Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- June 10, 2021
- Finji
- 17h median play time
Chicory: A Colorful Tale Review – Color Us Impressed
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Get on PS Store"Chicory: A Colorful Tale" is a top-down adventure game where you can draw on anything in a coloring book world. As Chicory's biggest fan, you must wield the Brush and restore color to the land after the superstar artist goes missing. The game features puzzle-solving, new paint abilities, character customization, and local co-op play, with a focus on exploration and creativity in the Picnic Province.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Cloud
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Charming and heartfelt story that explores themes of creativity, self-doubt, and mental health.
- Unique gameplay mechanic that allows players to paint the world, making it feel personal and engaging.
- Beautiful art style and an incredible soundtrack by Lena Raine that enhances the overall experience.
- Some players found the boss fights to be too easy and lacking challenge.
- Limited color palettes in each area can feel restrictive and may frustrate some players.
- A few minor bugs and glitches were reported, affecting gameplay experience.
- story813 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Chicory: A Colorful Tale" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, exploring themes of self-doubt, mental health, and the creative process through a charming narrative filled with relatable characters. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance lightheartedness with serious topics, creating a heartfelt experience that encourages personal reflection and artistic expression. The integration of gameplay mechanics with storytelling enhances the overall experience, making it a memorable journey for those who engage with its world and characters.
“The story is delightful and simple with that overarching darkness that jumps right in your face to spook you when you least expect it.”
“The story does a good job of fleshing out its world and building mystery while also making the characters believable people with genuine worries and feelings.”
“The story is so, so special to me, I dare not spoil it, but it has beautiful commentary on self-worth, helping others, and paving a path for yourself free of pre-established expectations.”
“The story has many concepts and ideas that aren't explored thoroughly, and a story that's riddled with clumsy narrative and writing choices.”
“The plot is not super complicated, but keeps you interested through all its run.”
“The story focuses on getting over self-doubt and the dialogue is particularly good at making characters feel real and relatable.”
- music562 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Chicory: A Colorful Tale," composed by Lena Raine, is widely praised for its exceptional quality and emotional depth, enhancing the game's charming narrative and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to adapt to different environments and situations, creating a rich auditory experience that complements the game's themes of creativity and self-discovery. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many players expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game.
“The soundtrack absolutely rules.”
“The music is fantastic and I sometimes just sit around to listen to it, especially during dinners.”
“Lena Raine lends an incredible soundtrack to this game about bringing color to a colorless world.”
“I really thought this game would be amazing for me from what I heard/saw from the adverts and I watched an entire playthrough, but I really just don't like it; also, I would never be able to play a game with no music....”
“After finishing it, I'm confused what part of this game really stood out to everyone raving about it, because there isn't really that much to like about it (besides the music, but I mean it's hard to go wrong with Lena Raine).”
“I was mixed about it at first, but I grew around to liking the soundtrack a lot more as I kept playing despite my gameplay/story tires.”
- gameplay481 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Chicory: A Colorful Tale" is characterized by its unique painting mechanic, which serves as both a core gameplay element and a means of storytelling, allowing players to creatively interact with the world. While the mechanics are generally simple and accessible, they evolve throughout the game, introducing new challenges and puzzles that keep the experience engaging. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its charm and creativity, though some players note that it can become repetitive or lacks depth in certain areas.
“I love how the painting actually serves as a game mechanic, and how new mechanics are added over time.”
“The gameplay is fun and inventive, allowing for a lot of freedom and creativity.”
“The puzzles are interesting and creative, and there is an impressive amount of gameplay variety with the different implementations of the painting mechanics.”
“The gameplay is a tedious mess filled with boring puzzles, artificial game lengtheners, and a painting mechanic that discourages you rather than inspires you due to how limiting it is.”
“The gameplay isn't all that interesting during them, and I believe there's an accessibility option to disable them entirely, but they're worth experiencing for the music and visual spectacle alone.”
“The gameplay is rather simple, with some basic puzzle solving and light bullet hell boss fights, but it constantly just feels good to play!”
- emotional312 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing that it made them cry multiple times due to its heartfelt storytelling and relatable themes surrounding creativity, mental health, and self-worth. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance lightheartedness with deep emotional moments, creating a touching experience that resonates with players on a personal level. Overall, it is described as a beautifully crafted journey that evokes a wide range of emotions, making it a standout title for those seeking a meaningful gaming experience.
“It made me feel a lot of different emotions and had me thinking deeply about myself.”
“A heartfelt journey through the highs and lows of loneliness and friendship.”
“This game is a beautifully written work, very emotional, and full of heart while also having some insightful commentary on the art world, artists and art in general.”
- graphics140 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which enhances the overall experience and complements the gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the vibrant, hand-drawn visuals that evoke a sense of childlike joy, while the integration of a coloring mechanic adds a unique layer to the aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful, immersive, and integral to the storytelling, making them one of the game's standout features.
“The art style is gorgeous and unique.”
“Every frame felt like a carefully crafted piece of artwork.”
“The graphics and visuals are incredibly cute, the puzzling is interesting without being difficult, and the story, while a bit text-heavy and heavy-handed at times, is ultimately sweet, funny, and much more poignant than I'd expected.”
