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Aquaria is a 2D sidescrolling computer game by independent game company Bit Blot, composed of Alec Holowka and Derek Yu. It was released on December 7, 2007 for Windows after more than two years of development. A Mac port was released November 12, 2008, courtesy of Ambrosia Software. An updated version of the game was released on Steam on December 15, 2008. A Linux version of the game is currently in open beta. The game won the Seumas McNally grand prize from the Independent Games Festival in March 2007, and has been praised by reviewers for its visuals and atmosphere.REVIEW
With a story as intriguing as its gameplay, Aquaria submerges you in an addictive action-adventure romp through vast underwater worlds in one of the best independent game releases in recent years. It's charming, original, engaging and packed to the gills with entertainment. What's the price of admission? Plan on $30 and a substantial chunk of your time.
Unlike many tale-heavy titles, Aquaria's storyline is woven intricately into the game and is told in eloquent fashion, featuring excellent writing and quality voice-overs. It's the story of Naija, an underwater dweller in search of her family, and a narrative of long lost cultures, love and war, transformation and loss.
No alternate play modes get in the way of Aquaria's tale of exploration and conflict across a massive oceanic world - one teeming with life and secrets. Play consists of ferreting out each unexplored corner of this undersea environ via mouse (recommended), keyboard or gamepad. The left mouse button directs Naija as she swims; the right enables her gift of Verse, in other words the singing of songs. Through the selection of notes (six to be exact) she weaves together and casts musical spells that affect her environment, change her form and combat numerous denizens of the deep.
Aquaria incorporates a unique recipe system, as well, a Cooking Mama-like aspect of play for creating foods that heal, regenerate health and add special, though temporary, abilities. Recipes, dozens of them, are discovered by finding pre-cooked foods and through experimentation. As for ingredients, they consist of both plant and animal components. Plant leaves, mushrooms, berries and bulbs are hidden under rocks or are found growing on vegetative outcroppings. Read more...
With a story as intriguing as its gameplay, Aquaria submerges you in an addictive action-adventure romp through vast underwater worlds in one of the best independent game releases in recent years. It's charming, original, engaging and packed to the gills with entertainment. What's the price of admission? Plan on $30 and a substantial chunk of your time.
Unlike many tale-heavy titles, Aquaria's storyline is woven intricately into the game and is told in eloquent fashion, featuring excellent writing and quality voice-overs. It's the story of Naija, an underwater dweller in search of her family, and a narrative of long lost cultures, love and war, transformation and loss.
No alternate play modes get in the way of Aquaria's tale of exploration and conflict across a massive oceanic world - one teeming with life and secrets. Play consists of ferreting out each unexplored corner of this undersea environ via mouse (recommended), keyboard or gamepad. The left mouse button directs Naija as she swims; the right enables her gift of Verse, in other words the singing of songs. Through the selection of notes (six to be exact) she weaves together and casts musical spells that affect her environment, change her form and combat numerous denizens of the deep.
Aquaria incorporates a unique recipe system, as well, a Cooking Mama-like aspect of play for creating foods that heal, regenerate health and add special, though temporary, abilities. Recipes, dozens of them, are discovered by finding pre-cooked foods and through experimentation. As for ingredients, they consist of both plant and animal components. Plant leaves, mushrooms, berries and bulbs are hidden under rocks or are found growing on vegetative outcroppings. Read more...
