What do you get when you combine Pokemon, Palia, and Fortnite? You get Creatures of Ava.
This open-world exploration game whisks you away to the planet Ava, where you’ll embark on a quest to save its creatures from a deadly infection.
In this article, we’ll be giving a full review of the game and ranking it from decaf to fully caffeinated.
Prefer to watch the video version? Check it out here
Story
Crash-landing on the uncharted world of Ava, you’re immediately immersed in a visually stunning environment teeming with unique creatures.
Your journey begins in earnest when you encounter the Naam people, the planet’s indigenous inhabitants. The game unfolds through a series of quests, offering a diverse range of tasks from gathering items to uncovering lost relics.
Beyond the immediate gameplay, Creatures of Ava weaves a compelling narrative. As you strive to save Ava’s creatures and convince its people to join you, you’ll uncover the planet’s rich history, exploring abandoned human bases and the enigmatic Antari ruins.
The game skillfully intertwines gameplay and storytelling, creating a truly immersive experience. The intricate lore and world-building are captivating, making it easy to fall in love with Ava. For its exceptional storytelling, we award Creatures of Ava a Fully Caffeinated rating.
GAMEPLAY
At its core, Creatures of Ava is an exploration-driven game. You’ll traverse four expansive regions, each with its own distinct challenges and rewards.
You’ll have a camera you can take photos with to document different things to your Avapedia, and taking photos of the creatures, or different things in the game will give you more information about them too.
The game focuses on healing creatures affected by a condition called “withering”. Players use a magical staff to cure these creatures, which become aggressive when infected. To succeed, players must dodge attacks from the withered creatures and accurately target them with their staff to restore them to their original state.
Taming adorable creatures with a flute is a delightful aspect, and the ability to control tamed creatures through Ava vision adds strategic depth.
Players must balance exploration with careful movement to avoid taking damage from falls or environmental hazards. While death isn’t a severe setback, as players respawn without losing items, it does interrupt gameplay. To navigate the vast world efficiently, players can activate ancient teleporters. Crafting is essential for creating useful items like health and stamina potions, with additional crafting possibilities unlocked as the game progresses.
The world is filled with hidden secrets, including powerful artifacts and lore-rich locations that encourage exploration. The game’s emphasis on exploration and discovery is balanced with engaging mechanics, creating a satisfying gameplay loop.
For game play, we’re rating Creatures of Ava as Fully Caffeinated.
DESIGN
Creatures of Ava is a visual masterpiece. The game’s vibrant color palette, combined with the intricate design of creatures and environments, creates a truly stunning world.
The attention to detail is evident in every corner, from the charming village designs to the diverse landscapes.
The accompanying music and sound effects enhance the immersive experience, and the well-executed voice acting adds personality to the characters.
Creatures of Ava’s exceptional design earns it a Fully Caffeinated rating.
ORIGINALITY
Creatures of Ava is a masterful blend of familiar elements and innovative ideas.
While drawing inspiration from games like Palia for its exploration and crafting focus and Fortnite for its character movement, it carves a distinct identity.
The game’s creatures, reminiscent of Pokémon or Palworld, feel uniquely designed and the emphasis on taming rather than catching elevates the concept.
This skillful combination of influences results in a fresh and original experience.
Creatures of Ava is a prime example of how to build upon existing ideas to create something entirely new, earning it a Fully Caffeinated rating for originality.
THE FINAL BREW
Creatures of Ava is more than just a game; it’s a heartwarming journey filled with charm, wonder, and a powerful message about connection. The game’s ability to resonate with players of all types is a testament to its appeal.
We’ve ground the beans, weighed and pressed the grinds, and brewed this game down. Now it’s time for a taste test… Creatures of Ava is Fully Caffeinated.
Creatures of Ava is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass now. You can find more info here.
Until next time, stay caffeinated!
