It's just unfortunate that Botanicula's effort at mouseplay sometimes get in the way of that reward. Paying attention to your surroundings and how they react to your actions is all you need, and figuring out what each creature wants or needs is very rewarding. Since there are no words or even any real directions, all you can really do is try whatever you can think of and click around until you get a feel for what needs to be clicked in what sequence. In terms of gameplay and puzzles, Botanicula operates on its own logic, though not particularly difficult, and you're going to have to be open to experimenting in every screen. Sometimes even a nightmare, since the farther your heroes venture the worse the parasite infestation becomes, and the game is definitely not without its creepy or even frightening moments. It's this attention to detail that makes Botanicula so incredibly rewarding to experience, and when you combine it with the game's stellar original soundtrack you have an otherworldly little tale that feels like a dream. Just because a particular area doesn't have anything relevant to your current objective doesn't mean you shouldn't explore click around and you'll find oodles of little secrets that exist only to surprise you and provide a bit of extra magic. The expressiveness and detail packed into each little creature is really remarkable, and the storybook environments are a joy to explore. It's also engrossing, delightful, and creative, but first and foremost, it's a beautiful game. Don't you wish you had a buddy who was always willing to plug something with their keister for you?Īnalysis: Botanicula is, in a word, gorgeous. Not everyone will always be helpful, but hey, it's the thought that counts. butt?) at helping out in certain locations. As you explore, you'll come across various obstacles that need to be dealt with, and each of your intrepid band of heroes can be clicked on to try their hand (. Whenever you encounter an obstacle in your story progression, you'll usually be given a visual list of items you need in your inventory at the top of the screen. The myriad of little creatures you'll come across are often more concerned with their own tiny existences, but will sometimes help or hinder you.

Weird, sometimes slightly alarming life, but life nonetheless. Though under attack from an unknown menace, the massive tree you'll explore is still teeming with life. If you move your cursor to the top of the screen you can check what you're carrying, as well as any items you should be gathering for your current objective, and moving it to the bottom will allow you to save and load your game, or change the settings. Some objects require you to do more than just click you can pull on switches, for example, or turn cranks by clicking and performing the appropriate mouse movement. Moving your mouse around the sides of the screen will reveal arrows you can click to move to other locations, and your cursor will change if you pass it over a spot or creature you can interact with. In most ways, Botanicula plays like a typical point-and-click title. Packed with charm, rich design, imagination, and both humour and a bit of creepiness, it's the sort of adventure you can't help but be swept away in and root for the little guy every step of the way. Amanita Design's playful and stunning new point-and-click adventure Botanicula follows five tiny but determined forest sprites who are determined to save the last seed of their beloved tree from invading dark parasites. Sometimes it's not about who's biggest, but who's willing to take the chances and do the most for the things that are important. It's easy to forget that being the little guy doesn't always have to mean getting your lunch money stolen or having sand kicked in your face.

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