Tchia

Last updated

Tchia
Tchia cover art.jpg
Developer(s) Awaceb
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Phil Crifo
Composer(s) John Robert Matz [1]
Engine Unreal Engine
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, PS4, PS5
  • March 21, 2023
  • Switch
  • June 27, 2024
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Tchia is an action-adventure game developed by Awaceb and published by Kepler Interactive. The player controls the titular character as she explores a fictional archipelago inspired by New Caledonia. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on March 21, 2023. It is also set to release for Nintendo Switch on June 27, 2024.

Contents

Gameplay

The titular character exploring the archipelago via a raft Tchia gameplay screenshot.jpg
The titular character exploring the archipelago via a raft

Tchia is an action-adventure video game played from a third-person perspective. The player assumes control of the titular protagonist, who must explore a tropical archipelago to rescue her kidnapped father. Tchia has the ability of "soul jumping", which allows her to possess and assume control of animals and inanimate objects found in the world, and uses their power to travel to new areas, solve puzzles, and defend herself against opponents. [2] For instance, by soul jumping to a dog, players can use its ability to dig out treasure maps. According to developer Phil Crifo, players can soul jump to more than 30 animals and "hundreds of" objects. [3]

Tchia can explore the archipelago in her human form. She is equipped with a glider and a raft which allows her to navigate between places quickly. [4] Tchia is highly acrobatic. She can quickly slide down a mountain, climb up trees and use it to catapult herself across the canopy, and ascend nearly all types of surfaces. Through exploration, players will discover different points of interest, minigames, and chests with cosmetic items, meet other non-playable characters, and complete side quests. [2] Tchia features elements from rhythm games, as players can play Tchia's ukelele at will. Players can play "Soul-Melodies", which allows Tchia to perform feats such as summoning animals for soul jumping, altering the time of day, or changing the in-game weather. [3] [5] These gameplay sequences are skippable. [6] Tchia's appearance, as well as her glider and her raft, can be extensively customized. [7]

Plot

The game opens with a young boy being brought to an orphanage. Looking to help make him comfortable, the old woman in charge tells him the story of Tchia.

Tchia and her father Joxu live alone on the island of Uma, occasionally visited by their friend Tre. On Tchia's twelfth birthday, an airship lands on the island and a man named Pwi Dua emerges, kidnapping Joxu. Tchia attempts to stop him and discovers that she has the ability to soul jump, letting her possess creatures and inanimate objects, but fails to stop him from escaping before she falls into the ocean. Tchia wakes up in Tre's camp, who reveals that Joxu is being held captive by Meavora. Knowing he's sending people to abduct him too, Tre gives Tchia his boat so she can escape and rescue her father.

Tchia arrives at the city of Aëmoon and heads to Meavora's palace of Ga Ngazo looking for him. However, she's turned away by the secretary until she brings certain items as a gift. Tchia travels to the village of Hunahmi and meets their chief, who paints her face and teaches her how to carve totems. She then travels to Weliwele, where she meets their matriarch Gaby and her daughter Louise, the latter of whom Tchia starts up a romantic relationship with. The Chief of Hunahmi and Gaby provide Tchia with the gift she needs, and she goes back to Ga Ngazo to meet with Meavora. There she discovers that Meavora is a demon that eats children and babies. She's recognized by Pwi Dua, who attempts to capture her, but she is saved at the last minute by a mysterious Masked Warrior.

Awaking on the island of Ieji Sinöe, Tchia meets with its guardian, Kavere. There Kavere reveals that Tchia's father and missing mother were the king and queen of the islands and that they had a son and daughter with soul-jumping powers. Pwi Dua, afraid of these powers, turned the people against them and performed a coup with Meavora. Joxu managed to save Tchia and went into hiding with her. Tchia, worried that Meavora will go after Louise, leaves Ieji Sinöe to go warn her. However, she discovers that Louise, Gaby, and the Hunahmi Chief have all been captured. Tchia shuts down Meavora's fabric factories to try and save them, but Pwi Dua traps them and her father inside one and sets off a bomb, killing him, Gaby, and the Huahmi Chief. Once again, Tchia is saved by the Masked Warrior, who brings her back to Uma. There the warrior reveals she is Heia, Tchia's mother, and the two bury Joxu.

