Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale Review – Sweet, Short, and Full of Soul

Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale Review

Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is the gaming debut from developer Quillo Entertainment Limited. They are an independent developer who has spent a considerable amount of time and passion to craft this tale about a young girl, Mai. Mai is lost and begins a journey to return home. With help from friends and foes she meets, Mai tries to unravel the mystery of her past from dark and blurry memories.

Apopia is an obvious labor of love on the developer’s part. This is a game with a lot of heart, populated with gorgeous hand-drawn animation. The developer’s belief powered the game that no one is an island. Often, we think we are the only ones with problems. Unsolvable problems. However, we can solve problems together if we reach out and make connections with others.

If you are looking for a big, flashy game, you won’t find it here. If you are looking for a game that is honest and filled with strange but very lovable characters. On its surface, Apopia seems sweet, but as the story progresses, there is a hidden depth to the proceedings. This is a story to be savored. Don’t rush, but soak in the details. Explore. You will find moments. Moments of fun. Moments of sadness. And moments of fear.

Apopia comes from the merging of two words: apocalypse and utopia. The journey and dreams that the main character, Mai, encounters reflect this. This story is very much in the vein of The Wizard of Oz. While Mai is very much on a journey to find her way home, she is also undergoing a coming-of-age story.

Mai, Mai – All Alone

As Mai, you explore a beautiful fantasy world as the only human there. All the other characters are based on animals, be it a cat, a mole, bunnies, and more. There are even robots. Each of the characters has a unique personality, and interacting with them is one of the game’s strengths. They are all represented via 90s cartoon-style art.

Throughout the game, you will encounter puzzles or quests to be solved. There is a good mix of them, with some being action-based, some puzzles, and some rhythm-based. In keeping with the spirit of the game, boss battles are those of battle of wits. You beat them by outsmarting them. As with all puzzles, they will be a mixed bag for players. Some may find the mini-games a bit too repetitive. Others may get frustrated with the timed sections. Failure means restarting. Overall, there is a decent variety, though.

Mai’s adventure begins while hiking with her mother. She falls into a cave and lands in the world of Yoghurt. Yoghurt is a fanciful rabbit kingdom that someone known only as the Boss has enslaved. The Boss has sealed entry and exit into the land and kicked out the true ruler, the princess Moly.

So Mai’s only way home is to restore the land of Yoghurt to its rightful ruler and defeat the Boss. To aid in her quest is a mutant cat, Nico, who comes with the expected prickly personality. Also, there to help are a trio of bunnies who fancy themselves the Three Musketeers.

Split Views

Mai wants to return home, but it is here that the depth of the game lies. She has two opposing views of her mother. One version loves and cares for her, while the other abuses and is embarrassed by Mai. The game forces you to accept these two versions of the mother, and through cycles of hope and frustration, it may be possible to find acceptance.

An interesting part of Mai’s journey is her ability to traverse the Dark Worlds. It’s a form of mind-reading where she can see a person’s thoughts, memories, and past. This ability forms the basis of the game mechanics, as Mai uses her talent to understand what someone is looking for. She also uses her ability to see their recent memories to find missing items for people.

This approach keeps in line with the game’s overall humanistic approach. It is gratifying to help others. Through this unique interaction with the characters, Mai and the gamer not only find gratification but also grow emotionally.

Where the game really gains its depth is in the Dark World sections. There are some startling ones that deal with topics not normally dealt with in games. Issues like neglect and addiction, for example. These sections make for quite the contrast when compared to the sunny and whimsical kingdom of Yoghurt.

Apopia Has Heart

The journey functions as a classic point-and-click adventure, and the developers broke it down into chapters. There is a specific goal in each chapter that you need to complete. The puzzles are pretty straightforward, but the action-oriented ones can frustrate. Playing with a keyboard and mouse lacks the precision needed for some of them.

Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a bit short, and some of its side characters feel underdeveloped. Even so, Quillo Entertainment Limited has crafted a game filled with heart. That passion shines through in every frame, showcasing an impressive level of artistry that’s only slightly held back by budgetary constraints. In the end, Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a gentle, gorgeous experience that will warm your heart while lingering in your thoughts thanks to its surprising emotional depth.

***Game code provided by publisher***