Europa takes place in an alternate future where humans have established a beautiful paradise colony on one of Jupiter’s moons. Not everything goes according to plan, however, as Europa is almost empty at the start of the game. There is only one robot named Zee moving on the moon, there are only a few animals and robots that take care of Europa’s environment. Zee tries to get to the base high in the sky using a rocket pack and some notes written by his mentor. Through this trip we hope to tell what is happening in Europe.
Europa is in the same spirit as small indie adventure games like Journey (2012) and Roadless (2020). The beautiful game world that seems empty but at the same time offers interesting opportunities to make acrobatic moves for the main characters, as in the games above. Zee’s rocket pack is actually an airship that allows you to make short blasts of air while pressing the ZR button. More air is collected from the blue zone, which is clearly visible in the environment.
Here’s a hint:
Over time you will increase the amount of air in your pack, but you won’t get much at first. After the air is expelled, Zee can move forward when the B button is pressed. In the hands of a skilled player, Zee can fly and glide for a long time like an eagle.
Europa has large outdoor environments, but this is not an open world adventure. When players move too close to the edge, strong winds will blow them back to the direction of the story. Europa lasts a few hours and gives you wider and wider environments to move around as you go. Locations vary from fertile fields to frozen lakes, all the way to abandoned indoor locations.
Unfortunately, the frame slowdown makes the experience on the Switch a less pleasant experience, with the character models especially for the various animals and robots looking very rough at times. Animals that fear Zee usually run into walls to escape. On the other hand, robots doing their own thing looks fun, and there’s more in Zee’s notebook pictures. The main character looks like something out of an anime, and he looks as lost as you would think a robot would be when he finished his last mission.
Here’s a hint:
Fortunately, just before the game was released, there was a 1.3.0 update that made the framerate even smoother. At the time of writing, the latest update makes the Switch experience significantly better. The graphics look a bit outdated, but with very bright and clear colors and visual stories, the game can also be enjoyed in handheld mode. However, there are some frame drops. The camera also caused problems from time to time, such as when it was pointed at a wall or a hill.
Europa is a light game with no combat, but there are more interesting events and puzzles here and there that make the overall experience more enjoyable. Just like in Guardians of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), safety measures are in place in Europe. Players must follow a cable to a switch to shut down the threat of laser blasts. Zee has access to easy-to-find cover, and it’s easy to escape from explosions with a backpack full of fuel. After being beaten, Zee saw stars for a while, but soon it was time to try again. The difficulty level is lenient. It’s not a stressful game, but it does have some gentle fun.
In some puzzle sections, Zee loses his ability to use his rocket pack due to nearby breathing crystals. Later, players encounter flying robotic birds that leave a cloud of electricity in their wake. Touching these birds knocks you to the ground immediately, so it should be avoided. These short puzzle sections force players to use their brains, visualize the environment, and use traditional platforming. These jumps are a bit too delayed, but since Europa is so relaxed, they don’t affect the overall experience.
On the other hand, these amazing crystals are not well explained, which is an example of how thin the story of Europa can be at times. Zee’s advisor left notes here and there that provide more information and context about how great Europa was, but the notes also provide some information about Zee’s relationship with the his mentor. They are great at detailing character and getting into the minds of their mentors, but they don’t tell the story in a simpler way.
However, it is very successful in bringing a human element to such a cute story, and that is true sometimes, such as when Zee approaches the end while listening to the person’s ambitious but questioning words – his advice in his own words as an echo in his mind. Another important theme in the story is the evolving robot AI, but it should have been given more space in the story. Fortunately, players in Europe have additional robots. Overall, there is a good balance between show and tell, with a few surprises here and there.
Europa is a nice little indie gem that hopefully gets more updates on Switch. Zee’s Adventures offers players adventure and great little puzzles. It’s also a surprisingly diverse experience since the game only lasts a few hours.
