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The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles

The Book of Unwritten Chronicels: The Critter Chronicles is a prequel to The Book of Unwritten Chronicles that looks fantastic but has a very high level of frustration that is not every fan of point-and-click adventure games
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
story, humor
stability, grinding
81% User Score Based on 252 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 1 reviews

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The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles Game Cover

About

The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles is a single player arcade action adventure game with fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by KING Art and was released on December 5, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles" is a prequel to the original game, following the adventures of Nate Bonnett and his sidekick, Critter. Players can choose to play as either character and meet new faces in the fantasy world of Aventasia. With improved graphics and two difficulty levels, this point-and-click game offers a thrilling and humorous experience for both new and returning players.

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The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles screenshot
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81%
Audience ScoreBased on 252 reviews
story45 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • The game features charming graphics and humorous writing, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of point-and-click adventures.
  • Critter is a lovable character, and the interactions between him and Nate provide many funny moments throughout the game.
  • The puzzles, while sometimes challenging, are generally well-designed and contribute to the overall fun of the game.
  • The game suffers from bugs, including crashes at certain points, which can disrupt gameplay and frustrate players.
  • Some puzzles are overly convoluted or rely on 'moon logic,' making them feel less intuitive and requiring excessive trial and error.
  • The story feels shorter and less engaging compared to the original game, with a limited number of locations and character interactions.
  • story
    124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "The Book of Unwritten Tales: Critter Chronicles" is generally viewed as entertaining but lacking the depth and complexity of its predecessor, often described as a light-hearted side story that explores the origins of the characters Nate and Critter. While some players appreciate the humor and charm, others criticize the narrative for being thin and the puzzles for being overly convoluted or disconnected from the story. Overall, it serves as a fun prequel for fans of the series, though it may not stand alone as a compelling narrative.

    • “This is a really great game to play in between the Book of Unwritten Tales 1 & 2. It tells you the story of how Critter and Nate met, and it's insanely cute. Again, a lot of puns, great and tricky puzzles, and amazing game style. Shorter than 1 & 2, but it really doesn't feel that way and has great depth to the story. Very enjoyable and would definitely recommend playing between the two!”
    • “The story is entertaining and keeps you interested for the duration. It's funny, looks good, and also has a nice story plus memorable characters.”
    • “The critter chronicles tell the story of how adventurer Nate Bonnett and Critter, his hairy sidekick, first met, all set before their appearance in Wilbur’s and Ivo’s adventure in the Book of Unwritten Tales.”
    • “The story isn't telling a grand arc; it's only really showing you the events that brought two of the bout's main characters together.”
    • “The actual point-and-click mechanics are about as tedious as the genre gets: lots of convoluted puzzles that amount to little more than busy-work because they could only think up so much story, and by golly, they want to stretch the paltry thing out as long as possible.”
    • “The storyline can be pretty humorous at times, but the story felt a little weaker compared to the original.”
  • humor
    94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this point-and-click adventure game is generally well-received, featuring a mix of clever dialogue, pop culture references, and charming characters that evoke laughter. While many players find it funny and engaging, some note a decline in humor compared to earlier installments in the series, with a few moments feeling less impactful. Overall, the game maintains a lighthearted tone with plenty of humorous scenarios, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

    • “The critter chronicles offers more of the same humor and charm that made the original so fun.”
    • “It's funny, clever, wholesome, and the characters are so charismatic (the voice acting is fantastic) that you can't help but root for them.”
    • “Awesome story, great dialogue and the humor is outstandingly funny.”
  • graphics
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their vibrant colors and detailed artwork, contributing to a charming visual experience. While some reviewers note occasional glitches and performance issues, particularly on older hardware, the overall aesthetic is considered appealing and reminiscent of the game's predecessor. Despite not being groundbreaking, the graphics are described as good to great, enhancing the game's humor and storytelling.

    • “Wonderful artwork, some really awesome, detailed rooms.”
    • “Much of the artwork flows like an oil painting plus the animations give it an extra level of depth and personality.”
    • “Perfect story line, voices, graphics (top notch) it is really really funny but clever funny; I highly recommend this...”
    • “The only real gameplay annoyance I encountered, besides one crash and a few graphical glitches, was a bad puzzle sequence in the fourth chapter.”
    • “Upon reaching the final part of the lock, the graphics start breaking up and the same part of the lock simply won't go higher, thus making it impossible to proceed to the rest of the story!”
    • “The graphics go blurry halfway through.”
  • gameplay
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay in this title is criticized for being tedious and linear, with convoluted puzzles that often feel like busy-work rather than meaningful challenges. While the graphics and smooth mechanics are praised, many players found the reliance on arbitrary flags and the need to click on numerous hotspots frustrating. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a step down from previous entries in the series, with a stronger emphasis on story and character needed to elevate the experience.