“However, this kind of aesthetic often makes it difficult to make things out in the environment, so there were several places where I got lost or couldn't see where I was supposed to go next just because it wasn't clear on the screen, which is frustrating.”
“Though the art style is quite cute in a certain way, I wasn't able to like it really.”
“While the graphics are charming, I found the lack of graphical options and higher fidelity features like anti-aliasing to be a missed opportunity.”
- humor78 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, blending lighthearted moments with deeper emotional themes. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, funny character interactions, and humorous mechanics, which enhance the overall experience while addressing serious topics like depression and self-doubt. The balance of humor and poignant storytelling creates a unique and engaging atmosphere that resonates with players.
“This absolute gem of a game is full of interesting puzzles, funny and relatable characters, and a heartfelt story.”
“The characters are charming and funny, the story is poignant, and the mechanics are interesting and fun.”
“The writing ranges from humorous to tear-jerking, and does so in such a way that feels natural without relying on being super blunt.”
- character development22 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its depth and uniqueness, with many reviewers praising the distinct personalities and designs of each character, which enhance the overall experience. While some players feel that the main character's development could be stronger, the writing and world-building are often highlighted as exceptional, contributing to a rich narrative. Overall, the combination of adorable character design and engaging storytelling creates a memorable and immersive atmosphere.
“The plotline and character development are surprisingly deep.”
“The astounding character development seen in this game is unlike any other I have seen before, and the world-building is top-notch.”
“Just like Greg Lobanov's first big game (Wandersong), this one contains extremely good writing and character development.”
“While I did enjoy the game, the problem with it is the fact that the character development, especially with the main character, just does not hit.”
“The game is too eager to get into the feely dialogue that it skips out on prior character development necessary to shape those characters and give them personality.”
“I can't do the character development and interpersonal relationships of the characters justice in a review anyway, so you're best off experiencing it for yourself.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming, cozy, and immersive qualities, enhanced by hand-drawn visuals and a delightful soundtrack. Players appreciate the intricate world design that invites exploration and interaction, creating a warm and supportive environment despite the presence of heavier themes. Overall, the game successfully balances light-heartedness with emotional depth, making it a captivating experience for those who enjoy story-driven, atmospheric gameplay.
“The atmosphere of the game is fantastic; I always went to hear what the NPCs have to say, and it really gives the world life.”
“It’s a fantastic game to just be in, and every part of the design supports that warm, wonderful atmosphere.”
“This game has an overall charming atmosphere with a cute art style, colorful characters, and an intriguing story.”
“Also, the 'other side' of the story is really well made by elements of design and by the music, so it creates a heavy atmosphere (sometimes a bit much but that's how it's supposed to be, and it's never too uneasy).”
“It’s nothing too bad, and there’s a very positive atmosphere that seems to permeate every pore of the world!”
“They are extremely creative, their atmosphere is done very well.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious, particularly in relation to the painting and exploration mechanics, which can feel monotonous and overly time-consuming. While some players find the art classes and collectibles rewarding, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the limitations of the painting tools. However, there are tools and options available that can alleviate some of the tedium, making the experience more enjoyable for those willing to engage with them.
“While charming and light in nature, the gameplay loop is tedious to the point of monotony.”
“The gameplay is a tedious mess filled with boring puzzles, artificial game lengtheners, and a painting mechanic that discourages you rather than inspires you due to how limiting it is.”
“Of course it's not perfect - coloring in every screen on the map is tedious (you don't have to do it, but it's awfully satisfying if you do!) the jumping ability is buggy, and I've heard reports of other, more problematic bugs, especially on consoles.”
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting minor glitches and bugs, particularly with specific abilities and mechanics, while others experienced smooth gameplay with no issues. Overall, while there are occasional performance hiccups, many still find the game enjoyable and worth playing despite these imperfections.
“No glitches and smooth controls.”
“The game runs flawlessly without any crashes.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or stutters.”
“Performance-wise, the game can be a little buggy (both visually and mechanically) and laggy.”
“I experienced several small glitches throughout the game, especially with a certain ability obtained.”
“Controlling the painting mechanic felt buggy and inaccurate and not really intuitive, which could get a bit frustrating.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many users noting that the coloring mechanics and varied post-game content, including side quests and dialogue, enhance the experience. While some feel that simply changing colors may not significantly alter gameplay, others appreciate the diverse outcomes and engaging story that encourage multiple playthroughs.
“It's also very replayable, as the map will be different colors and textures, as well as your character.”
“🔲 Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“Of course, replayability is at the very top of the list of pros… because the whole game is a coloring book, not to mention there’s tons of post-game dialogue to go and experience, and all of those fun side quests to finish.”
“I'm not sure at this stage about any significant replayability - while you could replay the game and just paint differently, I'm not sure how much difference it will make to the game overall.”
“Of course, replayability is at the very top of the list of pros… because the whole game is a coloring book, not to mention there’s tons of post-game dialogue to go and experience, and all of those fun side-quests to finish.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for being somewhat buggy, with issues affecting both visual and mechanical performance, leading to occasional lag.
“Performance-wise, the game can be a little buggy (both visually and mechanically) and laggy.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I often experience long loading times and crashes, which severely disrupts the gaming experience.”
