Summary
Tchia captures the spirit and joy of a young girl braving a new world, and it must have for families looking to game together.
Developer – Awaceb
Publisher – Awaceb, Kepler Interactive
Platforms – PS4, PS5, PC (Reviewed)
The opening of Tchia was a fantastic introduction to a world full of charm, intrigue, and a fun, colorful gameplay space. You play as young Tchia, a young girl growing up and living with her father before an evil doer captures him and leaves Tchia to figure out how to save him and mature.
That incredible opening set of moments is what jump-starts this fun-filled adventure. Tchia is quickly introduced to the concept of soul jumping, and before you know it, you can possess coconuts, objects, animals, and everything in between to explore the islands she calls home.
Tchia resembles a throwback to older action-adventure titles and has clear inspiration from games such as Breath of the Wild, but it never feels derivative or like an also-ran of those adventures. It has its ideas, novelty, and themes, and that holds for the game’s runtime.
The game’s visuals are great on the surface and in the small details. It is fast-paced, it doesn’t wallow in tropes, and, most important, it maintains a great pace from start to end. It may sound like I’m talking about the story, but I’m speaking more about Tchia’s visual language. Each new item you soul jump is seamless and fun to use and look at. The islands have an openness just begging to be explored. The music is fun, and more importantly, you can feel the culture the developers were imprinting on the game with every musical section and lyric on screen.
Tchia also maintains an incredible pace, as its story is well told and feels wrapped up at the right time. You can freely explore and find many things to distract you, but the game never gets bogged down with endless filler or sidequests that go nowhere.
This game is great to play with children, and there’s even a toggle to hide some of the more mature and dark scenes from the narrative, which works well to keep the story impactful but safe for the whole family.
This game is paced in a way that makes it perfect for adults or children. My daughter loves watching the game; its bright, detailed characters and worlds belong right up there with Disney animated films in terms of quality and presentation.
At around 15 hours, Tchia is the perfect length. Tchia’s ode to the heritage and culture of New Caledonia shines through and feels insightful and informative without feeling like a documentary at the same time. Awaceb has created a game that captures the spirit and joy of a young girl braving the world, and it must have for families looking to game together.
