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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/867
152 MacDirectory
GAME REVIEW
AQUARIA > NOT JUST A GAME, IT'S AN ADVENTURE
Bit Blot's Aquaria, published and
distributed by Ambrosia Software, is an
adventure game with a unique
protagonist. Set almost entirely
underwater, the game tells the tale of
Naija, a humanoid with gills and webbed
appendages, and her quest for identity.
Having awakened with no memory of who
she is, Naija must explore the vast
undersea network of tunnels and open
spaces to discover what has happened to
its once-thriving population, and how to
restore its people to life.
This game won the Seumas McNally
Grand Prize at the 2007 Indie Games
Festival, and from the very start of the
game, it's easy to see why. Every piece of
scenery, every creature, every special
effect has been lovingly crafted to
harmonize with every other element,
leading to an overall experience that
refreshes with its gorgeous palette.
Aquaria also features an amazing ambient
soundtrack, with music that complements
the action, rather than overwhelming it.
Each distinct underwater zone has its own
music, and it never gets in the way of
accomplishing tasks, nor is it ever
annoyingly repetitive.
Thankfully, you're allowed your choice of
ways to travel around the world: You can
use the keyboard or mouse, but you've got
more options with the mouse. Holding the
mouse button down enables swimming,
and you go faster or slower depending
upon how far away from Naija you've
placed the cursor. Clicking the mouse once
when the cursor is at its farthest enables a
burst of extra speed, allowing her to
escape from a close follower.
Aquaria offers an interesting couple of
mechanics. The basic theme is one of
exploration, and that plays out in the way
that new powers and abilities must be
discovered to be equipped. From the
beginning, Naija discovers that she can use
her voice to affect the environment. When
the user holds the right mouse button, a
circle of colored symbols rings her, and
hovering the cursor over one will sound a
note. If a similarly colored plant is nearby,
using the note will harvest whatever that
plant offers.
By combining objects harvested from
plants and defeated enemies, Naija can
cook up a new item with beneficial
properties, like healing, speed increase,
defense, etc. Only by discovering examples
of combined items will she get the recipe
to create that item.
In the same way, Naija can put notes
together to create a song. Different songs
create different effects, such as a
temporary boost to her defense, or to lift
heavy objects. Possibly the most
important aspect of this mechanic,
however, is the ability to use a song to
change Naija's form.
Unlike the standard discovery mechanic,
new forms are given to Naija when the
storyline dictates. These usually happen
after a significant boss battle, or when
you discover a brand new area. There are
eight unlockable forms in all, and each
one confers a different ability. For
example, the first form turns Naija into a
being of destructive energy, able to fire
homing projectiles at all enemies within
range. Holding the mouse button charges
up this power, allowing a stronger attack.
The trade-off is that Naija can't sing in
anything other than her normal form.
If there's any one negative about Aquaria,
it's the necessity for backtracking to
previously visited areas to access places
you couldn't visit before for one reason or
another, but that's a small price to pay for
such an amazing game.
There is nearly too much of interest in
Aquaria to cover in a single review. Bit Blot
has crafted a rich world with an interesting
story and satisfying gameplay, with a
gorgeous look and feel wrapped around it.
Go download it today!
WORDS BY KEONI CHAVEZ
Product Aquaria
Made by Bit Blot