Eqqo

Genre: Graphic Adventure

Players: 1

.

Review:

(Note: This game is included in Nakana Bundle #3 (Eqqo + Lydia + Stilstand), along with Lydia and Stilstand. It is also included in Nakana Bundle #5, along with A Night at the Races, Cosmic Top Secret, Infini, and Please Touch The Artwork. Additionally, this game is also in Nakana Bundle #6 (10 games), along with A Night at the Races, Cosmic Top Secret, Infini, Journey of the Broken Circle, Lydia, Mythic Ocean, Please Touch The Artwork, Soul Searching, and Stilstand.)

Eqqo is a Graphic Adventure first released on mobile devices in 2019 and ported to Nintendo Switch in 2020. This game, inspired by Ethiopian mythology, follows the titular Eqqo, a young blind boy who must be led around indirectly by the player. Shortly into his journey, the boy comes into possession of a large egg, which players must have him protect throughout the game’s journey.

The presentation in Eqqo is good but nothing truly special, with colorful, simple 3D visuals backed by light instrumental music and constantly accompanied by lighthearted narration. These light-hearted elements seem to clash somewhat with a tone that can get dark at points, but otherwise the presentation works well enough.

When it comes to the gameplay, this game’s take on the Graphic Adventure feels fairly unique in the way players must coordinate actions between their own direct interaction with the environment, and instructions to Eqqo, while also being mindful of the egg. In addition, one of the main gameplay elements here is keeping an eye out for “stars” that provide different camera angles that can give players more options, a clever mechanic.

Unfortunately, the main issue this game has is its controls. Players are given the option to use traditional gamepad controls, gyroscopic motion controls, and/or touchscreen controls, but it’s pretty clear that this was a game built primarily for a touchscreen, because the gamepad controls mostly just move a cursor that acts as a stand-in for touchscreen use. This would not necessarily be terrible, if not for the fact that pressing the A button acts as if you’re touching the screen, and doesn’t distinguish between interacting with the game, and trying to move the screen, meaning that players can easily do one when meaning to do the other.

Another issue here comes in the form of unclear goals, with players sometimes not being told where they’re trying to go. This can often leave you trying to scan the screen (and scrolling it around) looking for something you can do.

There is one other issue. The mobile version of the game sells for $1, a fraction of the $6 cost of the Nintendo Switch version of the game. Given how clearly this game was made for use with a touchscreen, it’s hard to see why anyone would buy the Nintendo Switch version when the mobile release of the game costs less and should play just as well. It also bears mention that Nakana Bundle #3 sells for a mere $1 more than this game costs on its own, and comes with two other games.

Is Eqqo a bad game? Not at all. Graphic Adventure fans may find this game to be charming and fairly original within the genre… however, they will most likely be better off getting this game on a mobile device if they plan on getting it, since it’ll play more or less just as well, and for a substantially lower price.

tl;dr – Eqqo is a Graphic Adventure where players guide a young blind boy trying to carry and protect a large egg. The game itself is decent though not without its issues (namely, poor controls), but the $6 price tag for a game that’s on mobile devices at $1 makes this game seem overpriced.

Grade: C

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