The next day they go back to Ieji Sinöe, where Kavere tells the other half of her story. While Tchia got away, Pwi Dua captured her baby brother Makanu and fed him to Meavora, giving him his powers. Kavere saved Heia and trained her to become the Masked Warrior so she could get revenge. Kavere gives them an artifact that can revert Meavora into his original form of a worm and Tchia and Heia go back to Ga Ngazo. While there, Tchia offers her life in exchange for Tre, and Meavora agrees and consumes Tchia. Inside his stomach, Tchia discovers that both Louise and Makanu are still alive. She uses the artifact to stop his heart and forces Meavora to vomit up all the consumed children before turning back into a worm, at which point Heia kills him. Outraged, Pwi Dua mortally wounds Makanu before escaping. Tre reveals that he has healing powers, and brings Makanu back to life in exchange for his own.

Afterward, Heia is once again made queen of the island, and begins to raise her kids. Funerals are held for the characters that died. An orphanage is built on Tchia's old home in Uma, which Kavere leaves Ieji Sinöe to run. Louise is adopted by Kavere, and she and Tchia continue their relationship.

In a post-credits scene, it's revealed that the woman telling the story is an older Louise. Her and Tchia are still together in their old age, and now run the orphanage together.

Development

The team travelled to the island of Lifou, New Caledonia to conduct research and recruit voice talents. Lifou falaises Xodre.JPG
The team travelled to the island of Lifou, New Caledonia to conduct research and recruit voice talents.

Tchia was developed by a team of 12 people in Awaceb, an independent game studio based in Montreal. [8] The setting is fictional; it was heavily inspired by New Caledonia, a Pacific nation within the French Republic where the founders of Aweceb, Thierry Boura and Phil Crifo, grew up. In particular, Kanak culture was a major source of inspiration for the team. One of the goals for the studio was to "show what it was like exploring New Caledonia" when the two were still kids. Most members of the studio travelled to Lifou for two weeks to conduct research, as well as showing a demo to the indigenous population. [9] Similar to the natives in New Caledonia, the characters speak French and Drehu; as there were no professional voice actors who spoke Drehu, the studio had a difficult time recruiting people to record lines for the game. [9] The character of Tchia was described to be "curious" and "a bit naïve". As she slowly explores the world, she gradually meets different non-playable characters and helps resolve their conflicts, breaking down the wall between different communities. The soul-jumping ability was inspired by New Caledonia's folklore about shapeshifting. [6]

The team received funding from Kowloon Nights in August 2019 for the development of Tchia, then known as "Project Caillou". [10] It was co-published by Kepler Interactive, a publishing label jointly operated by several independent game developers including Awaceb. [11] Tchia uses the Unreal Engine. [12] It was announced during The Game Awards 2020. [13] The game was originally set to be released in 2022; it was delayed to 2023. Tchia was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on March 21, 2023. [14] Maximum Games released the game's physical version for PS4 and PS5 on July 18, 2023. [15] [16] The Windows release was as a one year timed exclusive for the Epic Games Store and released afterwards on Steam. [17] It is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch on June 27, 2024. [18] [19]

Reception

Tchia received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [20] [21] By May 2023, over 1 million copies have been sold. [31]

PC Gamer called the title, "one of the best open world games to come along in ages" and said it takes place in "an enchanting world filled with adventure, excitement, beauty, physics-driven fun, and lots of charming characters". [28] Game Informer said it "drips with joyful, explorative fun" and has a sandbox world that is "rewarding at just about every turn". [25] GamesRadar+ wrote that Tchia is a "delightful, inventive adventure" and praised the soul-jumping mechanic, which they said is "inventive and enjoyable". [26]

Destructoid criticized the combat for not evolving over the course of the game, "The issue is, as much fun as I have with the combat, it doesn't change". [22] Polygon praised how the game's map did not directly show the player's location, "Tchia's map reinforces the game's focus on exploration; don't run straight from task to task. Take some time to look around". [32] NPR liked the protagonist's ability to possess creatures, feeling it gave the player freedom to experiment, "they make traversing the colorful and vibrant world a true joy". [33]

Edge enjoyed the protagonist's boat, writing that exploring the archipelago on it was a joy, "Some of Tchia's standout moments involve your catamaran, as you scud across shimmering waves toward the sunset or weave your way along twisting rivers". [34] Eurogamer praised the darker nature of Tchia's storyline, "You're dealing with things that really matter, and working through a storyline that is not afraid to lurch from one horror to the next". [35] Rock Paper Shotgun liked the Caledonian influences present in the title, "New Caledonian culture, folklore, and traditions are stamped all over Tchia". [36]

Related Research Articles

<i>Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga</i> 2003 video game

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a 2003 role-playing game developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It was re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2014, Nintendo Switch Online Service in 2023, and remade for the Nintendo 3DS as Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions in 2017. In the game, Mario and Luigi travel to the Beanbean Kingdom in order to combat Cackletta and Fawful, who stole Princess Peach's voice for the purpose of harnessing the power of a special artifact called the Beanstar.

