Chia Review – Sightseeing Tour Full of Sand, Dolphins and Collectibles

Imagine sliced ​​pork tenderloin sautéed with onion, garlic and sesame seeds and topped with caramel sauce. Add some greens, green onions and a handful of rice for a Caledonian delicacy with the French name “porc au sucre”, which roughly translates to “sugar pork”.

• Platform: PC (Epic Games Store), PS4, PS5 (verified version)
• Publication date: 03/21/2023
• Developer: Avaseb
• Publisher: Avaseb, Kepler Interactive
• Genre: Adventure
• Czech localization: No
• Multiplayer: No
• Data to download: 3.9 GB (PS5 version)
• Game time: from 10:00 to 15:00
• Price: 799 CZK (free included with PS Plus Extra and Premium)

It’s not very often that a video game review starts with a description of a tempting dish, but this probably best describes the main selling point of Tchia’s new adventure game. Inspired by New Caledonia, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, her world presents local culture, customs and traditions in a way that no documentary or school lecture can imitate.

The game is named after the main character, a young girl who lives with her father on a more or less deserted island. They dive into the sea to collect pearls and shoot slingshots for their own pleasure. Life is a little monotonous, but Chia doesn’t complain. However, when an unknown man kidnaps her father in a helicopter, the rescue operation becomes an excuse to leave home and go to the big world.

It is at this moment that the pilgrimage begins, when through Chia we try to save not only her father, but the entire archipelago, whose nature and people are being destroyed by the mysterious Meavora. Blindly focusing only on a story that is very simple in its essence, besides affecting the theme of growing up, in this case it would be a shame. Chia is also rich in its secondary content, filled with motifs from an area to the east of Australia, which many of our natives do not see live. Whether it’s the music that accompanies the game, the language of individual characters (locals were used for voice acting), or the aforementioned food that the girl eats to replenish her energy.

magic ukulele

Your “journey of discovery” can also be filled with stacking stones to maintain balance. Journey through mysterious caves that will open to you only after you carve the desired statue from a piece of wood. Or search for hidden treasures on drawn maps. Most of these activities are varied and refreshing. The reward can be a new song that you learn to play on the ukulele and thereby change the time of day.

However, an important part of the several hundred collectibles are also ordinary collectibles, having no more value than, for example, an exchange for a crab costume. The island world, its fauna and flora beckon to explore – the usual walks, swimming and rock climbing. Less and already a map, densely strewn with all sorts of fireplaces or knick-knacks. Even if you hide them on the map, as you run through the landscape, a beam will glow at each corner, beckoning like a firefly to the next item. When Chia puts it in his backpack, he often doesn’t learn anything interesting about the local culture and doesn’t hear information important to the story. He just ticks and walks away.

Fortunately, the game allows you to make your journey through the island special thanks to the mechanics that are indispensable even during sporadic battles or treasure hunts. This is because Chia controls an ability called Soul Leap. Thus, he can “jump” into the bodies of various animals or even smaller objects for a limited time and thereby control them. A possessed seagull will take her to the highest peak of the island, a jumping dolphin will make swimming in the sea special, and a small lantern will explode and burn the enemy when it hits it. There will also be some weird moments when, for example, you call a dog in a cave to dig a chest out of the sand for you, and then you have to leave it in the dark with no way back (oops).

This is a detail that illustrates well how the game deserves improvement in some parts. It’s as if the developers haven’t been able to fully exploit the strengths of their work. Another example is great music that also uses local instruments. But in many places in the open world, it suddenly stops playing and you just quietly run around the landscape. When you open the map, there is always a pause again and the dive immediately disappears.

Naked city and colorful nature

For many players, the technical side of the game will be a big minus. The graphics are overwritten in some cases, which is especially noticeable on the faces of the characters or when wandering around the gray and bare city, which contrasts with the lush jungle around. Also, the main character, controllable animals, or enemies will sometimes hit the texture, causing a reload in the worst case. The highlight of my visit to the Pacific Ocean was the repeated falls during the final and very emotional cutscene. If the game didn’t let you skip it, I probably wouldn’t be able to finish the game.

Many will probably be surprised that on the PlayStation 5 (tested version) it only runs at 30fps, which thankfully isn’t as much of an issue as it is in racing games.

The core team of Studio Awaceb, which has released Fossil Echo to slightly above-average ratings in the past, is only twelve people, which seems to explain some of the issues. On the other hand, for example, the atmospheric canape Omno, which also explores environmental themes and the harmony of man with nature, is essentially created by one person. Again, with simpler graphics, but no major glitches. Maybe Chia would help if she was smaller and focused on what makes her stand out.

Island exploration, during which the game doesn’t let you know exactly where you are on the map, is otherwise enjoyable and even relaxing. Chia has a big heart and has motives that are already disappearing from other games. While it’s more of a title for younger players, it doesn’t mind showing dark demons eating babies. It does not have such roughness as in other products – be it games or animated films. Unfortunately, in both good and bad ways.