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Developed by Awecep, Tchia is a gorgeous semi-nonviolent open-world adventure that pays tribute to the Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia. The game’s beautiful physics-driven gameplay, authentic New Caledonian inspirations, and heartfelt story combine to make it a fantastic adventure.
The game centers around Tchia, a young girl living on an archipelago based on the real-world South Pacific island of New Caledonia. Her father is stolen away by an evil overlord and her henchman, and her life is put on hold while she tries to save him.
It’s a story that’s not without its flaws, but it’s a classic coming-of-age adventure with some real stakes. As Tchia grows up, she slays evil villains, finds love, and gains supernatural powers.
Tchia‘s world feels alive and gorgeous, and its many physics-driven puzzles and minigames will keep you coming back for more. It’s a joy to sail your customizable boat across turquoise lagoons and explore coral reefs, but you’ll need to avoid falling into the water too often.
Gameplay is Good Enough to Keep you Entertained.
As you explore the world of Tchia, you’ll visit a range of locations, each with its own storyline. You’ll have to complete missions and defeat Meavora to move on to the next location.
There are plenty of optional trophies to earn along the way, and you can even unlock some extra challenges and achievements. These will let you unlock more items, slay Meavora statues, and clear Soldier Camps.
While the gameplay is a little bit slow and unintuitive at times, it’s still worth playing through for the beautiful setting and its sincere narrative. It’s a refreshing look at a culture that rarely gets the attention it deserves, and it’s a welcome change from the dispersive and soulless open-world games we often see.
The developers at Awaceb have put their heart and soul into Tchia, and it shows. This small team of twelve created an experience that feels genuinely meaningful and respectful. It’s a game that can really help you understand more about the culture of New Caledonia, despite its limitations and imperfections.
Soul-Jump is Fantastic
Tchia has some supernatural abilities, including the “soul-jump,” which lets her jump into animals and objects, transforming into them. She can become a bird to fly, a fish to swim faster, or a rock to move through the landscape easier.
Soul jumping is a really fun mechanic that adds something special to the game’s world. It makes it fun to find out how Tchia can change her appearance to fit certain situations, whether she’s a shark that can dive deeper or a crab that can climb trees.
The soul-jump ability is also useful for combat against Maano, brainless soldiers spawned by Meavora from fabric. These enemies aren’t just a nuisance; they’re a menace to the environment, so you have to use Tchia‘s transformative abilities and her surroundings to get rid of them.
Art, Music, Visuals, Tchia Offers Everything
Graphically speaking, Tchia is an incredibly pleasant-looking title that will appeal to a wide audience. Its colorful and vibrant art style translates into beautiful, dazzlingly vibrant environments that can be explored using various techniques and modes.
The environment in Tchia is also incredibly varied, with many colorful landscapes, including lush beaches, grass-covered hills, and distant mountains. The art style is slightly softer than the Unreal Engine 4 graphics in some areas, but the game looks impressive overall, and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Another big draw is Tchia‘s music, which helps create a more immersive atmosphere in the world of Tchia. It’s a mix of songs in English, French, and the Kanak language Drehu (the native dialect of New Caledonia), and it’s used to connect characters throughout the game.
Awaceb’s co-founders traveled to New Caledonia for research for the game and recruited voice talents from their home country, bringing a sense of authentic culture to Tchia. It’s a lovely touch that makes the game feel more like a labor of love than just a video game.
