Eternity RPC Board
Botanicula
To start off, a cute, casual game about tiny things in the forest.
![[Image: 2nM1RcJ.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/2nM1RcJ.jpg)
Title: Botanicula
Official Site: http://botanicula.net/
Developer: Amanita Design
Initial Release Date: April 2012
Genre: point-and-click adventure with puzzle elements
Price: $9.99 regular, pick it up on the Steam Summer Sale for $4.99
I’m starting off with Botanicula because it is a great example of the kinds of games I typically like to play: visually interesting art style, relaxing atmospheric soundtrack, with casual puzzly, problem-solving elements.
To understand Botanicula, put on your make believe cap and peer into your microscope. You see a spore. Err, maybe a seed? A leaf? A twig, or… a mushroom? Well, you see something small, and plantlike. Rather, somethings; those are our heroes! In Botanicula, you play as a group of miniscule creatures who have taken it upon themselves to ensure that light prevails over darkness.
Our main protagonist, Mr. Lantern, receives a divine vision after being bonked on the head by the lone seed of the tree of light, now destroyed by a creature of dark and evil. Mr. Lantern (despite never actually having any dialogue in the game aside from some babbling noises) relays this vision to his friends, dubbed Mr. Poppyhead, Mrs. Mushroom, Mr. Twig, and Mr. Feather (who, coincidentally, also never have any dialogue), who agree immediately to help him fulfill his quest of planting this seed and start down from their homes in the high branches of their own tree.
![[Image: zFi59kc.png]](http://i.imgur.com/zFi59kc.png)
Mr. Lantern has a vision.
Only to immediately encounter their first obstacle, and the first puzzle of the game.
There are few instructions given in the game, but there are obvious hints about puzzle solving and what to do next, which makes it optimal for players of pretty much all levels of experience. You’ll learn as you play that each of our heroes has their own unique capabilities that must be strategically utilized for certain situations (one of the characters can walk on the underside of branches when the top side is blocked, one can fly over obstacles, etc.)
![[Image: Hpdx8Uq.png]](http://i.imgur.com/Hpdx8Uq.png)
Our heroes reach an early impasse. Based on the other creatures flying around in the background, we know that the one blocking our path is downed because he’s missing his back feathers. We need to get him out of our way, so let’s get those feathers!
The rest of the game is spent trying to get to the ground while your inconsiderate tree neighbors make that a much more difficult task than it probably should be!
Overall, the tone of the game is light, occasionally humorous, although many of the creatures tend to have a rather unsettling, sometimes grotesque appearance. Some of them freaked me out. There are dark, tense moments because, after all, it’s a game of good versus evil, but I wouldn’t say that it would likely scare my 90 year old grandma, so I think everyone on this board is safe.
![[Image: d3sRgLf.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/d3sRgLf.jpg)
Just don’t fall into its cavernous mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and you’re good to go!
In all, I put about six hours into the game, which includes some going back after finishing the main objective to discover some of the hidden creatures, for which Steam gives you achievements and - if I recall correctly - for which you get in-game collectible cards. I don’t know that I would ever replay the entire game, but I would certainly play a sequel or extension to the first game, and I have been considering playing some other games from Amanita Designs, including the Samorost series which looks very similar.
Pros: It’s a very pretty game. It’s nice to look at while you play with soft colors in a woodsy/floral palette and a tilt-shift and bokeh effect. The characters are cute and interesting, and the background sound effects of natural forest sounds sets a great aural landscape. It’s good if you’re looking for something casual to unwind with. The puzzles are fun. I didn’t find many of them to be particularly difficult, but there were a few that made me take a couple passes before getting the solution.
Cons: There’s not a ton of replay value, and it’s a fairly short game for the cost (full disclosure: I’m pretty sure I picked this up for about $4 a few Summer Sales ago, and that price is, to me, more reasonable). You’re paying primarily for the art when you get this, so keep that in mind. I had some issues with not getting achievements on Steam when I should have, which is a minor complaint for me.