<i>Bleach</i> (manga) Japanese manga series by Tite Kubo

Bleach is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. It follows the adventures of a teenager Ichigo Kurosaki, who obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper—a death personification similar to a Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki. His new-found powers allow him to take on the duties of defending humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife, and set him on journeys to various ghostly realms of existence.

<i>Crystar</i> 2018 video game

Crystar is an action role-playing game developed by Gemdrops and published by FuRyu. The game was released for PlayStation 4 in October 2018 in Japan, and internationally by Spike Chunsoft in August 2019 with an additional Microsoft Windows version. A port for the Nintendo Switch was released in Japan in February 2022, and worldwide by NIS America later that year.

<i>Persona 5</i> 2016 video game

Persona 5 is a 2016 role-playing video game developed by P-Studio and published by Atlus. The game is the sixth installment in the Persona series, itself a part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise. It was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2016 and worldwide in April 2017. It was published by Atlus in Japan and North America, and by Deep Silver in PAL territories. An enhanced version featuring new content, Persona 5 Royal, was released for PlayStation 4 in Japan in October 2019 and worldwide in March 2020. It was published by Atlus in Japan and worldwide by its parent company Sega. Persona 5 Royal was later released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in October 2022.

<i>Beyond: Two Souls</i> 2013 video game

Beyond: Two Souls is an action-adventure game developed by Quantic Dream and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released on 8 October 2013 for PlayStation 3 and for PlayStation 4 on 24 November 2015. A Windows port self-published by Quantic Dream was released on 22 July 2019.

<i>Deception IV: Blood Ties</i> 2014 video game

Deception IV: Blood Ties, known in Japan as Kagero: Dark Side Princess, is a strategy game for the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 by Tecmo Koei, and a sequel to Kagero II: Dark Illusion within the Deception series. The game was released in 2014 for Japan on 27 February, and the western localization of the game was released in North America on 25 March and Europe on 28 March.

<i>Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart</i> 2014 video game

Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart is a 2014 tactical role-playing game developed by Compile Heart and Sting Entertainment. The game is a spin-off title of the Hyperdimension Neptunia game series featuring Noire as the main character. The game was released in Japan on May 29, 2014, and in North America and Europe in February 2015. It was originally a PlayStation Vita exclusive. A port for Microsoft Windows was released on April 26, 2016.

<i>Tekken 7</i> 2015 fighting game by Bandai Namco Entertainment

Tekken 7 is a fighting game developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is the seventh main and ninth overall installment in the Tekken series, and is the first in that series to be released for PC. Tekken 7 was released to arcades in March 2015. An updated arcade version, Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, was released in July 2016, and features expanded content including new stages, costumes, items and characters. The home versions released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in June 2017 were based on Fated Retribution.

<i>Nights of Azure</i> 2015 video game

Nights of Azure is a 2015 action role-playing video game developed by Gust and published by Koei Tecmo for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Microsoft Windows. The PlayStation 4 version received a North American release on March 29, 2016, with a European release following on April 1, 2016, and a Microsoft Windows release on February 7, 2017.

<i>Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony</i> 2017 visual novel

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a visual novel developed and published by Spike Chunsoft. The game was released in Japan in January 2017 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, and in North America and Europe by NIS America in September 2017. A Windows version was released worldwide on the same date. An enhanced version of V3 with the subtitle Anniversary Edition was released for Nintendo Switch in Japan in November 2021, and worldwide in December 2021. This improved version was also released for Android and iOS in April 2022, and for Windows 10 and Xbox One in September 2022.

<i>Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom</i> 2018 video game

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an action role-playing game developed by Level-5 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is a sequel to Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, and was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows on March 23, 2018. The game was later released for the Nintendo Switch on September 17, 2021, and for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on March 21, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dua Lipa</span> English and Albanian singer and songwriter (born 1995)

Dua Lipa is an English and Albanian singer and songwriter. Her voice and disco-influenced production have received critical acclaim and media coverage. She has won numerous accolades throughout her career including seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards. Time Magazine named her one of the most influental people in the world as of 2024.

<i>Five Nights at Freddys: Sister Location</i> 2016 video game

Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location is a 2016 point-and-click survival horror video game developed and published by Scott Cawthon. It is the fifth main installment in the Five Nights at Freddy's series and the sixth game overall. It was released on Steam on October 7, 2016. Ports have also been released for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

<i>Darksiders III</i> 2018 video game

Darksiders III is a 2018 action role-playing game developed by Gunfire Games and published by THQ Nordic. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in November 2018. A Stadia version and Nintendo Switch port released in September 2021. It is the third entry in the Darksiders series.

