Long time ago we met little black dwarf with red pointy cap in charming little adventure Shy Dwarf (Plachý trpaslík) by Jaromír Plachý. Nine years later the same designer introduces another black creature in pointy cap, but fluffier and definitely not shy! His name is Chuchel, has a big mouth and isn't afraid to use it - it's yelling and singing, jumping and running around and making faces like slapstick entertainer - and slapstick film is the genre which the game resembles a lot, it's crazy and funny comedy composed of sketches.
Amanita Design's CHUCHEL is not one big adventure like Machinarium, the storyline is very simple. Chuchel loves cherries, d̶e̶u̶s̶ manus ex machina tears his cherry from his mouth and frustrated Chuchel is trying to get it again and again...and repeatedly loses it, being followed or outrun by Kekel, who apparently loves cherries too and in their Tom and Jerry-like relationship is the smaller (and sneakier) one.
Hunt for the cherry has thirty very different levels - some are represented just by one screen where you click once or twice and then watch how it plays by itself; some are set-ups spread out over several screens. Background is basic in most of the levels, the main attention is focused on interaction with strange monsters which Chuchel and Kekel meet on their chase for beloved fruit. Genres are changing sharply, adventure-like puzzle level comes after physics-based level and suddenly you play retro game like Pac-Man (Chuchel-Man exactly) or Tetris. In levels where you may get stuck appears signpost with question mark and by clicking it you get a hint in pictures, so even kids who can't read yet understand what needs to be done - though unsuccessful tries are fun too!
The art and music are gorgeous, quite in Botanicula's whimsy style (no wonder - artist and musicians are the same), the game bursts with creativity and vivid imagination, and radiates joy of life. It takes just two or three hours to complete CHUCHEL- hours full of fun and amazement - and that's a lot!
The latest game by Amanita Design is a beautiful colorful toy and an adventure of senses. Pure delight of playing for $10.
P.S. It's definitely suitable for kids. They will love it!
Steam
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Mac OS X:
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GoG
Windows:
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Mac OS X:
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CHUCHEL is the winner of the 20th annual IGF Awards in category Excellence in Visual Art, here. Congratulations!
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