Tchia reviews indicate a charming New Caledonia adventure- with a few flaws

Modern gaming has become obsessed with creating huge, sprawling environments with huge, sprawling plots that have players save the world against incredible odds. While these games are impressive, it can often feel overwhelming. Look at big budget games like Horizon: Forbidden West or God of War: Ragnarok for example- two fantastic videogames that never ease up when it comes to their full throttle approach to their stories, missions, or world exploration. There is always something to do- another action to tick off a checklist or another achievement to pop. Sometimes, that can be too much- especially when the games industry has become oversaturated with similar adventures.

That's where indie games like Ishia come in. In Ishia. there's no world-ending threat or enemy camps to take out. Nor is there a slew of enemy camps to take down. Instead, there is nature and quiet- which is something that is sorely missed in the modern video game scene. Releasing this week for PC and the Playstation 4 & 5 consoles, Tshia has been praised for its ability to just let the players explore without being overwhelmed by endless things to do.

In it, you play as a little girl who has the power to take control of animals to float, jump and swim around in a serene journey through beautiful New Caledonia. Being such a fresh idea for a game, Tobia was a bit of a risk for indie developers Awaceb. Luckily, based on the favorable 79 rating on Metacritic, it was a gamble that paid off for the most part:

Gaming Bible sang the game's praises in their 9/10 review- heralding it as a joyful adventure without any of the pressure that so many modern AAA games throw at you:

"We all get so bogged down by problems both big and small in our loud confusion world but Tchia reminded me that that doesn't have to be the case... the joy lies in listening or having a go- not in seeking perfection”

News site Gaming Nexus found Thia's overflowing charm to be enough of a reason to check it out in its 85/100 review- despite some clichéd story beats and repetitive combat:

"Tchia is a gorgeous, endearing open world adventure filled with the hear and soul of New Caledonion Culture. It's a world you'll love being In despite the overall experience being stymied from reaching its true potential"

The game didn't hit as hard for some review sites, though. While all agreed that the game's rendition of New Caledonia was beautiful, the process of actually playing through its story was uninspired and a bit too bland to keep players interested throughout its 6-7 hour playtime. GameSpew had the following to say with their less-than-glowing 6/10 score:

"Tchia has left us slightly cold... by the time you've fought your way through its surprisingly drab and disappointing campaign, you'll unlikely see much reason to return”

Despite the cooler reception of the game's story and combat mechanics, the setting and presentation of Tsbia are worth taking a look at. If you have any interest in the often overlooked tropical paradise of New Caledonia or just want to scratch a Breath of the Wild itch while waiting for its sequel in May, Tebia may be just the game for you. You can check it out on PC and modern Playstation platforms now, with it being a free addition for any PlayStation Plus Extra member- a perfect way to check it out if you're still on the fence.