<i>Granblue Fantasy: Relink</i> 2024 video game

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a 2024 action role-playing game developed and published by Cygames. The game was released as part of the Granblue Fantasy franchise for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows. It received positive reviews from critics and shipped a million copies within two weeks of release.

In the video game industry, 2021 saw the release of many new titles. The numerous delays in software and hardware releases due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted development schedules, leading to several games being delayed into 2022 or even postponed indefinitely. Additionally, computer and console hardware were impacted by the combined effects of a semiconductor shortage and a rising growth of bitcoin mining that strained the supply of critical components.

Brianna Coda is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Cora Jade, but is currently inactive due to a torn ACL. She is a former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion.

References

  1. ↑ "Tchia (Original Soundtrack), by John Robert Matz". Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Valentine, Rebekah (August 31, 2022). "Tchia Preview: Sea, Sky, and Sandbox". IGN . Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  3. 1 2 West, Josh (January 7, 2023). "Tchia is a deep breath of fresh air at a time when we need it most". GamesRadar . Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ Zhang, Jenny (September 1, 2022). "Tchia Gameplay Walkthrough Shows Off Glider And Soul Jumping". GameSpot . Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ Romano, Sal (January 18, 2023). "Tchia details soul-jumping, ukulele, exploration, and more". Gematsu. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Miller, Matt (November 24, 2022). "Hidden Treasure - The Making Of Tchia". Game Informer . Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ Silva, Marty (January 22, 2023). "Tchia Taps into Breath of the Wild & Wind Waker's Sense of Exploration – Preview". The Escapist . Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "LinkedIn page of Awaceb". Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Batchelor, James (January 16, 2023). "Game Changers: Marilou Lopez-Aguilera". Gameindustry.biz . Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (August 27, 2019). "Investment fund Kowloon Nights signs 10 more games in its second year". Polygon . Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ Saed, Sherif (June 13, 2022). "A44 on the strength of game publishing co-op, Kepler Interactive: "If Kepler does better, we all do better"". VG247 . Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  12. ↑ Thang, Jimmy (April 2, 2022). "Tchia is a beautiful, ambitious undertaking from a small indie studio". Unreal Engine . Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  13. ↑ Tack, Daniel (December 10, 2020). "Tropical Exploration Game Tchia Announced". Game Informer . Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  14. ↑ Benfell, Grace (February 23, 2023). "Colorful Platformer Tchia Is Coming To PlayStation Plus Extra And Premium On Day One". GameSpot . Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ Moyse, Chris (May 6, 2023). "Tchia hits one million sales, physical edition coming in July". Destructoid . Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Tchia tops one million players in six weeks, physical edition launches July 18". Gematsu. May 3, 2023. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  17. ↑ Call, Allison (March 2, 2023). "Tchia Is An Epic Games Store Exclusive On PC". Game Rant. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Tchia coming to Switch this summer, Steam version now available". Gematsu. March 21, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Tchia for Switch launches June 27". Gematsu. April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "Tchia for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Tchia for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  22. 1 2 Andriessen, CJ (March 20, 2023). "Review: Tchia". Destructoid . Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  23. ↑ Franzese, Toma (March 20, 2023). "Tchia review: beautiful open-world indie is a new coming-of-age classic". Digital Trends . Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  24. ↑ Bloodworth, Daniel (March 21, 2023). "Review: Tchia". Easy Allies . Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Hilliard, Kyle (March 20, 2023). "Tchia Review - Simply Transformative Fun". Game Informer . Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  26. 1 2 Wald, Heather (March 20, 2023). "Tchia review: 'Awaceb delivers a delightful, inventive adventure'". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  27. ↑ LeClair, Kyle (March 20, 2023). "Review: Tchia". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  28. 1 2 Livingston, Christopher (March 20, 2023). "Tchia review". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  29. ↑ Sayers, Jade (March 20, 2023). "Tchia Review (PS5)". Push Square . Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  30. ↑ Erskine, Donovan (March 20, 2023). "Tchia review: A soulful journey". Shacknews . Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  31. ↑ Colp, Tyler (May 3, 2023). "Over 1M people have bought our favorite open world game of 2023 so far". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  32. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (March 20, 2023). "Tchia stands on the shoulders of Zelda — then leaps off". Polygon . Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  33. ↑ Mastromarino, James Perkins (March 31, 2023). "NPR staff review the biggest games of March, and more". NPR . Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Play: Tchia". Edge . p. 104.
  35. ↑ Donlan, Christian (March 21, 2023). "Tchia review - an archipelago of delights and horrors". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  36. ↑ Watts, Rachel (March 21, 2023). "Tchia review: a gorgeous open-world adventure bursting with heart". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.