Alex & Arty, developed by Barcelona-based RolldBox Games, launched on the “Steam” platform on September 16. The game is published by Jataí Games, and it is worth noting that this is the company’s first project as a publisher (ed. I thought that was the best way to translate “publisher,” dear readers.). After receiving a review key, I downloaded the game and started playing. To be honest, at first glance I thought it was an educational game for children about ecology, or one created to raise awareness. However, after starting the game, it became clear that ecology serves merely as a backdrop, while the main part is a fairly expansive adventure game.
The events of the game take place on the continent of Arcadia, on the planet Gladness. The corporation known as “Foundry K” exploited the planet’s resources to the last drop, and as a result, everything became covered in purple pollution. Alex, a space explorer, lands on the planet aboard a ship called “Talaria” together with pilot Solomon and scientist Dr. Dreyfus. Here, Alex meets a mysterious being named Arty, who can change shape, and the two begin cleaning up the planet together.
Gameplay
Before starting the game, you must choose one of three difficulty modes: story, exploration, or hard mode. Exploration mode is intended for those who want a more relaxed experience. However, some players on the “Steam” forums complain that they are still frequently attacked in this mode. According to the developers, enemies only activate when approached, so moving forward slowly and step by step is safer.
Polluted areas are presented in gray and hazy colors. Against this gray background, only the piles of purple and pink sludge emerging from the ground glow (ed. They have a slime-like shape.). In fact, this is a clever solution, because even without any markers on the screen, players can immediately see which areas need to be cleaned.
The game’s core mechanic is built around a system the developers call “reverse combat.” Alex uses a tool called the Ionizer to melt the pollution with a beam of light. The interesting part is that there are several types of pollution on the planet, and each one is cleaned with a different beam. There are eight types of Ionizer beams in total, which you gradually unlock throughout the game. You can also strengthen the tool through the upgrade tree.
Only Arty can eliminate the large piles of pollution. To do this, you need to clean the small purple creatures and collect enough light. In other words, Alex collects the light, while Arty uses it. The largest pollution stains disappear only during a regional cleanup event. After fully cleaning an area, it becomes safe, and hidden chests and notes are revealed.
However, the game does not explain this system clearly enough. I can even say that I became a little frustrated at the beginning and could not make sense of how cryptic it was. In the first few minutes, purple clouds attack, the Ionizer has no effect on the large pollution, and I did not fully understand what I was supposed to do. In the second part of the opening, the game provides too much information at once, making the early sections genuinely tiring. After several failed attempts, I realized that everything was related to Arty, and the game became much more interesting from then on. As someone who also develops games, I know that teaching players the rules is not easy. Still, I think the opening could have been structured a little more comfortably.
Regions and Arty’s Forms
When discussing the game’s strengths, the appearance of the cleansed areas deserves mention first. The game’s first region is a forest called Wildlands. After the pollution is cleared, the grass turns bright blue, while large red-spotted mushrooms appear on the ground. In this region, Arty transforms into a pink-furred creature called “Wolfyen.” To be honest, this scenery reminded me of the Ori games. Player reviews on “Steam” compare the game to Okami and the animated film “Princess Mononoke,” and the comparison is justified.
The Black Sea region combines a beach, ocean, and river delta. Most of the events take place underwater. Laboratories belonging to “Foundry K” are built into the rocks on the seafloor. In this region, Arty transforms into a turtle-like creature called “Turtlelyn.” You can also encounter local creatures known as Dilimals, such as the shark-like “Sharkeyn” and the crab-like “Crabeyn.”
The Thunder Mountains are completely different from the other regions. They feature lava waterfalls, poisonous lava rivers, and factories built on pillars over the lava. The word “Foundry” can be seen in one of the plazas. According to the story, the corporation rushed construction here to extract valuable metals from the volcano, destroying the entire region in the process.
