Botanicula (PC, iPhone, Android, Macintosh)

• Release Date: 05/07/2012
• Genre: Adventure
• Rating: 4.5/5
• Studio: Amanita Design

Seldom can you see a game that is being released carries a social value besides providing entertainment in its purest form. Botanicula released by Amanita Design reminded me of some fairy tales I had gone through during our childhood days which not only provided innocent entertainment and fun but carried a social morale at the end that was as adorable as the characters that we encountered. Botancula had kelp things simple with the same anecdotes – some extremely cute characters, a plain and straight forward storyline, a lilting background score that underlined the flow of the story and some stunning visual effects that did justice to the mood of the story. Everything in this amazing game is so well balanced that you will not find any scope to take your mind off from the game – not at least you reach the very end of the credit scroll.

Yes, it is an audio-visual treat and the makers should get full marks for this wonderful effort that is like a fresh puff of breeze in the otherwise stereotype fraternity of gaming. Here, you do not play the role of a soldier, nor a demon – rather a bunch of 5 plants as well as some insectoids as they set out for a terrifying journey to save the plants from being eaten up by parasites. The plot of the game lacks depth but that, instead of ruining the concept only makes it all the more beautiful. The basic concept of the gaming control is restricted to a few clicks and the movement of cursor. At no time you can take the help of any tutorial as there is none. That is the only hindrance that you find in the entire game and you have to go through a trial and error method by clicking around in various parts of the environment in order to gather points that will take you from level to another. The game is all about an enchanting guess work that this takes the creativity to a new height where every movement tastes the patience of the gamer.

It’s a puzzle adventure in the truest sense that tells you a wonderful story with a moral of going green against the tide of deforestation.

• The simple but highly attractive storyline that carries a social moral
• The special effects and sound effects that do justice to the story
• A lilting sound track that underlines the mood of the story
• The clever use of color and characters that perfectly matches the mood of the story

We hate:

• The lack of tutorial that leaves the gamers with a guesswork that tends to distract the mind from the game

Official Website of the game: http://botanicula.net/