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Europa is a simple game that focuses on a relaxing experience. As such, there is limited violence and just a handful of puzzles to overcome. You may think this would be boring, but it isn’t. The chilled vibe and wonderful aesthetic make this a pleasure to play from beginning to end. Furthermore, as you progress, you unlock a special power that lets you glide and soar through the sparkling blue sky.
This calm adventure title was developed by Helder Pinto, Chozabu, and Nova Dust Entertainment and published by Future Friends Games. It is a 3D semi-open world single-player experience and each small area is a joy to explore. The colourful plants and strange platforming elements are great to look at and fun to overcome. However, Europa’s slow pace and spectacular storytelling are what make it shine.
Europa highlights humanity’s relationship with nature.
Humans tend to destroy everything in their path. No matter how good we have it, we still want more. Additionally, if we feel threatened, we act first and think later! Unfortunately, Europa’s beautiful story is punctuated by this horrendous message. Accordingly, a calm and serene tale is ruined by the known greed of every human.
The story takes place on a terraformed version of the moon Europa. This spectacular setting hides in the shadow of Jupiter, but the fauna and environment shine regardless. You control Zee an android who wishes to piece together the mystery of the last surviving human. This journey is one of discovery, freedom, and wonderful storytelling. As the protagonist opens new areas, you witness the ruins of a once spectacular civilisation. What’s more, snippets of the last man’s diary open your eyes to the downfall of this colony.
It’s time to soar.
Europa evolves slowly. However, this isn’t a bad thing. Instead, this meandering pace lets you familiarise yourself with your surroundings and the task at hand. The hero understands some basic parkour moves. Yet, once they unlock the capabilities of their Zephyr jetpack, the world is their oyster. This special tool allows them to soar and glide above the ground. Moreover, special booster orbs refill your tank to keep you in the air longer.
This sensation of flying is thrilling. But there are dangers hidden in plain sight. Sentry guns shoot you from the sky and creatures absorb your Zephyr power. As such, you must plan if you wish to stay in the air for longer. Alongside this, there are puzzles to complete and many collectables to find. Crumbling towers hide emeralds and pages of the last man’s diary. The latter is essential to find if you wish to understand your existence. However, the emeralds are nice to find and will only interest completionists.
Europa looks fantastic.
It doesn’t matter if you are walking, sliding, flying, or gliding, you’ll adore the visual experience. The cool colour palette is beautiful to look at. Additionally, the strange alien creatures are interesting to observe. There is a sense of depth that demands to be explored. Consequently, taking to the skies and planning a path is a joy to experience. Yet, when things go wrong or you can’t work things out, it can be frustrating. As such, you must be patient if you wish to reach the highest and most spectacular locations.
The audio is phenomenal! The music is serene and magical to listen to. Alongside this, the narration is rich and captivating. Subsequently, there is a beautiful emotive nature to everything you see and do. Sadly, the sound effects weren’t as good. Though I liked the flow of the air and the noise of each alien, it wasn’t as special as the music and the acting.
Brilliant controls.
There is an amazing sense of freedom when you are exploring the terraformed landscape. Sliding across each area was fun and I liked the fast pace and the fluid controls. Yet, it was the flying mechanics that shone throughout. The ability to twist and turn immediately was great. Furthermore, you felt as if you could go wherever you wished. Therefore, the open world seems massive even though each area is relatively compact.
Sadly, Europa is a short game. Just as you get into the swing of things, the story concludes. It took me around 4 hours to complete the story and this was disappointing. Yes, there are plenty of collectables to find, but once you’ve finished the excellent story, it wasn’t as much fun to play. Accordingly, there is limited replay value and longevity.
Europa is short but enjoyable.
Europa does many things well. The storytelling is great and the exploration mechanics are a joy to experience. However, it is far too short and there are few reasons to return once you complete it. This was a shame as this project has been made with love and an eye for detail. Therefore, despite its short playtime, I recommend buying it here! Can you piece together the mystery? Upgrade your power, avoid the dangers, and get to the island.
