This is the "story" of a furry black . . . thing . . . named "Chuchel" that strives to eat a cherry as big as it is, while a hand from the sky and something like a grape-rat also vie for its succulent fruity flesh. Its just a series of 1 and occasionally 2-room puzzles that range in difficulty from clicking on the only character in the screen, to multi-stage set-ups, to basic platforming, to simplified recreations of classic games like Tetris and Pac Man. And throughout all of this, at the forefront of each white void that is the Chuchel world, is is one weirdly clever design after another, and it's glorious. Picture the weirdness of Botanicula but no longer restrain the artists with adhering to a nature aesthetic--include things such as anthropomorphized kitchen products, combative teeth, a living egg-monster that you have to break open, grim reapers that just want to have fun, and so much more. This game is worthwhile just for the strangeness of its inhabitants. This is perhaps the easiest Amanita game to date. There's no inventory, puzzles are restricted to the smallest places, most "levels" aren't even puzzles but "click to continue" sequences, and the mini-games are some of the most relaxed and non-punishing. For example, I was playing a sort of Tetris game, had to step away for a few moments, and the minigame finished itself without my input. The minimalist interface and approach to difficulty work well together, such that you really should never feel stuck or lacking direction. But, if you do pause at a puzzle, there's a convenient hint system available! If you are a fan of Amanita, especially Botanicula and its whimsy, then you'll adore this too. It's just a simple 2 hours of fun.
I would recommend the game solely for the atmosphere. The visuals, setting, and general story work amazingly together to provide a stimulating experience. And the gameplay is also great. It's simple in a way that makes progress intuitive - you almost never have to try combining random inventory items, for example. There was only one point when I had to look at a guide, and (hint) it involves a telescope. The game also handily closes off certain areas that you completed, so you rarely have to unnecessarily backtrack in order to find items that you may have missed -- more adventure games need this design principle; it can save so much time! . The game also has a morality system, and some decisions may not be readily apparent as you're making them -- so be careful and always try to do what you consider to be a "good option", even when you're quite certain that doing the right thing will hinder your progression.
