It’s one thing the game even has over the much larger Breath of the Wild or Elden Ring. This approach made me appreciate the beauty of the Tchia and the elegant design of its open world. While a compass that shows pinned locations and objectives is helpful, players can remove all of that UI if they want to.
That’s a good thing too, as Tchia’s map system never tells players exactly where they are. By honing in and refining the design of the game’s two major islands, Ija Nöjand Madra Nöj, and all of the smaller ones surrounding them, Tchia stays small in scope enough to where the entire open world will become recognizable to you. As games have gotten bigger and bigger, open-world games can feel quite bloated, sacrificing the memorability of particular areas, so players have a vast enough space to explore. Exploration is always manageable as this open world isn’t that big. Each collectible has some use, whether that be a currency, a new outfit, or a gameplay upgrade. Rather than feeling like a to-do list of activities, Tchia succeeds at making most of its open-world collectibles feel worth pursuing. While traveling from objective to objective, players will come across lots of trinkets they can pick up, races to complete for trophies, rock balancing challenges to learn new Soul Melodies, and other items like Stamina Fruit that increase the player’s stats. Taking some inspiration from titles like Breath of the Wild, players can run, sail, swim, and climb across each island and the ocean between them however they please, with the only limitation being a stamina system. Tchia is an open-world game with very few roadblocks for players. Its story is compelling, and playing this makes me want to learn more about and hopefully visit New Caledonia one day. If you liked games such as Mulaka, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, or Never Alone that embrace, promote, and educate the cultures they are inspired by, Tchia gladly joins their ranks. It’s even given the spotlight in multiple rhythm-game-like segments and the game’s Ocarina of Time-like Soul Melodies that can be evoked with a fully playable ukulele.
#Tchia metacritic full#
The game’s soundtrack is full of unforgettable songs with a New Caledonian sound we’ve never seen in other video game soundtracks. It’s reflected in the sound design too, with characters played by actors from New Caledonia speaking its native language.
That love for the location carries on as you play, as Tchia features many real landmarks from New Caledonia and lets players control much of the wildlife that lives there. Image used with permission by copyright holder The islands players can explore in this game are truly beautiful, with vibrant colors and varied wildlife that all feel like they were crafted to make New Caledonia as appealing as possible. Some fantasy and lore elements of the game quickly make it clear that this isn’t real-world New Caledonia, but that doesn’t take away from the cultural representation. If you appreciate the virtual tourism video games can provide, then you’ll love how Tchia pays tribute to the Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia. It represents a fascinating country and culture that doesn’t get much attention from the wider world as well. In an era where many video game characters can feel like they have plot armor and are either edgy or overly comedic, Tchia’s straightforward but sincere narrative is refreshing. While mostly kid-friendly, Tchia isn’t afraid to occasionally have some darker moments and actions with real consequences. You’ll love how Tchia pays tribute to the Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia. It’s a straightforward coming-of-age story, but one that’s elevated by an earnest tone and real stakes. Along the way, she grows up as she explores the world around her, meets new people, falls in love, and gains supernatural powers. Tchia follows a young girl (the titular Tchia) as she tries to save her father from the humanoid woodworm god Meavora and his militant accomplice Pwi Dua. If you only have time to play one more open-world game before The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom comes out, make it Tchia it’s a new video gaming coming-of-age classic. Even with its under-baked animal and object possession gameplay system, it’s the best open-world game I’ve played since Sable. On top of that, it’s an open-world game that takes all the proper lessons from Breath of the Wild and isn’t afraid to let the training wheels off and let players explore.
Inspired by the real world New Caledonia, Tchia is a beautiful game that allows me to explore and experience a moving coming-of-age story in an archipelago I wouldn’t have learned about otherwise.
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