Botanicula Review

By UnderBreex

If you know anything about this title, you may wonder why I’m reviewing a game from May 2012. Is the game that good? You guys, knowing me, it is mini-story time!

One of my very good college friends is always recommending me Indie games. Because of her, I'm in love with Indie games lately. The first game she introduced me to was Machinarium (Amanita Design). I also recommend this game. So, I went head over heels for it. The game is very challenging, has beautiful artwork, and a surreal story line. After a while, she introduced me to Botanicula (same developer). She just went and installed it into my computer (no permission asked) and I said that I would play it later that same day. I swear on everything that is holy in the gaming industry, the second I opened that game I couldn't/wouldn't put it down.

This game is about a five friends, tiny tree creatures, who set out for a journey to save the last seed from their home tree that is infested by evil spider-looking parasites. You'll have to use each one of them throughout the game-play according to each puzzle or interaction. Botanicula is a wonderful experience that will please us, combining nature and video games, creating a beautiful and captivating atmosphere that we want to see in more games.  

Puzzles range in challenge from: "Omg this is so cute" to "Where in the *bleep* is that chicken?" No spoilers.  However, this is a point-and-click, delightful, stunning, grabbing hold-of-the-imagination adventure that you will never regret playing. Many games strive to be fun, and Botanicula not only accomplishes this, but also manages to use sound and visuals to stir up emotions; especially in the ending. This is one of the most interactive titles that I've ever laid hands on, even though sometimes puzzles are so easy that they may not even count as a puzzle; just a random interaction. You can also collect some portrait cards that represent some of the surrounding characters that may help or challenge your game-play adventures. You can collect both allies and enemy characters and they are hidden in very random places. You can interact with them as a slideshow from the pause menu.

Just as if the game by itself wasn't enough, Amanita Design delivered an amazing, interactive soundtrack in the mix. The music is vivid, vibrant, and plainly fun, chartering the listener to all and the imaginative. This is one of the most amazing Indie developers and games out in the industry. One of the main reasons of this recommendation and review is because Amanita Design is re-releasing this PC Game on all iOS mobile platforms for $4.99 (out now). The price is a bit unusual for such a small game. However, it is worth every penny. 

            I give it an unusual 10/10.

Tintero: A Festival of Arts and Comics - PART TWO

by Little Leia

INTERVIEW WITH FRANCHY MORALES, CREATOR OF "EL ISLEÑO":

LL: Hi! How did you start making comic books?

FM: I started out relatively late, when I finished college actually! People kept saying that I was a kid at heart, and I liked making comics with my friends.

LL: How many years have you been making comic books?

FM: I've been making comics since a looong time ago. I just turned 46 now, so I've been making them for about 20-25 years.

LL: What do you think about Tintero?

FM: I think it was an excellent idea to host all of these artists, both well recognized and independent, under the same roof. I've been looking forward to something like this for a long time.

LL: What do you think about the art that the indie artists are presenting here?

FM: I think their artwork was incredible! It was great to see some idea of what might be coming up for comics and art in Puerto Rico. I think the future of art in Puerto Rico is in good hands.

LL: What have been your influences as an artist?

FM: I have so many of them, a few of them include Frank Miller, John Byrne, and Jack Kirby. Those are some of the ones that influence me the most. I also was influenced by the comic strips in the newspaper, I read them so much as a kid.

LL: Thanks for the interview!

FM: No problem! Thanks to you!

INTERVIEW WITH ALANNA MARIE:

LL: Hi! How did you start out with art in general?

AM: My mother is an artist, she had art supplies all over the house, so she'd let me borrow them almost all the time and I started drawing with them because I had basically nothing else to do.

LL: How many years have you been drawing?

AM: I just turned 17, and I've been drawing since I was 6 maybe? I can't do the math right now.

LL: What do you think about your fellow indie artists in Tintero?

AM: I think they're great! I love all the artwork here.

LL: What do you think about Tintero?

AM: I think it's awesome! I actually didn't know there were more indie artists like me in Puerto Rico.

LL: What are your influences?

AM: I'm influenced heavily by basically everything in Cartoon Network (The Regular Show, Adventure Time, etc.), and I'm also influenced by Jay Howard, the guy that created Sanjay and Craig on Nickelodeon.

LL: How do you feel being the youngest artist in Tintero?

AM: Well, I really don't know what to say, I don't know how to explain it!

LL: Thanks for the interview!

AM: You’re welcome! 

All in all, it was an awesome event! I loved it! There was something for everybody. There was stuff for kids (Jibarito Samurai, Cupcake Graffiti), tweens (El Isleño, Días), teens (Paracosm, Semblance), and adults. I think it was a great idea for unknown indie artists to showcase what they can do. Can't wait for next year's edition!

Tintero: A Festival of Arts and Comics - PART ONE

Tintero: Festival de Arte y Comics

by Lil' Leia

Hi! Tintero is a new festival where more than 45 independent and well-known artists present their prints, zines, comic books, minicomics, and more. This year’s inaugural edition held in Casa Cultura Ruth Hernández Torres, located in Río Piedras. Its organizers were Rosa Colón and Carla Rodríguez from Soda Pop Comics.

There was live music performed by indie artists Las Acevedo, Furry Vowels, Dino Analog Orchestra, and Dead Hands. The first floor hosted an exhibition about the history of comics in Puerto Rico, curated by LJ Lacourt from F3 Comics, while the artists themselves occupied the second floor.

The first edition of the Tintero Awards was also held at the event, which included distinctions such as Best Zine (won by Supakid), Best MiniComic (won by José Vélez), and Best Comic (won by Dias Comic and Supakid). I also interviewed the organizers (Soda Pop Comics), artist Franchy Morales, and a new indie artist, Alanna Marie.

INTERVIEW WITH SODA POP COMICS, CREATORS OF CUPCAKE GRAFFITI AND PARACOSM:

LIL' LEIA: Hi! How did you come up with the idea for Tintero?

SODA POP COMICS: We came up with the idea when we were in a meeting and we were talking about how people who love comics have to have another place besides the PRCC to unite, and also give a chance to indie artists who don't usually get that much exposure to showcase their artwork.

LL: Have all the artists published comic books or zines?

SPC: Not all of them, because some of them are just starting to showcase their art and have yet to publish something, but since we were promoting the idea of publishing something and then have it up for sale at Tintero, most of them made a zine or minicomic just for Tintero.

LL: Has Tintero met your expectations, in terms of attendance?

SPC: It has extremely exceeded our expectations, it's been full capacity since we opened! We are more than satisfied about how it's turned out.

LL: Are you guys going to do it again next year?

SPC: Definitely! But we have to get a bigger place for it so we can have more artists and host more people.

LL: Was there any criteria to be showcased in Tintero?

SPC: The only criteria was that everything that you wanted to present and/or sell had to be original art, no fan art, whether it was prints, comics, original art, pins, t-shirts, etc.

LL: Is this the first time an event of its kind has happened in Puerto Rico?

SPC: Yes, this is the first time an event like this has ever happened here.

LL: Thanks for letting me interview you guys!

SPC: Thanks to you!