When it comes to independent game-making, we have seen a lot of surge in that area in the last five years as game-building software became more readily available and monetizing platforms grew with Web 3.0 and other facilities. So there was an immediate surge of independent games around the globe like Disco Elysium, Hades, Stray, Outlast, and more.
Now, most of these games were Nintendo-styled games, and others were 2D RPGs with few exceptions, like Stray, which gave us the AAA-titled third-person RPG feel. See, look at the similarly styled game that made indie lovers very proud and happy, as this is a very communalized game that is a good thing and, at the same time, is not. So let’s talk about it and find out what we are dealing with and what you, the reader, may or may not expect from this game if you want to play it.
From a team whose lead developers hail from the islands of New Caledonia, Tchia recreates the look and feel of the region while presenting a fantastical open world full of magic and folklore. Allowing you to soar over mountains and swim through ocean reefs, its traversal and sense of discovery are amplified by the ability to take control of a variety of local animals, including birds, fish, and deer, as well as small inanimate objects.
Tchia is out in all its Adventure and physics-driven sandbox glory in a single-player story mode style. The game was awaited for some time now for its PS5 launch and the incredibly beautiful graphics and characters it showed in the trailers.
If you loved games like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Tell Me Why, or Life Is Strange, you will enjoy this one. It takes the elements from an open sandbox into a story-driven game like the COD series, but never takes away the player’s freedom. So let’s get into the Tchia Review and determine whether it’s worth your time.
- Release Date: 21 March 2023
- Creator/Developer: Awaceb, Awaceb S.A.S.
- Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
- Ratings: 7/10 (Metacritic)
- Genre: Indie game, Action-adventure game, Adventure
- Price: $26.99
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Tchia Story And Gameplay
As a player, we were given control of Tchia, a young girl who lived a peaceful, quiet life with her father on an island in a tropical paradise inspired by New Caledonia. Tchia enjoys nights filled with music made from leaves, drums, and ukuleles, a returning feature in this game, but one day when a friend named Trey visits and stays overnight.
They’re suddenly attacked by a mysterious figure that flies in, wielding a machete and accompanied by fabric-based minions. In the kerfuffle, chia’s father is kidnapped, and she leaps toward the aircraft to save him. Then, her eye glows green, and she discovers she has a unique power. This power is called Soul jumping, and it’s not limited to the typical humanistic theology of the west.
Finding new animals or objects to inhabit and seeing what they can do is one of the most appealing parts of Tchia. Still, even though there’s a fair amount of variety, at times, it does feel like the game’s animals could use a few more actions to round things out.
All this traversal and jumping into various creatures are held back just a little by controls that don’t feel quite as satisfying as they could be. It’s never terrible but slightly clumsy, which can take away from the impact of discovering a new creature or mini-game.
The treasure chests and many of the other activities ultimately reward you with different cosmetic items, and Tchia is chock-full of different outfits to find to update her appearance constantly. You can go for a more traditional cultural look, equip her with full hiking gear, wear a nice dress, or go for something silly or contemporary.
And there are a lot of customization options for your boat too. Interestingly enough, despite so many activities, there isn’t much in the way of traditional side quests – you don’t get many people telling you to “go here and get that” outside the main story, like Witcher 3 or Elden Ring.
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Tchia Review
While the game is bright and colorful with a playful sense of humor, it can be like one of Grimms’ Fairy Tales. The story gets surprisingly dark sometimes, and it’s not afraid to occasionally throw an emotional gut punch. After the opening chapters, most of Tchia’s islands become freely available to explore, and the design of its terrain is easily compared to Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Regarding sounds, voice-over is presented in the local languages, and there’s a beautiful score featuring artists from New Caledonia. This is a strong example of how personal love and care can shine through every part of a game’s craftsmanship. Its environments, animals, clothing, dances, music, food, and folklore convey a sense of deep cultural heritage as much as just being a fun video game to explore.
So, is it an earth-shattering video game that will stick with you for decades? Probably not, unless you’re from New Caledonian. We would love to see your culture brought to light in a new piece of media, but is Tchia an impressively designed and visually striking video game with addictive gameplay loops like Deathloop and a world worth exploring? Absolutely!
So, based on all the things said in this review, we give it a solid 4.5/5 for sticking to its originality and conveying love through the screen to the players. If you are looking forward to playing this game, don’t waste any time; give it a go as soon as possible.
Our Rating: ⭐ (4.5/5).
