Is there a fun game hidden here?
Aquaria has lot's of things going on. It looks beautiful and has a nice melancholic mood. It is also challenging and some what original. Game loans lot from Metroid type action and Ecco underwater adventure type games, but still manages to relay a unique feel.
Aquaria takes place underwater as the name implies. Protagonist is called Naija and she is a mermaid suffering from amnesia. Story is scarcely told with a narrative triggered by certain locations and things found in the underwater caves. The told story is interesting and well written, but unfortunately there is not lot of it or it is too far and between. Too often it is not clear where to go to. So you end using most of time exploring and stumbling to a things. There is some backtracking as well which does not make this easier.
occasionally get's even to a light SHMUP bullet hell level. This of course adds good amount of challenge to the game.
Aquaria is a PC game which requires both keyboard and mouse to be used for controls. Xbox controller can be used as well which probably would have worked better. Biggest gripe with the controls I had was with the Singing radial menu. This opened with right mouse button and the songs are sung by using a combination of notes from 8 available. During a action packed boss figh where forms need to be changed on the fly while dodging god knows what. This not feel to intuitive and makes the action proper struggle. I understand if quick-keys would have been used this would have taken a way from the general artsy atmosphere.
Aquaria is presented similar fine art fashion as Braid is. And as with Braid the presentation and story itself is not enough to make this a fun game. Confusing level design and the strange controls puts me off too much for this game to be enjoyable.
