It has been interesting to watch the world of gaming bring in more and more filmmakers to guide games’ production. Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, and Guillermo del Toro have all made strides into the gaming world. Smaller filmmakers have realized that they can tell just as engaging a story through games as through film. Encodya is one such title that combines a traditional point-and-click adventure with a short film that elevates both aspects in a very cute and beautiful game. Brought to us by the team at Chaosmonger, Encodya combines the look of a Studio Ghibli film, a cyberpunk dystopia, and the humor and gameplay of an old school LucasArts adventure game. The result is a game that feels alive in a short story which will pull at your heart with loss and elevate it with emotion.
Tina and the Iron Giant
Encodya is based on a crowdfunded short film from filmmaker Nicola Piovesan that was released in 2018 called “Robot Will Protect You.” The story centers around nine-year-old orphan Tina and S.A.M. 53, an Iron Giant-like character whose only programming is to protect Tina. Throughout the story, you help Tina survive on the dystopic streets of rundown city while unlocking more and more of both Tina and SAM’s pasts. After SAM discovers a message left by Tina’s father to be delivered on her tenth birthday, they embark on a quest to help save everyone. While, objectively, a simple idea, the plot sends Tina and SAM through the lives of over 30 NPCs each with their own motivations to help or hinder Tina on her mission.
The NPCs which form the heart of the story are a bit one dimensional and there is a frustrating lack of nuance. The corrupt Mayor Rumph is an overweight, blonde, angry little man whose inspiration is not exactly subtle, and his position as antagonist is always predictable. Other characters like Singer Maisy who is stuck in a contract that may last until her death, or the robot GD who was abandoned by her owner to pursue dreams of becoming an icon show flashes of inspiration but so many fall short of their potential.
Story is Driven by Minor Political Themes
There are mentions of Marxism, xenophobia (though I guess it would be more robophobia), social media influencers, and the hazards of mega-corporations. However, each of these topics are glossed over and have no real impact on the story as a whole. The lack of depth is saved somewhat but the fact that the conversations, particularly her chat with the influencer is quite entertaining. Tina, as an orphan street rat, clearly has no understanding of what an influencer does and it makes for some fun moments.
In a game where the story is the major focus of the game, only Tina really grows and evolves. The other characters remain one dimensional yet fun. I just wish they had explored the supporting cast just a bit more to make them feel important.
Monkey Island Through the Lens of Hayao Miyazaki
Encodya is set in Neo Berlin in 2062. The world is dark, corrupt, and degraded, which is in stark contrast to the cute bright art style. Even the rain, which normally would darken the world in any other game, adds personality and character. An early example that set the mood was an electrified puddle that separated Tina from digging through trash for food while a robotic cat hisses at her.
The graphics are simple and small scale that add to a more intimate experience. Rather than having to traverse the city, Tina and SAM are localized in parts of town. The game is not an open world, but you can travel through the city via a Sky Bus Pass. From there, each location has a few areas to explore as well as the city streets. With somewhere around 100 places to explore, it is quite easy to get lost. Thankfully, a list of objectives is available to go back and double check what you are doing.
Old School Made to Look New
Tina and SAM each bring unique traits to the table, and a particularly nice touch is that they both have different dialogue options with each NPC and different actions available at any given time. Some NPCs will not talk to the little girl but will the larger robot and vice versa. SAM can raise Tina to areas she normally cannot reach while Tina, obviously, can reach places too small for SAM. You may end up going back and forth talking to the same people multiple times and that is where the gameplay becomes a trudge.
Encodya really is a point-and-click adventure game. The entire game can be played with only a mouse on PC and the joystick on console. Aside from combining items to make new ones, there are no major mechanics to learn. The simplicity of the control scheme and what you are actually doing in the game is not a recipe for a high level of engagement, but it serves its purpose.
If Stuck, Take a Deep Breathe and Start Playing with Items
When you get lost, there are no hints to what you need to do beyond the general objective list. However, that list can be frustratingly vague. When the objective is to “Investigate” and the solution is to attach the copper wire you just found to an item you already made, charge it at the generator and then shock the small robot flying overhead, I could not help but feel that a little more direction would have gone a long way. This moment happens within the first half-an-hour of the game while you are still learning what to do. There is not even a hint in the dialogue between SAM and the robot where it could have naturally been inserted.
Luckily, when it is doing the gameplay right, it ’is fun. When you get stuck is when frustrations start to build. The best advice I can suggest is to try everything you can when those moments happen. It took me a good five minutes to figure that part out, and there are a few more instances like that, but it brings back that old Monkey Island eureka feeling when you finally get it.
Sounds Like a City with Love and Care
The world of Encodya has a very distinct sound design that adds more flavor than I was really expecting. I was expecting smaller scale sounds and was very surprised by what was here. Flying cars whiz past as the rain falls, robots pass by on the street as you discuss the Brandenburg Gate with an electrical technician. These small details add constant ambience. It feels like a living world as opposed to a static portrait. The details are minor and would easily be omitted in a lesser game. Their inclusion shows the love and care that went into Encodya. Added in with all this, the entire game is fully voiced and feels more in the style of a film rather than a game.
The music switches between dark and foreboding orchestra to smooth and relaxing jazz and even a soft children’s TV show. At times, the music drops out completely but when it soars are the times that it really shows through. A very lo-fi study beats feel runs through the entire thing. The music feels like a direction rather than just inlaid over to add something to the game. It will pull you more into a scene and you notice the absence when in quieter areas.
Encodya – A Game for Those Looking for a Story Over Substance
Overall, Encodya is a beautiful game, well designed but a let-down in what is in actuality, a three-to-five-hour movie. It would be interesting to see more of what happens at the end of the game with Tina and SAM but it ends on a good note. I cried and laughed and smiled. There are fun moments, good jokes, and an amazingly well thought out story.
What it doesn’t really have is a good replay value. Beyond the two difficulty modes there are 12 secrets to discover throughout the story. Finding them all is a chore but doable on your first run. These secrets run the gamut of turning everything pixelated to calling a phone number and talking to the help desk, a la Monkey Island. They do not, however, really affect the game at all. They are more like homages to point-and-click adventures of the past than anything else.
Although an amazingly beautiful game with a great story, the lack of replay does let it down in the end. I would have liked to have more instances of going back and seeing what happens after the end or changing character story arcs through my actions. All that said, it was a touching and poignant experience that was well told and that is enough.