I always commend people who successfully get a passion project off the ground using a crowdfunding company like Kickstarter. It comes with its own set of obstacles. Fortunately for lone developer, Christoph Schultz, he managed to get this little gem made. The game is called Cleo – a pirate’s tale and it’s a charming little point and click adventure that brought me back to the days playing PC games such as the Monkey Island series. Originally released on Steam late last year, Cleo has made her way on the Nintendo Switch, where it is probably the best way to experience. While the journey is unfortunately a short one, it’s at the very least an entertaining one and a “treasure” for the eyes.
In this top-down (sort of RPG) adventure you play as a young girl named Cleo, who is obsessed with the life of pirates and wants to explore the seas herself. After a bad storm that leaves her shipwrecked on an island, her quest to find the treasure of eternal memory begins. While the overall experience is brief, it manages to cram in a lot of charming dialogue and bring up really adult topics such as legacy, remembrance, and even death. The narrative is very clear yet doesn’t hold your hand like a child along the way. It’s always great to experience small games with a lot of love and passion oozing in every nook and cranny. Every character and item you pick up is purposeful and often has a payoff. The game of “Cleo” is much like the character herself where it welcomes the drive of adventure and exploration.
The biggest winner for me here is certainly its extremely simple but utterly charming pixel art design. While the characters are just a handful of pixels, they’re unique enough to leave a lasting impression. If the developer proved anything with this game (he proved a lot), it’s he knows how to create a very fun and approachable atmosphere. The gameplay is smartly simplistic in design, and even though you’re mostly just pointing and clicking around to finish quests, none of it feels like a chore because you’re already charmed by this little world.
The length of the game can be taken as a strength or as one of its few downfalls. While I do love experiencing these little slice of life games that don’t ask so much of your time and leave lasting impressions with you. A part of me couldn’t help but wish it was longer and even more fleshed out, because everything about it is set up so well. I understand this is as indie as a game could get and budget was absolutely a constraint, but that’s just how I feel. Some players may feel they got just the right amount and I wouldn’t argue against them. In the end, this title is only 15 bucks, which isn’t a lot, but with so many titles taking up people’s time, I worry customers will ask themselves if a game that will only require a couple hours of your time is worth that price or should it be lower? I think it’s a great price, because as I said, Cleo – a pirate’s tale did leave quite an impression. I am very happy with what Christoph Schultz pulled off and I’m excited for his future in the industry. I can only hope he can get some more financial backing and hire more help to realize his worlds.
8/10
Cleo – a pirate’s tale will be available for Nintendo Switch starting August 10th and will be available for $14.99 via the eShop.
Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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