Deliver parcels to the most curious of people on an island you can’t leave in Courier Tale.
This pixel art adventure game sees you take on a new job as a courier, but you’ll soon discover there’s more to this job than meets the eye.
In this article, we’ll be giving a full review of the game and ranking it from decaf to fully caffeinated.
Story
The game’s narrative unfolds in a quaint, pixelated town brimming with colorful characters and hidden secrets. As a newly hired courier for T.A.L.E. Couriers, you’ll find yourself at the heart of the town’s daily life. Your mission is simple: deliver packages to their intended recipients. However, as you navigate the town’s winding streets and bustling marketplaces, you’ll soon discover that there’s more to this seemingly mundane task than meets the eye.
Along the way, you’ll encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique personalities and stories. There’s definitely a ton of humour in this game, that makes each encounter with the different character’s interesting and funny. I particularly loved the various pop culture references scattered throughout the game (caravan for shady business anyone?) and enjoyed each interaction.
The story in this game is quirky and intriguing. Leading you on a journey to uncover what on earth is happening on these islands, and why people are – well the way they are.
While the game’s story is relatively straightforward, it’s filled with charm and humor. The characters are well-written and relatable, and the world is full of surprises. As you progress through the game, you’ll find yourself becoming increasingly invested in the lives of the townspeople and the mysteries that surround them.
So, for story, I’m rating Courier Tale as Buzzed.
GAMEPLAY
Courier Tale offers a relaxed and enjoyable gameplay experience that’s perfect for those looking for a casual and interesting adventure. While the game’s core mechanic is simple – delivering packages from one location to another – there’s plenty to explore and discover along the way.
Starting out on your Courier journey, you’ll have different jobs to choose from, and it doesn’t actually matter which order you do them in. You’ll have a different package to deliver for each job, but some will require a bit more creative thinking to obtain the package in the first place.
Courier Tale definitely has a good mix of simple deliveries and multi-step, more complex ones, giving you a bit of variety in the gameplay.
I will say, that a lot of the game play does consist of walking around and exploring the town, which isn’t awful, but without a map to help you navigate, you can find yourself walking around aimlessly at times.
It can also feel quite tedious, as many of the deliveries require you to go back and forth between locations multiple times, which isn’t overly necessary.
That being said, if you love a good walking simulation type exploration game, this is definitely a great pick. It’s got a slower, more go at your own pace feel, and while the game play is pretty simple, it’s executed pretty well.
So, for gameplay, I’m rating Courier Tale as Kinda Kicks.
DESIGN
Courier Tale has a cool retro pixel art style, that is colourful and fun.
The combination of grey scale elements with the pops of colour is a really cool effect, and definitely brings me back to the game boy days.
The soundtrack sets a great atmosphere, adding to the whole game aesthetic, and creating a cool world to explore. I’m a big fan of a Lo-Fi soundscape, and Courier Tale definitely delivers a great one.
This is a game that nails the retro feel, whilst still feeling new.
So, for design, I’m rating Courier Tale as Fully Caffeinated.
ORIGINALITY
Courier Tale doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to the table in terms of game play, or even design elements, but the story definitely sets the game apart.
Exploring a janky world full of interesting – people – and uncovering different aspects of this world is fun and interesting. It’s definitely got an intriguing element that draws you in, and with a shorter play time and multiple endings, it’s definitely a game that has a lot of spunk to it.
So, for originality, I’m rating Courier Tale as Buzzed.
THE FINAL BREW
Courier Tale is a short but sweet narrative adventure game, with a decent dose of exploration. The story is one full of intrigue and the dialogue is funny and interesting. If you love a good exploration game, it’s definitely one to add to your wishlist.
We’ve ground the beans, weighed and pressed the grinds, and brewed this game down. Now it’s time for a taste test… Courier Tale is Buzzed!
Courier Tale is available on Steam now. You can check it out here.
Until next time, stay caffeinated!
