Opposable Thumbs / Gaming & Entertainment

Review: Aquaria is the Mac’s underwater Zelda

Those looking for a refreshing Mac-native game for the holidays need look no …

With all the holiday gaming recommendations we've made so far this season, we have sadly neglected games for the Mac. While there aren't very many Mac-capable games to recommend, a reader has turned us on to one unique title native to the Mac. Part puzzler, part platformer, and part exploration, Aquaria impresses.

Aquaria began life as a independent Windows title, but eventually made its way over to the Mac in late November, courtesy of Ambrosia Software. The game focuses on the story of a mermaid-like creature called Naija, who is coming to terms with being the only one of her kind in the vast underwater kingdom of Aquaria. As Naija, players explore the underwater world in search of answers about Naija's people, as she recounts her story through voiced narration during the course of the game.

Heavy in exploration, with a touch of non-linearity, Aquaria plays out in a manner vaguely reminiscent of Zelda. Players are free to explore, but various traps, roadblocks, and pitfalls are lying in wait. Naija starts with almost no abilities and access to only a few select areas, but slowly builds up a repertoire of skills that let her explore more freely. At the basic level, the Ecco the Dolphin freedom mixed with a Zelda-like adventure formula is clearly represented: explore, master new moves, solve puzzles, gain access to new areas, locate items that extend your life bar, rinse, and repeat.

It may sound somewhat bland based on that description, but the world of Aquaria is an enthralling place to explore. The sprawling underwater world is filled with nooks and crannies which beg to be explored; there are plenty of secrets to find and strange creatures to encounter. The exploration aspect of the game, combined with the lush hand-drawn visuals and the atmospheric music, make exploring the world a great relaxation. It's all very Zen-like.

As players explore the world, they will slowly uncover new abilities which help Naija to progress. Naija's abilities all involve song; by holding down the right mouse button, a small wheel of different musical notes pops up. These notes can be "sung" by mousing over them, and certain note combinations activate certain spells. Naija starts out with just a single defensive spell to protect her from environmental perils, but eventually she learns more complicated techniques and can become an offensive powerhouse—though the game remains passive in nature for the most part. These songs are also used for interacting with the game world, as certain notes will resonate with crystals scattered about Aquaria that reward you with items.

Cooking also plays a crucial role in the game. As players explore, they will gather various items which can be pieced together to create food and medicine for Naija. Naija's health can only be restored by finding a relatively rare type of plant, so learning to scavenge items and create food is important. The crafting system is simple enough, and the addition of collectible items goes a long way towards giving the drive for exploration a more concrete purpose.

Though the combat and cooking are a bit simplistic, simply exploring the beautiful game world of Aquaria is worth the price of admission. Exploration is a rewarding experience, and the calm atmosphere and two-button controls go a long way towards making the game a relaxing and complete experience.

Review computer was a last-gen Intel Core Duo 2.1 GHz Macbook with stock graphics card and RAM. No noticeable performance issues. Game ships with simple, shareware-style license key DRM and 30 day free trial.

Verdict: Buy
Developer: Bit Blot
Publisher: Ambrosia Software, Inc.
Platform: Mac (Also on PC, Steam)
$30 (free 30-day trial
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