Trying to be the very best
Creatures of Ava is a beautiful game, its story is set on the planet of Ava. The planet is suffering from a mystical infection known as “The Withering”. A lot has been said about the game since its first trailer about how it looks like a Pokémon game, and I am here to tell you that there is indeed some creature collecting. But unlike the mass majority of the creature collection games in Creatures of Ava, players aren’t collecting creatures to fight but instead will be healing them from the infection and evacuating them from the planet.
MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PC
Price I’d Pay: $24.99
Players will take control of Vic, a 22-year-old adventurer who is coming to help save the planet. She ends up crashing on the surface after a mishap, this works as the tutorial to teach the basic mechanics in the game. Vic will be given a flute that will allow her to commune with the various beasts around Ava and command them. Not only does it control the creatures it is also how players will combat the infection. Using the flute players will hold a beam on the infected creature all the while dodging attacks from the angry beast. This is the only real combat that is in Creatures of Ava, the game is really about a more pacifistic approach and honestly it really felt refreshing.
Working with her friend Tabatha and the indigenous people of Ava the Naam; Vic is able to set up teleporters around the planet in order to save the many creatures. Once the creatures are cured of their sickness; Vic will be able to literally turn into the pied piper and lead them around. Not only that but each creature interacts with the environment for puzzle solving, and Vic is able to possess each animal and utilize their ability. There are quite a few different creatures as well as biomes like the Swamp and Forest areas. There are even secrets that players can find if they explore levels to their fullest.
While I enjoyed the story in Creatures of Ava as well as its charming gameplay, it is not without its issues. I played it on Xbox for my review and had a few instances where the audio would drop out. Not just sound effects but all the audio, it would come back on but it has happened enough times that I fell like I should mention it. The biggest miss for me is the fact that the controls can’t be remapped because Creatures of Ava is one of those games that maps the sprint command to the LB. I can’t tell you how frustrating that is to me, if you are going to change controls for the sake of at least let me customize them so I am comfortable.
Creatures of Ava is a fantastic game and I really like the pacifist approach to game play. It was a refreshing change to be collecting creatures in order to save them instead of trying to be the very best there ever was. The narrative in Creatures of Ava is also a strong highpoint which comes as no surprise since the story was co-written by Rhianna Pratchett; who has written stories like Heavenly Sword and Rise of Tomb Raider. With a gorgeous world, fun and addictive gameplay and a great story, Creatures of Ava is a really fun experience and one that offers something very different from the other creature collectors on the market.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
