Tchia stands on the shoulders of Zelda — then leaps off

polygon.com:

Many cultures tell folktales of monsters that eat children, gulping them down regularly regardless of shape or size. These stories, passed from generation to generation, are sometimes told as a means to make children listen to their parents — instilling fear of an unknown entity to plant the seeds of good behavior. Tchia, from developer Awaceb, begins with a story about a malevolent ruler in an island nation, whose power comes from the children he’s eaten. Unfortunately for the children of Tchia’s archipelago, this is no folktale.

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We’re quickly pulled into the story of the titular Tchia and her childhood world. She’s no misbehaving child, but she’s a courageous adventurer as she eagerly sets out to seek out the world’s ruler, Meavora, who’s captured and imprisoned her father. This means navigating far away from her home island and seeking out new lands, rich with lush biomes — everything from red, dusty plains and rusty city buildings to overgrown bamboo forests and wandering rivers. Quickly, Tchia learns of a special power she was born with: the ability to shapeshift into animals and objects in her immediate environment. It’s a mechanic that’s implemented with expert care, despite the sheer number of things Tchia can transform into. In turn, it transforms Tchia from an adventure heavily