I’ve always been more of a tea person than a coffee lover – I can’t go a single day without basking in the warmth of a cup or two of my favorite beverage. Teacup perfectly encapsulates all the cozy vibes that come with a cup of tea on a lazy day in a short but sweet package, but while I absolutely enjoyed my adventure with the titular heroine, will the game be – pun intended – your cup of tea?
Index:
TEACUP HISTORY AND VISUALS
Teacup takes you through the charming story of an introverted frog in search of herbs for a small tea party. She wakes up to the terrifying realization that her supply of tea leaves is completely depleted, so she must embark on an adventure to replenish her cupboard in the lovely town of Little Pond.
Throughout the game, you’ll encounter a colorful cast of characters, each as healthy as the last. Scenes are presented with beautiful pictorial visuals that are vibrant and grandiose, from bustling markets to peaceful boat rides. Also, every NPC has something interesting to say, whether it’s simply going about their day-to-day activities or looking for help with some tasks.
TEACUP GAMEPLAY AND CONTROLS
These little quests that you accept from the townspeople make up the bulk of the game’s progression, as you’ll either need to talk to some people to advance the story or perform tasks for them in the form of mini-games. These tidbits aren’t too difficult, but they add to the overall charm of the game, as everyone really seems to like Teacup (and she honestly seems like the kind of person who’s always willing to help).
Some of the minigames are more challenging than others, but luckily, there’s a handy hint system if you get stuck (an option I’ve used often in one of the more difficult minigames). Everything is pretty linear too, so flying from one part of Little Pond to another (using its hand-drawn map) isn’t confusing at all.
As for the mobile controls, just use the virtual directional pad and a single button to interact with the prompts. Things can get a little tricky with the virtual keyboard, but luckily, the game worked flawlessly with my DualShock 4 controller. Of course, the minigames will still require you to use the touchscreen, which is actually more intuitive when it comes to from touching puzzle pieces or dragging and dropping gears.
WHAT IS THE APPEAL?
Teacup is the perfect example of beauty in simplicity. Playing the game honestly made me forget all my worries, immersing myself in an immersive world of small-town animals and a little frog’s quest for tea. Teacup herself is such a compelling and relatable protagonist, mainly because I could relate to her struggles being introverted.
I felt for her as she tried to overcome her anxieties about venturing out into the world, and the wonderfully ironic thing here is that despite Teacup’s semi-reclusive nature, the whole town really knows and adores her. Everyone is so incredibly nice, and even random NPCs always have something insightful or fun to say.
Teacup managed to touch my heart not because it’s an emotional journey, but because it’s such a pure experience about the simple things in life. In just an hour and a half, I was reminded how important it is to stay in touch with friends and breathe once in a while – and in today’s chaos of the world, snuggling under the covers with a good book and the perfect cup of tea is indeed the final rest.
source – www.pocketgamer.com