DecipherOne has 13 chronicles

1. 
   

   Player Chronicle -- Posted on Feb 11 2008

   Independent Games Review 001, February 09, 2008
   
   By Will Canada (Aka DecipherOne)
   
   Hello Sirs and Madams, girls and boys, welcome to the first part in what will be an ongoing review column for a game from the Independent community each and every week here on gathering of gamers.
   
   For those who aren't familiar with what independent games are, a primer on the topic can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_games
   
   So for this weeks game I am reviewing a game that has gotten a lot of press over the last year or so, but it's such a good game that I believe that the world needs to know about its' gloriousness in all its' bountiful greatness. (On a side note, I won't only be reviewing games that I like. And yes I'm aware of the over use of adjectives in that last sentence.)
   
   
   
   The game I'm talking about is Aquaria. Rather then re-write a description of the game, here instead is a link to the official description by Bit Blot, the games developers. http://www.bit-blot.com/aquaria/ Go and read it, the review will be here when you get back.
   
   This game was developed by two guys, that's right, two . And these ninjas of developement are Coder, Designer, Composer : Alec Holowka http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/user/Alec and Artist,Designer: Derek Yu
   http://www.derekyu.com/about.html
   
   They managed to pull this game together in a two year time period which is by no means an easy feat, writing a custom engine for the game and developing all of the games content. Because of the quality of gameplay and visual excellence they have gotten an exceptional amount of recognition, great reviews, and Bit Blot took home the Grand Prize of the Seumas McNally Award for the 2007 Independent Games Festival. They also have been nominated for a Game Developers Choice Award. The game was recently released in it's completed form back in December of 2007 and is currently only available for P.C., although a Mac port is in the works along with rumors of a Linux port in the near future. You can download a demo of the game from the Bit Blot homepage: http://www.bit-blot.com/aquaria/ that allows for about 2 to 3 hours of game play if you manage to do everything before reaching the trigger point for the demo's end. Or, you can purchase the game for a very reasonable $30.00. But enough of an introduction, lets see what makes this game so great.
   
   
   - First Impressions Visuals and Sound -
   
   When I first sat down to play the demo for this game I was immediately impressed with the art style and soundtrack. I already had witnessed some of the videos that were posted as the game was being developed and I did have a bit of anticipation for the games release. That being said, I was still very impressed. The art of using vector style graphics in games is one that isn't done enough in my opinion and this is something that the game does very well. The animation style for the playable character Naija is unique in that it uses a joint system similair to what you would see for paper dolls. It makes for an interesting effect and works quite well and definitely gives it an original look. The backgrounds and enemies of the game are similarly impressive with wonderful color schemes and high levels of contrast for different areas, the look stays persistent yet each area is diverse enough that there really is no way to get confused about what section of the world you are currently in. Each area is also populated with an assorted array of enemies, some unique to each area and each with a unique set of behavioral ai.
   Other visual elements including the GUI interfaces are given a unique feel as well. They are given a look that follows that of the game world which really helps eliminate the reminder that you are indeed playing a game.
   
   The soundtrack is spell binding and sets a tranquil tone for the game. It really helps convey a since of solitude which, as stated by Derek Yu in a 1Up interview, is an underlying theme being portrayed throughout the adventure. I'm not sure how many tracks there are, but the ambient music blends seamlessly for area transitions and upbeat fight sequences in a way that really brings the world together. Aquaria also features voice over work to tell the narrative from the view point of Naija herself, and the selection of the voice actress and way in which the dialog is delivered is nothing short of superb.
   
   
   
   
   - Game Play & Narrative -
   
   Even if you were to cut out the stunning visuals and sounds from the game
   you would still be left with an excellent story narrative and intuitive game mechanics. The overall story of the game, while interesting, is delivered in such a way that it doesn't get in the way of the gameplay. Although there are a few cut sequences throughout the game, these are necessary and are kept to a minimum. The story seems to focus on the Individuation of the character Naija and her quest to learn about her past and the past of her people. By uncovering her roots and ancestry she is lead down a path to become who she is meant to be.
   
   The character controls for the game are extremely intuitive. You can either use the mouse for all game actions or the game also supports game pads. I haven't used the mouse for playing the game, but as the game progresses in the first part it goes through a small tutorial as you make your way through the first part of the map, displaying the controls on the screen for short periods of time. I've read other reviews stating that this is very easy to pick up and the accompanying documentation for the game even suggest that you play through the game the first time using only the mouse. I sometimes don't like to follow directions so I didn't do this. What I can tell you is that regardless of the input device that you use the controls are very fluid and intuitive.
   
   Naija's innate abilities are that of song. Similar to the song abilities of most Zelda games of the last decade, you create melodies that grant Naija powers of varying kinds. These range from transforming Naija into different forms of differing species that she encounters throughout the game to granting her telekinesis. You gather songs as you travel throughout the world along with gaining items such as pets, learning recipes to create enhancing and rejuvenating food items, and different clothing items that she can equip. There are also hidden items spread all over the world.
   
   Although the game is somewhat linear it has an open map similar to the original and Super Metroid(s), meaning that you may find yourself on one side of the world one minute and in a completely different part the next. Also, once areas are unlocked you can return to them whenever you want, which may sometimes be necessary as you gain new abilities. You can also venture to areas that you may not be well equipped to handle, but if you manage to survive the area you can learn some recipes that may help you else where.
   
   
   - In Closing -
   
   At this point I've only played through about half of the game, as I don't really have a lot of time to play any more, but the game, even though it gets progressively harder, is intuitive enough that between plays it's fairly easy to continue on into the unknown when coming back to it.There's much unseen by me in this game, but I'm still gripped and I am full of anticipation of what is come. I can honestly say that I think this is the best side scrolling game I've ever seen produced on the indie scene. If I had a rating system, it would be rated very high up there. I'm kind of cutting the end of this short even though there is a lot more that I would like to say, but really all I have to say is this :
   
   If you are a fan of old school games, rpgs, or stories with good narratives that are fun, Aquaria is definitely worth checking out. This game has already made history on the indie front, and if you take the time to at least check out the demo, you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to play what Bit Blot comes out with next.

   
   

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DecipherOne has 2 comment s on this chronicle.

1. BEN
   Posted On Feb 11 2008

   Hey, thanks Will! I not only enjoyed the read, but also posted it on my Digg account, because I bet this game review and many of your upcoming Chronicles will be made up of alot of great information that may be harder to find because of its Indie (and not mainstream) origin
   
   You'll have to rock a title next time and stay patient as we continue to polish this section within The GoG, but keep writing and we'll be looking forward to your weekly reviews

2. nerdboy
   Posted On Feb 09 2008

   Great review! I tried out the demo. Very fun game. I agree with you on the music it was really good!