’t make it. His wife left him. His grandfather also disappeared along the way. Now he’s sold the camera he inherited and is heading home ahead for a funeral for his still missing grandpa, but an accident in a tunnel leads him into an unusual, potentially supernatural, situation.
In a way, it almost feels a bit like Opus: Prism Peak follows some of the same design and narrative points as Spirited Away. Like Chihiro, Eugene ends up through a tunnel and comes through in a place that seems familiar. There will be things that remind him of his life as a child where he grew up, but there aren’t any people around. The only other person he encountered is a child with amnesia named Ren after the two are attacked by a strange entity known as a Shade. But while no humans appear, animal spirits who are friendly and willing to both connect with and assist Eugene and Ren show up. Not to mention the very camera he left behind earlier seems to be here, alongside field guides, and taking photos can lead to unearthing lost memories and filling pages with insights into what’s going on around the two of them.
Opus: Prism Peak gameplay feels like a split between a point-and-click adventure game and photography simulator. At points, we’ll see through Eugene’s eyes and experience first-person exploration of areas, interspersed with some third-person cutscenes where we see him interact with Ren and spirits in the world. This can mean paying close attention to what she might be looking at her requests. It can involve checking out points of interest and being aware of when you see icons suggesting you can investigate a thing. Is it a little like a walking simulator? A bit. I do recommend playing with the Switch 2 version docked, as sometimes I found the performance a bit better or like it was easier to catch things I should notice on the bigger screen.
Especially when it comes to the photography elements. The different spirits you meet are also tied to this, as are some of their events you can find in certain chapters. You need to learn to pay attention, such as waiting for specific subject actions. You need to actually pay attention to certain techniques, like the current exposure, the lens you’re using, the shutter stability, the focus, lens flare, and things like the current color contrast adjustments. Opus: Prism Peak demands your attention, and you aren’t going to pass the certain Firebowl photo requirements if you aren’t interacting with characters and using genuine skill when snapping photos.
It’s due to that element that Opus: Prism Peak feels special. It’s like you are connecting as you find out more about the world, its inhabitants, and lost memories. Piecing together what Eugene went through while getting closer to the spirits feels meaningful. It makes the segments when the Shade appears or doubt seeps in more challenging. The game feels more emotional because it keeps showing you and offering experiences that give you time to connect and digest. Even if it can feel a bit repetitive or slow sometimes.
Now, as enjoyable as Opus: Prism Peak is, there are times when the game can feel clunky. One of the earliest examples comes from running to escape the Shade shortly after meeting Ren. I played on the Switch 2 and was in handheld mode at the time, and I could not see a clear path. I needed to, on my third attempt, put it in the dock and just try and hopefully turn in ways that made the way forward look light instead of dark. I also hated the fact that I couldn’t manually save, as I often found myself losing progress. Considering how much effort you need to put into finding some things, it’s a bummer! Also, since it relies on that autosave and the chapter system isn’t great, you would need to completely replay it to get a different ending. This is on top of some framerate drops. However, Sigono did promise in a Steam post that updates are coming which may remedy some of my Switch 2 visual and performance problems and help with 100% completion.
Essentially when you experience Opus: Prism Peak, you need to pay attention and play with a purpose. Imagine yourself as Eugene. Think about his mindset and life. Think about your own struggles and past. Do you choose optimism or pessimism? Do you attempt to connect? Do you reject? This is a game where the more you put into it, the more you get in return.
Opus: Prism Peak is available for the Switch, Switch 2, and PC.