Initial release date: 2024
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
Developer:Â Plane Toast
Engine:Â Unreal Engine 4
Genres: Indie game, Adventure game, Casual game, Adventure
Publisher:Â Dear Villagers
After thirteen core titles, the Assassin’s Creed series has perhaps satisfied the most voracious hunger for open-world exploring. However, when ascending soaring spires and exploring the surroundings for collectibles is done by an independent developer, the notion might feel rejuvenated. That is largely the case with Caravan SandWich, the debut release from Plane Toast, a spunky fifteen-person studio in southeastern France.
A brief prologue introduces players to Sauge, who is shown boarding a space train to Cigalo. She is returning after receiving a distress signal from her older sister, who disappeared six years ago. However, when the crimson-haired protagonist reconnects with family and other friends, they all swear that the message could not have been sent. A corrupt corporation that runs Cigalo has taken control of the radio. It is not a spoiler to say that Sauge is here to restore power to the people while also investigating what happened to her sibling.
Reinetos Deserve Their Own Game.
Caravan SandWitch’s star could be the water-logged landmass of Cigalo. The environment is distinct, with jagged sandstone topography, man-made scaffolding, and a swirling harbinger of devastation in the background. Although ecological irresponsibility has ruined the countryside, Cigalo is not another apocalyptic rerun. No, practically everything here is bathed in brilliant sunlight, there are patches of greenery, and the surrounding waters are an unbelievably turquoise color. It also contains enough views and hidden alcoves to make SandWitch’s seven-hour journey unforgettable.
Well, the last six and a half hours are significant. Caravan SandWitch’s introduction contains far too many NPCs who babble away tangentially. Yes, it serves as world-building, but the pacing is slow, there are too many characters, and the script is awkwardly written. As a result, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and uninterested when all you want to do is start exploring. Later on, you’ll need to pay close attention to what people say in SandWitch. Once the mission begins, many give their instructions only once. Similarly, Plane Toast should inform players that any incomplete excursions will be forfeited as they go to the next chapter.
Item Collection x Verticality
The game concentrates around searching out four different types of valuables by car and on foot. The earlier mode of traversal places you in the driver’s seat of Cigalo’s final remaining vehicle. Driving around and obtaining items is an essential component of SandWitch’s gameplay cycle. Here, you’ll equip your vehicle with new tools such as an environmental analyzer and a grappling hook. In turn, those technologies allow you to enter previously forbidden regions, taking you deeper into Cigalo.
Except for the occasional leap, scurrying through Cigalo is pleasantly simple. Sauge rushes, scampers along edges, and climbs ladders as she attempts to deactivate signal jammers. Knocking these dishes out has its own reward, as in-game texts are unscrambled and your map gains additional details. If you enjoy calm, cyclical experiences, SandWitch is sure to please.
Mercifully, Sauge and her vehicle are indestructible. Falling from great heights, slamming your vehicle into a wall, or even plunging the van into the ocean carries no punishment. Initially, I was concerned that a game without fighting, fail situations, or timed objectives would lack a sense of urgency. But soon, the grasp of searching the terrain for collectibles took hold, and the only difficulty was the monotony of an irregular resource collecting job. SandWitch rarely feels like a waste of time because your van can return to base quickly at any point. Aside from the slow start, this is one of the most promising independent releases of the year.
In summary
If you’d prefer relax than get heated up again over a mistimed parry, try Caravan SandWitch. Sure, there are times when advancement is unclear, and the script may benefit from another edit. However, there is a laid-back satisfaction and delight in discovery as you wander Cigalo’s vast continent in search of collectibles and knowledge about your sister.
Caravan SandWitch was played on PC using a review code provided by the publisher.
Review Overview
Gameplay: 77%
Controls: 80%
Aesthetics: 83%
Content: 79%
Accessibility: 76%
Value: 78%
Overall: 79%
GOOD
Summary: Caravan SandWitch is a delightful tale full of charm and imagination. The gameplay is interesting, with a variety of exploration, puzzles, and unique features that keep the experience fresh. The controls are smooth and responsive, allowing players to quickly navigate the area and interact with its various aspects. The graphics stand out, with a whimsical art style that contributes to the game’s overall appeal. While the content is entertaining for many hours, it might be more in-depth. Accessibility is OK but not extensive. Overall, it’s a really entertaining adventure through a universe full of surprises.