My Overall Saljective™ Rating: 7/10. The game is lacking in length and isn’t quite challenging enough for me, but it is good for what it is intended to be: an aesthetically appealing game designed for relaxation and casual gameplay. When on sale, the value of the product you get for what you pay is decent.
To start off, a cute, casual game about tiny things in the forest.
Title: Botanicula
Official Site: http://botanicula.net/
Developer: Amanita Design
Initial Release Date: April 2012
Genre: point-and-click adventure with puzzle elements
Price: $9.99 regular, pick it up on the Steam Summer Sale for $4.99
I’m starting off with Botanicula because it is a great example of the kinds of games I typically like to play: visually interesting art style, relaxing atmospheric soundtrack, with casual puzzly, problem-solving elements.
To understand Botanicula, put on your make believe cap and peer into your microscope. You see a spore. Err, maybe a seed? A leaf? A twig, or… a mushroom? Well, you see something small, and plantlike. Rather, somethings; those are our heroes! In Botanicula, you play as a group of miniscule creatures who have taken it upon themselves to ensure that light prevails over darkness.
Our main protagonist, Mr. Lantern, receives a divine vision after being bonked on the head by the lone seed of the tree of light, now destroyed by a creature of dark and evil. Mr. Lantern (despite never actually having any dialogue in the game aside from some babbling noises) relays this vision to his friends, dubbed Mr. Poppyhead, Mrs. Mushroom, Mr. Twig, and Mr. Feather (who, coincidentally, also never have any dialogue), who agree immediately to help him fulfill his quest of planting this seed and start down from their homes in the high branches of their own tree.
Mr. Lantern has a vision.
Only to immediately encounter their first obstacle, and the first puzzle of the game.
There are few instructions given in the game, but there are obvious hints about puzzle solving and what to do next, which makes it optimal for players of pretty much all levels of experience. You’ll learn as you play that each of our heroes has their own unique capabilities that must be strategically utilized for certain situations (one of the characters can walk on the underside of branches when the top side is blocked, one can fly over obstacles, etc.)
Our heroes reach an early impasse. Based on the other creatures flying around in the background, we know that the one blocking our path is downed because he’s missing his back feathers. We need to get him out of our way, so let’s get those feathers!
The rest of the game is spent trying to get to the ground while your inconsiderate tree neighbors make that a much more difficult task than it probably should be!
Overall, the tone of the game is light, occasionally humorous, although many of the creatures tend to have a rather unsettling, sometimes grotesque appearance. Some of them freaked me out. There are dark, tense moments because, after all, it’s a game of good versus evil, but I wouldn’t say that it would likely scare my 90 year old grandma, so I think everyone on this board is safe.
Just don’t fall into its cavernous mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and you’re good to go!
In all, I put about six hours into the game, which includes some going back after finishing the main objective to discover some of the hidden creatures, for which Steam gives you achievements and - if I recall correctly - for which you get in-game collectible cards. I don’t know that I would ever replay the entire game, but I would certainly play a sequel or extension to the first game, and I have been considering playing some other games from Amanita Designs, including the Samorost series which looks very similar.
Pros: It’s a very pretty game. It’s nice to look at while you play with soft colors in a woodsy/floral palette and a tilt-shift and bokeh effect. The characters are cute and interesting, and the background sound effects of natural forest sounds sets a great aural landscape. It’s good if you’re looking for something casual to unwind with. The puzzles are fun. I didn’t find many of them to be particularly difficult, but there were a few that made me take a couple passes before getting the solution.
Cons: There’s not a ton of replay value, and it’s a fairly short game for the cost (full disclosure: I’m pretty sure I picked this up for about $4 a few Summer Sales ago, and that price is, to me, more reasonable). You’re paying primarily for the art when you get this, so keep that in mind. I had some issues with not getting achievements on Steam when I should have, which is a minor complaint for me.
My Overall Saljective™ Rating: 7/10. The game is lacking in length and isn’t quite challenging enough for me, but it is good for what it is intended to be: an aesthetically appealing game designed for relaxation and casual gameplay. When on sale, the value of the product you get for what you pay is decent.