After the pollution is cleared, plants with orange and pink leaves and purple bushes also grow in this region. The lava remains, but the surroundings come alive. I can say that this was the most memorable region for me. It gave me some “No Man`s Sky” vibes, at least visually.
Arty’s forms are not merely cosmetic; they form the basis of the game’s progression. In lizard form, you can climb walls, while butterfly form allows you to fly. However, you must fight bosses to obtain the strongest forms, such as the lizard and dragon forms. To strengthen Arty, you need to collect special resources called “Didalet,” scattered across the map. The game only mentions this briefly once or twice, so it is important to pay attention. It has a very significant impact on the overall gameplay, and if you are not careful enough, you may face serious problems against the bosses.
Movement, Abilities, and Hidden Details
Alex has a hoverboard for covering long distances. Moving around on it feels good, but because it is somewhat fast, controlling it in narrow areas can be difficult. You can also ride on the backs of some Dilimals.
The game’s central base is called Luther IV. It is a complex made up of laboratories and workshops hastily abandoned by “Foundry K.” You can reactivate and decorate this complex to your liking. The building system is completely freeform, and the game does not provide any premade plans. Drone collections found on the map unlock new building elements. It is worth noting that an update released one week after launch also added the ability to move and delete placed objects.
A small drone also accompanies Alex. The drone can send items you find to the base, but it also has a combat mode, which is never mentioned in the tutorial section. At least, I did not notice it there. The game contains many hidden details like this. For example, if you approach creatures quietly, you can pet them. There are also hidden spots on the map intended solely for taking photos, and these photos help complete the album.
Things I Didn’t Like
Although the game has an interesting overall concept, I encountered several issues that bothered me while playing.
The first problem concerns combat. Fights become repetitive after a while, and the screen becomes chaotic when several enemies attack at once. Sometimes a large pile of pollution stands in front of you, but there are no small creatures nearby from which to collect light, leaving you with no choice but to wait.
The second problem concerns navigation. Objectives do not always clearly indicate where you need to go. The developers deliberately minimized the on-screen interface, but this sometimes causes players to get lost. In addition, the text is very small, and there are no settings for changing its size or display speed.
There are also some technical shortcomings. The game does not support “Steam Cloud,” meaning you cannot transfer your save to another device. I think this is a major drawback because, if you enjoy switching between PC and handheld consoles like I do, that option is unavailable in this game. Some players report frame-rate drops during cutscenes and audio falling out of sync with the visuals. However, to be honest, although I did not play on a particularly powerful device, I did not experience this problem. The characters speak in a fictional language, similar to The Sims. Some people like this, while others do not. At the beginning of the game, I thought my sound system had malfunctioned and tried adjusting my headphone cable.
The music is one of the game’s strongest aspects. The soundtrack was written by Spanish composer Oscar Araujo. The combination of orchestral and electronic music effectively conveys the difference between polluted and cleansed areas. Naturally, you should not expect a masterpiece on the level of Expedition 33, because this game prioritizes different methods of immersing you in its atmosphere.
The game costs $18.99 globally. However, on the Azerbaijani Steam market, the price is approximately $5. There is also a $4.99 DLC, and the studio says that the revenue from this DLC is directed toward environmental projects. Unfortunately, the game does not support Azerbaijani or Turkish. However, the texts are simple, and players with an intermediate level of English will not have difficulty.
Conclusion
Alex & Arty is a game with beautiful visuals, a distinctive concept, and deeper mechanics than may be apparent at first glance. Its colorful regions, Arty’s forms, freeform building system, and hidden details make it interesting for players who enjoy exploration. On the other hand, the confusing opening, repetitive combat, weak navigation, and some technical shortcomings weaken the experience. The developers say they are collecting player feedback and preparing a major update. For now, those who enjoy calm, unhurried exploration games may want to take a look at Alex & Arty during a sale.
6.7/10
The review key was provided by Dare Consultoria.
6.7
Author’s rating