BOTANICULA

I really needed this, man. I played Botanicula at precisely the right time…

The beauty of gaming that might not be apparent to someone who doesn’t play them is the sheer diversity of what the experiences can offer. Some games let you explore at a controlled pace. Some games let you take in strange new worlds. Some games let you see through a new perspective you wouldn’t normally encounter. You can take part in an immersive story, influence where it ends up. It can help you relax, focus, unwind…

I’ve written many a time about my struggles with anxiety. Earlier this year I wasn’t in a good place mentally and felt a real need to vent the stress that was stirring in the ol’ brain pan. I didn’t want to shoot any thing. I didn’t want to invest in something time consuming. I longed for some escapism and to get lost in something simple and warm, uplifting and beautiful. That about sums up Botanicula, right there…

So, the set up is a little abstract. Our home is under attack, the canopies of a sprawling tree top. We assume the role of defenders of a seed on the microscopic level. We’re tasked with evading the threat and ensuring the survival of an ecosystem under siege. The adventure is perilous but the tone isn’t heavy. A deftly constructed charm is achieved through beautiful art direction, simple puzzles and visual storytelling.

Czech developer Amanita Design has more than a little experience in crafting unique games that can’t be compared with any other. Their previous title Machinarium was a thing of beauty, an old school point-and-click adventure game told through a well realised world occupied solely by robots. That game was crazy tough, deceptively so — relaxing wouldn’t be a word I would use to describe Machinarium. (Still very good.)

Botanicula, though? Amanita takes things in a calmer, gentler direction…

The gameplay favours intuition and exploration over something a little more complex. You’re encouraged to experiment with your surrounds. There’s no real dangers or risks of messing up, it’s an incredibly forgiving game. It’s not too long but incredibly satisfying while it lasts. Botanicula is pretty special. I don’t want every game to be like this, but I’m glad a game like this can exist. Diversity is good.

I finished feeling relaxed, focused, unwound. The weight of the world had lifted.

Written by Dan Clarke. September 05, 2014.

Originally published at dcpresents.tumblr.com.