In this Creatures of Ava review, we will tell you everything you should expect from the game so that you can get an overview of it before delving into its world.
11 bit studios, Chibig and Inverge Studios have joined forces to create Creatures of Ava, a game that encompasses different genres and takes inspiration from other past works. The last year has certainly been a very important one for the Polish publisher 11 bit studios, which first published The Invincible, then The Thaumaturge, passing through Indika, and now Creatures of Ava, with Frostpunk 2 and The Alters coming soon. But did Creatures of Ava live up to expectations? Find out in our review.
It’s Not Just a Colorful Game
The first thing that catches the eye, even just by looking at the game’s presentation trailers, is its artistic direction: colorful areas and cute creatures to save are the distinctive features of Creatures of Ava, but the game hides much more behind it. In fact, the story that the developers wanted to tell through the game flows into the deepest areas of the personal sphere. While our heroine will be busy saving Ava’s world from the plague that afflicts it, we will have the opportunity to deal with acceptance, empathy, and knowing how to let things go when the time has come to do so.
In short, Creatures of Ava is one of those classic games that, at first glance, may seem like a light-hearted, carefree game suitable for a younger audience, but it won’t take long before you realize that, in reality, this is not the case at all. The themes covered by the developers are extremely important and require a more adult mind to be fully understood.
Exploration and Saving Creatures
We have already mentioned previously that our heroine will have the task of saving this planet from the plague that afflicts it and to do this, it will be of vital importance to dedicate yourself to exploring the game world. Creatures of Ava will give you the opportunity to visit four different areas, each with its own characteristics and peculiarities.
However, it is also important to dedicate time to safeguarding the creatures that inhabit these biomes. In fact, it will not be possible to continue in the main story if we have not saved a certain number of creatures. Therefore, what in other games can be considered an accessory activity, in Creatures of Ava, is of fundamental importance for the economy of the game. Take up your flute and create melodies that are able to attract the various creatures within the range of the bots to be able to save them.
Furthermore, do not forget that these animals can be useful to you. Each of them, in fact, has its own abilities that can be used to open new passages and discover hidden areas. So, try to tame as many animals as possible to have the chance to explore the game world thoroughly.
Finally, another thing to take into account is the fact that Creatures of Ava has a structure similar, in some ways, to that of the Metroidvania games. This means that you will have to enhance your powers and retrace your steps to unlock paths and areas that were not accessible before. But we can assure you that this game mechanic is well-implemented and does not create any kind of annoyance, even if you are not a fan of this genre. And do not forget about the environmental puzzles! There are several sections in which you will have to solve puzzles to be able to proceed, so prepare your wits as well.
Beautiful Game Design and Music
And we come to the part that is probably the strong point of the entire game: the game design. The settings, the characters, the creatures—every single aspect of Creatures of Ava, from an artistic point of view, has been created in every little detail. The style used is delightful and marries perfectly with what the developers have wanted to convey with this game.
The music is also not to be outdone. As we said before, in Creatures of Ava, we will have the possibility of using a flute to call the creatures present, and this will give rise to very suggestive soundtracks that can make the player empathize at very high levels. These two aspects together, therefore, can accompany the player throughout the game, who will be focused on completing the game.
Creatures of Ava Review: 8/10
Creatures of Ava is a delightful, colorful game that can arouse strong emotions in all those who have the opportunity to play it. Don’t be fooled by the cartoonish appearance, because behind it there are very important and delicate themes that the developers have managed to masterfully address. The artistic direction and soundtracks are the real jewel in the crown of this game and will be able to put you in the shoes of the protagonist.
The dynamics of exploration and protection of the animals that inhabit the planet of Ava are also excellent, even if, in the long run, the activities that concern their rescue can be a bit repetitive. Another small thing to point out, but something purely subjective, is the fact that the dialogues, outside of the cutscenes, are only textual, so we will not hear the characters speak. In any case, it is certainly a game that is worth trying and that will certainly be able to give you strong emotions.
*The game was reviewed on PC thanks to a key provided by the developers.
Diana has been a huge fan of video games since she was a child. She started her “career” with Nintendo and then moved on to other platforms as well. Although she is a big fan of horror games, she plays almost all genres fearlessly. She writes news, reviews, guides, and features about both AAA and indie games.
