Tchia Review (PC)

I should be looking for some pearls that will give me access to a character that can help with my big quest. Instead, I am running up a big mountain and looking for the local fauna. As soon as I get to the top I will shout to map my surroundings. And then I plan to jump from that mountain top and use my glider to gracefully arc my way toward a valley.

Doing this will use up stamina and I do not have an infinite supply. I can maneuver to land safely on a ridge but I have a more audacious plan. The girl I am playing, Tchia, has the power to possess most things in the world around her. And that’s how I will deal with the stamina drain.

I want to look for a bird during my descent and then warp into it. Possession does not last forever either but it will give me the time to fly my way to the other end of this island. I will then liberate the bird and explore some more, making sure I find all the interesting stuff around me before I get back on the path to save my father from a tyrant.

Tchia is developed by Awaceb and published by Awaceb and Kepler Interactive. I played via Epic Games on the PC, with the game also offered on the PlayStation 5 and 4. The title offers an open world filled with activities and imbued with a strong sense of place.

+4more

Tchia is a young woman who loses her father to a tyrant named Meavora and decides to go on a quest to save him. The setup is simple and clear but the narrative evolves in sweet and surprising ways. It touches on the power of connection, the potential problems of unchecked development, and the way communities come together to help.

The narrative is subtle about all of this and focuses on the characters and the world itself, which is inspired by the cultures of New Caledonia. Magic is real and potent, allowing Tchia to possess objects and animals around her, but the core of the game lies in exploration and interaction.

Our protagonist has impressive traversal abilities right from the start, able to move from the top of one tree to another and to climb any structure or mountain she comes across. Her father also gives her, before being abducted, a glider that gives her a limited way to fly. Using these complex movement options drains Tchia’s stamina, which can be boosted by finding and eating special fruit.

The girl also has a ship, both fast and nimble, and there are plenty of mysteries to find and explore as one moves across the ocean. Stamina is also used to power diving but a better option is to find a fish and then take it over.

This is one example of how Tchia can use her core magical ability. Press a button, look at an object or an animal, and click on it to push your soul across. Take over a dolphin to move across the sea quickly or see what’s around a mysterious wreck. Possess a bird and poop around the island as you fly to a point of interest. Some animals can dig, some are fast, and others are simply cool to take over for s short time. It’s considered polite to at least try and pet any animal before you try a soul transfer.

The combination of ship, glider, forest jumps and transformations make it very easy to move across the landscape smoothly. Don’t hesitate to abandon the core quest to investigate a point of interest or transform into something new. The joy lies in seeing more of the world.

Play Video

Tchia also features some combat moments, pitting our feisty protagonist against cloth enemies. The idea is to disorient them with the slingshot and then the environment, which features plenty of gasoline cans and lamps, to eliminate them via burning. The battles are not tough but they feel a little out of the step with the rest of the world.

The world also features slingshot challenges and races for those who feel competitive. There are also plenty of collectibles to look for, including a variety of tweaks for Tchia’s appearance, and mini-games to engage with. It’s a great mix of small and big ideas, all well-executed, focused on creating fun moments and a constant sense of discovery.

Tchia is designed to be accessible to as many players as possible. If the level of already low violence is too much, it can be limited even further using the Options menu. There’s also an option to skip any kind of gameplay element that might be too challenging or uninteresting, although this might ruin the flow of the narrative.

Tchia mixes its real-world inspiration with a cartoonish style that suits the tone of the story. There are plenty of characters, all with well-defined looks and personalities, to interact with but the real star is the world itself. It offers impressive moments of beauty and I can only imagine that real-life New Caledonia is even more breathtaking (even if hard to get to for most of us).

The sound design is equally impressive. All the voice actors, especially the ones embodying major characters, are expressive and emotional when they need to be. The game also has good musical moments, that Tchia can play along with or simply enjoy. The soundtrack is also good, especially when roaming the sea in the little wooden catamaran, searching for treasure and adventure.

+4more

The Good

The Bad

Conclusion