PC REVIEW|Asfalia: Fear

Point and Click games are so much fun, but when there is a decent story attached and a lot of heart, it can be elevated to more than just a simple game. Asfalia: Fear is the next chapter in the Asfalia series and we continue to follow the adventures of Charlie and his friend Lily (a little fireball) as they search for Charlies three puppies. The game has been fully voiced in both English and French and it makes a huge difference to it as the voices add a layer of depth to the game, the music is also really whimsical , giving you just the right feelings as you make your way through the adventure. Now this is not really a game for hardcore gamers looking for a huge challenge, rather it’s designed for children and families to work together and solve the puzzles and chat to the cute characters you can find within the game, all while trying to bring an end to a spooky shadow that is trying to take over the land of Asfalia. I remember playing games like this when I was a wee lad, things like Granny’s Garden and Return to Oz, I used to love making my way through them and I feel like there will be a lot of youngsters out there who will really enjoy this and perhaps even those who are young at heart as well. Oh and if you like collecting stickers you will find a fair few in this one and some of them are shiny!

Things I liked!

• Simplicity | The game is not difficult for adults but will prove to be a small challenge to younger players. The story itself is a fairly straightforward tale that doesn’t over complicate itself and there is a lot to discover along the way for those of you who want to delve deeper into the world of Asfalia.

• Characters | The characters are all really well thought out and I found myself having a chuckle at some of the names such as Kniferatu. Each character has a story to tell and all of it is compelling as you discover more about the Shadow that threatens the land of Asfalia. As you play the game talk to everyone and relax as the tales unfold.
  
• Voice Acting | This game is fully voice acted which is a refreshing change to a lot of games I have been playing recently. No AI Generated voice overs here, in fact I would say you could tell the enthusiasm of the voice artists through their work on the game and it was a joy to listen to. Hmmmm maybe I could audition for their next one.
  
• Graphics | More hand drawn 2D art please! I absolutely adore this style when it comes to point and click games. Keep them cartoony and beautiful I say. A lot of work was put into this game and it certainly shows, the world and the characters are all just gorgeous.

Mixed & disliked!

• Glitches | I faced a few glitches as I played through which caused me to have to turn the game off and on again. some scenes wouldn’t load straight away and other times dialogue boxes couldn’t be clicked. However I’m sure this could be fixed with patches in the near future and as the game saves itself regularly you won’t lose much progress.

• Mini Game | There is a side scrolling shoot-em-up as a mini game which I could not stop playing! I really wish the controls were a little better though, I want to click to shoot and have a bit more of a chance to avoid damage or maybe grab some health power ups ort something. I mean it’s not a bad mini game but I think it might be tricky for some of the younger players out there.

CONCLUSION

Score: 80/100 – A great game for young players who are just discovering the joys of lateral thinking puzzle games and for adults who want something to play alongside their kids. The story is clear and easily understood, the graphics are beautiful and if you want to just relax then let that inner child free to play an adventure that will take you back to your childhood as well. Oh and try not to get too lost in the mini game, it’s quite a time killer. All in all I would say I recommend this game and I can’t wait to see more from these developers.