Having an opportunity to connect with nature on a remote island isn't something most can do every day. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure offers players just that in an adorable exploration game developed and published by Ustwogames. Stepping into the shoes of Alba, players will find themselves on a delightful safari for the island's naturally occurring animals, while folding a little laundry for the locals along the way.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure follows a young girl visiting her grandparents for the week. Upon arrival she learns that the local nature reserve is going to be replaced by a luxury hotel to help the island's failing economy. To save the reserve, she and her friend Inés must help restore the reserve and get a petition signed against the hotel. The gameplay is woven with the narrative, offering simple controls that allow players a seamless interaction with the story, similar to other recent games like Hades. Using keys 1-4 will open a map, a task list, Alba's phone and a guide to the local animals.
One of the most important mechanics for Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is the use of a cellular phone for taking pictures. When the player selects the phone, they can use it to take pictures of wildlife they find while wandering the island. When they do this, it can download the animal's information into a database. These pictures are used to help restore various parts of the island, as well as prove rare animals still live on there. By completing certain tasks around the island, like cleaning up garbage and other waste, or restoring birdfeeders and houses, new animals will start returning to the island for Alba to take pictures of.
To unlock various interactions with animals, such as the ability to heal them or to get tools to repair bridges and other items, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure requires players to interact with people in the town. Once Alba has met a person and asked for their help, she and Inés gain new skills they can use. All the player has to do is walk up to a highlighted animal or object and press 'E'. This simple interaction removes the juggle of equipping items and helps to keep the player immersed in the story. They can also interact with trash that needs picked up, or help fold the laundry hanging out to dry around the town the same way.
The biggest thing that Alba: A Wildlife Adventure does right is its story. Keeping the actual gameplay mechanics simple, Alba puts an emphasis on the narrative, making it the highlight of the game. The focus on understanding the environment, the effects of litter and filth on animals, and how tourist culture and habitat destruction are such a problem for these small islands is sobering. It takes modern issues in games like Stardew Valley to a different level, especially when it's experienced from the eyes of a child.
The story also puts an emphasis on the fact that it doesn't matter how small someone is: Anyone can make a difference if they choose to step up. The player feels triumphant with Alba as she restores the reserve and nurtures the animals that have been at the mercy of the destruction around them. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure beautifully illustrates how one person tries to make a difference, a chain reaction can be started in a community, making this game not just a wonderful playthrough, but a learning opportunity for all ages.
The story and gameplay for Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is both delightful and eye-opening for anyone who decides to pick up a camera and hunt for that perfect lynx picture. With a clean, unique art style and intuitive interaction with the environment, players can enjoy their time saving dolphins and rescuing squirrels or they can travel the island with Inés rebuilding bridges. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is an excellent pick for anyone who hopes to have a relaxing adventure in nature, or learn more about the powerful effects of conservation on small eco-systems. The game is not just fun to play, but carries a powerful message about preserving nature, and how it effects communities.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is available now on Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems. A PC code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.