Steam Roundup: Aquaria

Aquaria is another independent game, this one developed by Bit Blot Games. It is a so-called 'Metroidvania' style of game where an large open world is segmented into areas that remain locked until the player finds new upgrades (in this case, new forms for Naija, the main character). I've played multiple games of this type in the past and have always enjoyed them immensely; this game was no different. Aquaria is somewhat simpler than games like Super Metroid or Shadow Complex but it was still an enjoyable - and sometimes challenging - experience.

Due to the fact that Naija is a mermaid-like creature, the game takes place underwater, giving the game a unique feel. You can either use standard WASD controls to move around or click-to-move controls. I feel that the WASD controls were much easier to use, especially considering the other actions you need the mouse for in the game.

The main mechanic in the game has you using Naija's voice to sing songs made up of eight notes. To do this, you must hold the right mouse button and point in the eight cardinal directions to play one note at a time. Various abilities are made up of two to four notes and are triggered by playing them in order. You can also hit the number keys to use these abilities, something I chose to do to make the game easier to manage.

Instead of missile packs and bombs, Naija acquires new forms from the bosses she defeats, giving her the new abilities to progress. These forms are varied and unique and all have different uses. The first form acquired is the actual combat form, since the standard form has no attacks whatsoever. Others include a fish form for speed and a sun form to light up dark areas.

The art style has 2D sprites floating over 2D backgrounds, giving it an almost storybook look. Very little 3D seems to exist in the game. The music is pretty good, incorporating an underlying theme throughout (relevant to the story, in fact), but gets repetitive very quickly. The small amounts of voice acting are done passably well but definitely have that independent feel.

Overall, I enjoyed this game quite a bit. It took me around ten hours to complete and I felt like I could have spent a lot longer if I hadn't gone right down the main path. The story is just cryptic enough to be 'artsy' and ends in unpredictable ways and leaves room for a possible sequel.

The next game will be Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (single player campaign) and I should be done with it in the next few days.