Tchia, developed by Awaceb and published by Kepler Interactive, is a new action-adventure video game set in a fictional archipelago inspired by New Caledonia, a group of islands located in the South Pacific. Players take on the role of Tchia, who embarks on a quest to rescue her kidnapped father. Along the way, Tchia utilizes several magical abilities that have strong historical influences from New Caledonian culture.
In a recent Game Rant interview, game developer and Awaceb co-founder Phil Crifo discussed various aspects of the game including Tchia’s magical abilities, such as soul-jumping and soul melodies created by her ukulele. According to Crifo, these abilities assist players in different methods of gameplay like exploration and combat. In the interview, Crifo explained not only how these abilities function throughout the story, but also the ways in which they wereinspired by New Caledonian culture.
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Tchia’s Magical Setting
The setting ofTchiadraws inspiration from New Caledonia, an archipelago situated in the South Pacific. Initially colonized by France in the 1850s, New Caledonia’s population is a blend of diverse cultures, including indigenous Kanak, Polynesian, European, and North African influences. The spiritual and cultural traditions of New Caledonia place a significant emphasis on animals and the natural world, which is a theme thatTchia’sstoryline seeks to capture.
Crifo explained thatTchia’slandscape, map, and cultural atmosphere were inspired and influenced by New Caledonia.Tchiadevelopers were working to create a game that incorporates traditional New Caledonian elements and showcases the customs, beliefs, and traditions of the indigenous Kanak people.Tchia’sworld may not be a precise replica of New Caledonia, but the game developers specifically aimed to recreate the archipelago’s prominent geographical features.Tchia’s island’s lush jungles, rocky cliffs, and sandy beaches are full of life, and players can explore the various environments as they navigate through the game.
New Caledonian Influence on Tchia
According to Crifo, one of theTchiateam’s main goal was to incorporate the culture and aesthetics of New Caledonia into, not only the landscape and visual design, but also the gameplay mechanics. Crifo explained that he was highly influenced by the legends and folklore in the region of New Caledonia.Tchia’sart style and visuals fully capture the vibrant and colorful elements of New Caledonian culture, renowned for its lush wildlife and crystal-clear blue waters. Combined with the game’s outstanding music,Tchia’saesthetics are both inviting and heartwarming.
“We didn’t really have points of reference in New Caledonian culture and folklore for how to portray magic, since it is usually less visually over the top in local legends. We had to create it from scratch.”
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New Caledonia’s Influences on Tchia’s Mechanics
Tchia’sgameplay mechanicsare centered around the vibrant and diverse natural world of New Caledonia. The game offers a plethora of ways to traverse the archipelago, including traditional means like walking and running, as well as more unconventional methods such as swimming, diving, and using a glider. Players can also navigate the islands by raft, which offers a unique way to explore the archipelago’s many hidden coves and inlets. The diverse range of transportation options ensures that players will always have something new to discover while moving around the game world.
“We designedTchiaas a toy box, where every mechanic could stand on its own as a self-sufficient little nugget of fun. From there, we designed our world to incorporate fun and interesting ways to use those mechanics.”
Why Tchia Includes Soul-Jumping
Many of the mechanics in the game harken back to the natural elements of New Caledonia, including the soul-jumping mechanic and Tchia’s ukulele. The soul-jumping mechanic allows players to inhabit thespirits of numerous of animalsand objects. With it, players can transform into a turtle and swim in the ocean, change into a seagull and fly through the air, or even possess a coconut and roll around a beach.Each animal has special abilities that Tchia can use to explore or solve puzzles.
According to Crifo, the development of the magical element of soul-jumping was influenced by the legends in New Caledonia. Many of these legends involve shapeshifting, where animals take human form and humans take animal form. The soul-jumping mechanic not only draws on these pieces of lore but also emphasizes the importance of nature and the elements of New Caledonia, allowing players to harness the power of the land, sea, and sky to create spells and perform magical feats.
“That evolution was informed by the fact that New Caledonian folklore and legends often involve shapeshifting and animals taking human forms and vice versa, so it felt thematically relevant."
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Tchia: Magic and Music
Music is also an important part of New Caledonian culture. Music is rooted in the Melanesian tradition, and the incorporation of Tchia’s ukulele was influenced by this aspect.Tchia’s ukulele has many unique abilities, including unlockable magical tunes called Soul Melodies, which can affect the world around Tchia and unlock new items and objects for exploration and combat.
Tchia’s ukulele was gifted to her by Joxu’s best friend, Tre, and serves a multitude of purposes throughout the game. By unlocking Soul Melodies, Tchia can alter the world around her, summon new animals or items, and gain an advantage in both exploration and combat. The ukulele also plays a significant role in heartwarming moments throughout the game’s story, where players can join in and play along with scripted songs.
According to Crifo, the process of incorporating magical elements into the game was a challenging yet rewarding experience, and one fans can experience for themselves now thatTchiais out.
Tchiais available on PC, PS4, and PS5.
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