A big game of recent weeks isTchia. The latest indie darling to hit the mainstream, it presents players with an open world to roam. That may sound clichéd and unappealing. After all, gamers have seen countless titles within that subgenre, especially in the past several years. On the surface,Tchiaappears no different.
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However, the game actually boasts many traits which set it apart from its peers. It has a plethora of novelties in its gameplay and style. These make it an immersive and relaxing experience. Even for those who are sick of open worlds,Tchiamight be worth a look.
6Location
Open worlds can come in all shapes and sizes. The majority of them see players explorea generic city, usually based on New York or other iconic urban jungles. On the other hand, they may plop players intoa medieval realm with fantasy elements.Tchiacarves out a more distinctive identity.
The adventure presents an archipelago based on New Caledonia. Gaming has left this region unexplored, and that’s a travesty. The vibrant colors and striking landscape paint a world virtually untouched by Man. It’s easily on par withGhost of Tsushimain sheer beauty. Games likeFar Cryhave had tropical sandboxes, but the developers usually fill them up with terrorists or other villains. The mooks are minimal here, allowing fans to take in the gorgeous recreation of a sublime island chain.
5Aesthetic
With advancing hardware and the desire for games to resemble movies, many developers now strive for photorealism. The characters look like real people, and the environments seem drab and desaturated. The aesthetic is pitifully devoid of style.
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Tchiathumbs its nose at that mindset,presenting a design which is equal parts appealing and memorable. It looks like a cross betweenA Hat in Time,The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, andMoana. The result complements the island’s idyllic atmosphere. Moreover,it offers a breath of fresh air in the modern market of depressing visuals.
4Minimal Combat
Fighting enemies is a staple of video games, so it’s not surprising that open-world games populate their zones with thugs. The main story often sees the protagonist annihilate entire armies, and the remainders organize themselves into camps or forts. Players clear said forts to liberate the corresponding regions. It’s a transparent means of grinding and padding. The heroes defeat some bad guys to unlock new attacks, thus allowing them to kill more bad guys. The formula is easy to grasp and painfully trite at points.
That’s whyTchiatakes as little as possible from said formula.Combat takes a backseatto puzzles and exploration. The game has no designated attack button. To dispatch hostiles, players must rely on explosive items. Later, they can summon an entity to shoot fireballs. Even then, these scenarios are more about problem-solving than button-mashing. Not to mention, skirmishes are infrequent, as conquering camps isn’t required to complete the story. Rather, fans can just embrace the spirit of adventure.
3Soul Jumping
Transportation is a key aspect of open-world titles. While many games opt for horses or vehicles to get around,Tchiaspices things up. The protagonist relies on a mechanic called “soul jumping.” This involves possessing animals and even inanimate objects. They all come with special abilities to reach new areas or uncover secrets.
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Possession like this is nothing new in games, but it’s uncommon in open-world titles. The only major example in recent memory isSuper Mario Odyssey. That shortage lendsTchiaeven more novelty in navigation. The island’s residents feel distinct and important rather than just like random NPCs.
2Diving
A tropical locale would naturally have plenty of water.Tchiasees fit to incorporate that into gameplay. Its use goes beyond simply swimming, sailing, or rowing.Numerous games have those. What they don’t have is diving.
Tchiacontains several diving boards, each with its own challenge. Players can take the plunge and pull off tricks on the way down. Showing off like this nets them gold trophies. While this ultimately amounts to the type of side activity that’s common in open-world games, few titles have this specific activity. As such, diving further contributes toTchiaestablishing itself among its peers.
1Length
Open-world games usually pack their playtimes full to bursting. They’re brimming with miscellaneous characters, all of whom have menial tasks for the hero to complete. A lot of these are forced on fans, either for story or grinding purposes. By the time players get to the end, they’ve spent anywhere from thirty to sixty hours. This hinders the experience and makes the title seem bloated.
Thankfully, that’s not a problem withTchia. The main campaign lasts five to ten hours. Remember thatside missions and enemy camps are optional. That’s not to say that the world is empty. The islands have plenty of activities to sustain players who want to stay longer and get more bang for their buck. However, the main narrative is brisk enough that it doesn’t wear out its welcome. How refreshing to find an open-world title which understands pacing, respects players' patience, and doesn’t use cheap tricks to pad its runtime.
Tchiais available on PC, PS4, and PS5.
