I talked about Botanicula recently, on the Indie Munch column. On that occasion, I played the game only briefly, in order to write a preview. Many times, I never go back to finish the games I preview, depending on whether I liked them, or whether I think they have anything more to offer. In this case, though, I knew right away that I would probably follow Botanicula to completion. And I’m glad I did!

Having played most of Amanita Design’s games before, my expectations for Botanicula were set high. Thanks largely to those guys, point-and-clicks have won me over. In fact, Machinarium (their previous game) has turned into one of my all-time favorite games. Nevertheless, I’m cautious when it comes to anticipating things, in order to avoid disappointment and to keep a level head when assessing the game’s quality.

So to me, Botanicula was like that really cute girl sitting opposite you on the subway. She looks gorgeous, but you approach her with skepticism, trying not get your hopes up too much. You strike up a conversation, and she turns out to be really nice. “Surely this is too good to be true,” you think to yourself. “I call shenanigans!” But you hit it off. After a couple of dates, you’re enthralled.

Despite my initial trepidation, the game put my doubts to shame, one after another. It’s like it was telling me, “why do you doubt me? I really am that good!” And well… it is! So let’s start actually talking about it already.

The game takes place, as the title suggests, in a botanical-looking universe. You control five tiny plant-like creatures (almost microscopic), traversing a world packed with many other species of fictitious plants and insects. Botanicula is a fascinating microcosmos, full of surprises around every corner. A very nice detail, for example, is how a lot of objects in the background react to you, even if they’re not relevant to the gameplay. This sort of dynamic background makes the world come alive! Indeed, you truly feel like you’re leading your characters across the surface of a very complex, lively ecosystem.

The atmosphere is crafted so carefully and with such delightful attention to detail, it’s mesmerizing. Whenever I got stuck with a puzzle, I was perfectly contented with taking as long as necessary to progress. The feeling of wanting to rush so common to many games was simply not present. The soundtrack, by Czech band DVA, is well suited to the art style of the game, and helps to engage the player. Also, much like the brilliant work Tomáš Dvořák (aka Floex) did for Machinarium, the music of Botanicula stands alone and is a treat to listen to on its own, which is rare in video game music.

Then there’s the gameplay. When done right, point-and-clicking can make for a very smooth gaming experience, and Botanicula stands as a testament to that. As you guide your little pals about their shenanigans (yes, I like that word), clicking to where you want them to go or on the objects you want them to interact with, the experience is seamless. This is amplified by the clever design of all the different tasks and puzzles, which are varied enough to never get old. Some include collecting strange objects found in unsuspected places, which you later need to figure out what to use for. Some involve interacting with other beings, whether to help them, evade them, or something else entirely.

I like to imagine that playing Botanicula is not dissimilar to hang gliding. You ride the wind effortlessly, with total abandon, as you contemplate the landscape before you (of course, I know nothing about hang gliding whatsoever, so it might not be like that at all, but you get the picture!). It’s no coincidence that someone who used the word “contemplative” in their blog title would also happen to enjoy Botanicula.

In contrast, Machinarium is less smooth in this sense, because of its difficulty (when a game incorporates its own walkthrough, you know it’s going to be tough!) Both games are very similar, but this is a key difference. The two styles have a lot going for them, and I don’t really prefer any one to the other. They’re just different experiences.

I don’t have much more to say about the game, so I’ll leave you with another screenshot. One closing thought, though: Botanicula embodies everything I love about good indie games. Simple, concise, cohesive. The smaller the team working on a game, the easier it is to maintain a unified, compact vision. When done right, indie games are true little gems.

fusionchamberlain likes slippery handrails, Pink Floyd and games that make you think. When he encounters such games, he usually writes about them here.