Chicory: A Colorful Tale Reviews
A thought-provoking and heartfelt story wrapped around a Zelda-esque adventure with great puzzles and the clever twist of using a painting mechanic to add color and draw on anything, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is one of the best games of 2021.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Chicory is the kind of game that reminds me why I enjoy gaming in the first place. It takes innovative, artistically driven mechanics and makes them accessible and intuitive. It combines them with a narrative which is emotionally charged and truly engrossing. This is all topped off with a fantastic world that houses oodles of charm, a top class soundtrack and puzzle design that challenges the player while rarely becoming frustrating.
Indie games generally hang their hats on one great idea. Is it a compelling, original narrative? Or an aesthetic that you haven’t seen anywhere else? How about a unique game mechanic around which the rest of the game builds? Any of these can work. Just one of these can lift a small-team title above the indie pack. Chicory: A Colorful Tale has all three.
The soundtrack is stellar and completes the package on display here. It's a game that can be enjoyed for all ages and if you decide to pursue all the sidequests, complete the decorating minigames, and find all of the collectibles, you can certainly spend a lot of time in the world of Chicory. My only gripe is a personal one-that I didn't play this game last year-because without a doubt it makes for a wonderful late addition to the best of what 2021 had to offer. I cannot wait to see what Greg, Lena, Em, Alexis and Madeline will make next, because Chicory can't be described as anything other than a piece of modern art.
We need more games like Chicory in our lives.
Review in Italian | Read full review
From a fantastic story and endearing characters to varied puzzles and a great soundtrack there is just so much to love about Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Its coloring book world leaves everything open for your interpretation, but also doesn't force you to spend any more time with it than what is actually required. I loved every minute I spent with the game and it is easily my favorite game of 2021 so far.
Chicory: A Colorful tale is an adorable little adventure with clever puzzles, cute writing, characters and hardstyle. The painting mechanics are incredibly well utilized and keep the gameplay constantly fresh while the gripping story keeps you wanting to play more and more. It also has plenty of secrets and items to find that keep the game replayable if you want to continue exploring. These things alone would make a good game, but the intelligent and heartfelt story is what makes it amazing. You learn so much about the characters and yourself while playing Chicory and it teaches such wonderful lessons that are applicable to anyone of any age. The writing and the world work together so perfectly to create an experience that is both fun and cute, while also being deeply profound. It isn’t a grand, sweeping story. It is small, it is personal and it hits incredibly close to home.
Chicory's strengths lie in the myriad heartwarming stories it wants to tell, and the wealth of accessibility options it gives the player in how they want to experience these stories. A sedate, and, at times, hilarious use of the canvas of gaming.
As an adventure game, Chicory is quite sincerely up there with the very best of the genre. There's plenty to see and do and a full completion run will probably take you 25-30 hours. The characters and their travails are rich and likeable, the game's sense of humour is generally inspired, and it's all very sweet without being sugary-twee and talking down to the player. It's also an affecting little tearjerker that will definitely strike a chord if you make art, and almost certainly will even if you don't – so long as you're capable of pretty basic empathy. Chicory is simple to play but impressively long and complex, with perfect controls, performance and visuals. Throw yourself into painting the world and you'll be left with a game that's very much your own and speaks to you directly – a beautiful marriage of mechanics, themes and visuals.
Greg Lobanov has produced a game that has it all. It's a truly heartwarming story with unique gameplay, clever puzzles and a colourful cast of characters in a gorgeous world that never feels limited by its retro-inspired, two-dimensional roots.
An indie adventure with the confidence of heavy hitters like Undertale, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is one hell of a pleasant surprise that excels on every level it is possible to do so. Would it be too hackneyed to say it belongs in an art gallery?
Chicory: A Colorful Tale, while not perfect on Switch, is still a great game you need to play. The new controls schemes have their issues, but they also have their moments to shine.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a compelling twist on The Legend of Zelda formula that will appeal to fans of Nintendo's popular franchise.
Chicory lived up to my expectations and more. The traversal is a joy throughout, the puzzles brilliantly judged and the whole experience is a joy to play from start to finish. If this were not enough, the admirable approach to accessibility should be celebrated and congratulated. What really stood out after finishing the game, though, was how effectively it treated difficult issues of depression and feelings of low self-worth whilst never feeling too earnest or preachy. The final result is one of the best indie games I've played in years. Chicory: A Colourful Tale is a true masterpiece that deserves to be played by all.
Satisfying puzzles and cathartic painting mechanics support Chicory: A Colorful Tale's strikingly relatable story about self-doubt.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a pristine little adventure with fun puzzles, a surprisingly rich paint mechanic, and a story that's disarmingly real, difficult, and heartfelt.
From the quests to the main story, Chicory: A Colorful Story is a great time that will keep players’ attention till the end.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a unique indie game that not only lets players be the artist but also delivers a powerful message along with excellent gameplay and a whimsical soundtrack. It deserves to be on everyone’s radar to play and is a strong candidate for one of the best games of 2021.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a bittersweet, powerful and human game that isn't afraid to demonstrate how depression can trick. Dyed in neutral, cool and warm colors, the title published by Finji is about fears and insecurities, but it also reminds us of the importance of being here moving forward, because absolutely everything we do is wonderful and always good enough.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Chicory a Colorful Tale, is a great metroidvania with certain influences on classic titles but that stands out for its great ideas, creating a special title that I recommend adding to the library, in case you want to live a unique experience. A title with a great sound and artistic section in which you will be the artist in charge of giving color.
Review in Spanish | Read full review