Posted on: February 16, 2025
Vainamoinen
Verified ownerGames: Reviews: 28
So much more than expected
10 hours into this wonderful game, not even a fourth completed. Creatures of Ava is a surprisingly expansive expedition on an alien planet. The task is to preserve – i. e. "beam up" – the alien wildlife. There's also an intelligent humanoid species to deal with; and the designers strike a perfect balance between making them likeable on the one hand and incompatible with our Earthern values on the other. I also like how the main character Victoria sometimes draws a red line in the sand when she's getting fed up with being treated like a human stereotype. Other than exploring, beguiling animals with a flute, petting them, and having them clear the way for you, there is also combat, which I don't much care for. At the lowest difficulty setting, it's hardly a nuisance though. The photography mechanic and some worldbuilding elements are nicely stolen from "Beyond Good & Evil", which is a clear influence on this game. As is "Horizon: Zero Dawn", I think. Creatures of Ava doesn't focus nearly as much on story though. Still, full voice acting would have been nice, particularly as the English voice actors are doing a terrific job. This game consistently manages to be more than the sum of its budget, but if you're embarking on this adventure, expect some glitches. I encountered one yet which thankfully was resolved after saving and loading.
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