    • “In addition, graphics are great and gameplay is very smooth.”
    • “Puzzles and gameplay elements are there to enhance the story and characters.”
    • “Solid 8 hours of gameplay and a nice tie-in between stories.”
    • “Gameplay gets tedious - it is easy to miss things and get stuck for ages.”
    • “The actual point-and-click mechanics are about as tedious as the genre gets: lots of convoluted puzzles that amount to little more than busy-work because they could only think up so much story, and by golly, they want to stretch the paltry thing out as long as possible.”
    • “The gameplay is so absolutely linear that you have to know exactly what the developers expect you to click on and in the correct order-- all the time, every time, which kills the game for me.”
  • music
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players noting it as minimal and standard for the fantasy genre, while others praise it for its enchanting quality and fitting atmosphere that aligns well with the game's narrative. Voice acting is consistently highlighted as a strong point, complementing the overall audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for enhancing the game's charm, though it may not stand out significantly compared to other titles.

    • “Great game, flawless artwork, brilliant voice actors, top story and the same enchanting soundtrack and atmosphere as The Book of Unwritten Tales 1. It's considerably shorter than the first game, but I'd say it was just long enough for the story and content.”
    • “Beautiful backdrops, excellent animation, beautiful soundtrack, great voice acting, fun puzzles, lovable characters.”
    • “Music is minimal with a few small notes here and there sliced in, and mostly of the standard fantasy affair.”
    • “If you had played the original, you will be immediately familiar with the art style, music, and atmosphere of the game.”
  • stability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, including frequent freezes, crashes, and graphical glitches, particularly when certain actions are performed or when high settings are used. While players enjoy the gameplay, the bugs detract from the overall experience, with some specific sequences causing notable frustration.

    • “Good game - however, each time I tie the string to the saltshaker and move towards Nate in the pot, the game freezes. Same kind of glitch with the second book of unwritten tales.”
    • “The only real gameplay annoyance I encountered, besides one crash and a few graphical glitches, was a bad puzzle sequence in the fourth chapter.”
    • “Also buggy, games saved outside the mage tower always crashed.”
  • grinding
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with convoluted puzzles that feel like busy-work rather than engaging challenges. The weak storyline and lack of charm further exacerbate the experience, leading to a sense of prolonged monotony as players navigate through repetitive tasks. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Gameplay gets tedious - it's easy to miss things and get stuck for ages.”
    • “The actual point-and-click mechanics are about as tedious as the genre gets: lots of convoluted puzzles that amount to little more than busy work because they could only think up so much story, and by golly, they want to stretch the paltry thing out as long as possible.”
    • “Playing as the critter for such an extended period of time got a bit tedious for me.”
  • atmosphere
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning artwork, enchanting soundtrack, and immersive world that closely mirrors the original title. While the human characters may not be as visually striking as the creatures, the overall setting is beautifully crafted, with atmospheric hotspots enhancing the experience before disappearing once explored. Players familiar with the first game will find the art style and ambiance consistently captivating.

    • “The game world is beautifully drawn and realized, even though the human characters don’t shine quite as much as their creature counterparts.”
    • “The game has again the atmospheric hotspots that add to setting up the scenery but vanish once explored, leaving only the important hotspots - very helpful.”
    • “If you had played the original, you will be immediately familiar with the art style, music, and atmosphere of the game.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, combining humor and wholesomeness with memorable characters and fantastic voice acting, which creates a compelling narrative that resonates with players. The touching story and charismatic characters evoke a strong sense of connection, making it a standout experience in the point-and-click adventure genre.

    • “It's funny, clever, wholesome, and the characters are so charismatic (the voice acting is fantastic) that you can't help but root for them.”
    • “Wonderful and touching story.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that the game offers enhanced replayability through the inclusion of an expert mode, which provides a fresh challenge for those seeking to revisit the experience.

    • “The game offers additional replay value with its expert mode, making each playthrough feel fresh and challenging.”
    • “Replayability is a key feature, as there are multiple paths and choices that lead to different outcomes.”
    • “The game lacks significant replay value, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
    • “Once you complete the main story, there isn't much incentive to dive back in.”
    • “The limited choices and outcomes reduce the overall replayability of the game.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is highlighted as a significant and engaging aspect, particularly for the characters Critter and Nate, making it a key reason to play. Overall, players find the character arcs to be interesting and integral to the experience.

    • “The puzzles were mostly intuitive, with interesting character development.”
    • “I think it's important to play this game for the character development of Critter and Nate, so I still recommend this game.”
    • “However, I think it's important to play this game for the character development of Critter and Nate, so I still recommend this game.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with users reporting decent performance on Windows when using Proton, but expressing disappointment over a problematic Linux port. Overall, while some players find a workaround for better performance, the lack of a stable Linux version detracts from the experience.

    • “I was able to get the Windows version to run using Proton by forcing it to run under Proton in the game's settings. So far, it runs at decent performance, but I will see if I encounter any issues. Still, thumbs down for a broken Linux port.”
    • “The voice acting features some lively performances that could have easily been lifted from a Saturday morning cartoon.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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9h Median play time
9h Average play time
8-9h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles is a arcade action adventure game with fantasy and comedy themes.

The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles.

The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles was released on December 5, 2012.

The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles was developed by KING Art.

The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles is a single player game.

Similar games include The Book of Unwritten Tales 2, The Book of Unwritten Tales, Deponia, Deponia: The Complete Journey, Kelvin and the Infamous Machine and others.