Alba - A Wildlife Adventure
Alba is a sweet little ecological game in which you try to discover and protect the fauna of a small Mediterranean island. Although the game is a little childish and simplistic, it nonetheless offers a calm and playful moment that will be much appreciated after a stressful day.
❤ The game has a very naive, positive charm that's perfect for young and old alike, and while it's a bit childish, the underlying message is there to make adults feel responsible too. ❤ The chara-design is cute and colorful, and even though the animals may look cartoony, the different species are still clearly recognizable and very varied (over 60!). ❤ The soundtrack is great, with a bit of Hispanic music to take us on a journey, and the environmental sound effects make the explorations rich and full of life. What's more, I loved the fact that you could 'track' the animals by their calls (which are referenced in our notebook to help you). ❤ The island may not be very big, but it gives an impression of vastness and richness, with its different landscapes and all the wildlife that inhabits it.
+/- The story is a little short and I would have liked a few more quests. But although there's that narrative thread, the game gives us the freedom to explore the surroundings freely, and I found that part far more satisfying than the missions given. Visiting every nook and cranny and finding new species to take photos of became my hobby for a few hours ;) +/- The game is quite educational, both in terms of discovering the fauna and saving their habitat, but I regret that the notebook isn't detailed enough. A short description for each animal would have completed this ecological lesson; in my opinion, by knowing more about animals and their way of life, humans can certainly respect and protect them better.
✖ Some animal appearances are only triggered by quests, but you don't know in advance which animals will be involved. I went round and round the island looking for certain animals, only to have them automatically appear at the end of a quest. I find this aspect less satisfying. ✖ The story is too manichean, clearly aimed at children, and will be a little boring for the older ones. ✖ Vade retro the phone in portrait mode to take pictures of nature, WHY ALBA?! ✖ There are tags all over the game with a rather unusual design, and they're mentioned once at some point. I thought we'd have to clean them up or there'd be some sort of explanation…but no...yes, I'm frustrated, I want to know x)
Alba is therefore an honest game in terms of what it wants to teach us, and will work wonders for the little ones, given its cute, positive character and its pedagogical aspect around biodiversity. But it doesn't neglect adults either, who, despite a story that's perhaps too candid, will find in it a welcome breath of positivity and a definite moment of relaxation. Just next time, let me at least pet the little cats!
➡ My Steam page
