The Little Acre
Overview -
'The Little Acre' is the debut title from Irish indie developer Pewter Games Studios. Set in 1950s Ireland, the game stars Aidan and his young daughter Lily as they search for her grandfather who has mysteriously vanished. The adventure game features hand-drawn animation and full voice-acting.
Video Review
The big appeal of 'The Little Acre' is its hand-drawn animation, and it really is a treat to watch. Every person in the game is filled with character, from their idle animations to how they interact with the rest of the world. It's really a gorgeous title, and the artists' really showed how versatile they are as the two in-game worlds have very different art styles (one being more realistic, and then the other featuring chibi-styled characters). The only slight complaint I have is that the characters can occasionally look awkward when walking around. Sometimes the character's feet just don't gel with the environment they're walking upon, and it looks rough. That doesn't come up very often, but it was something that distracted me several times.
Audio Review
All of the characters in 'The Little Acre' are brought to life by some fantastic voice acting. While all of the performances are strong, Kate Clavin as Lily really stands out as the star. The young protagonist's enthusiasm really shines, and it's contrasted by some of the game's more heartbreaking story moments. A decent soundtrack also accompanies the action, although there aren't any real standout tracks that I would want to listen to outside of the game.
Final Thoughts
Playing through 'The Little Acre' will make for an enjoyable afternoon, but not much past that. The impressive production values are the star here, as the gameplay can't match the amazing amount of polish that has been put into the visuals and audio. Narratively, several ideas are left unexplored, and it rarely touches upon both of the unique settings that the game takes place within. Ultimately, it's an average adventure game that has been put in a gorgeous package.