We tend to drop all hope for anything with the word simulator in its description but my experience with the aquarium simulator game, Aquarist was anything but. As I perused through the functions and steadily completed task after task, I found the experience to be nothing short of inspiring.
The journey that I have undergone in my time playing Aquarist, can only be described as life changing. The amount of love and care that fills this Aquarium building and selling simulator cannot be underestimated. Truly, I found myself drawn back to the game, time after time, looking to see what else it would throw at me this time.
FISHIES!!!
From the very beginning, it was made clear that this was not just any Aquarium builder. Believe me, the research placed into making sure that the process of building the aquarium and ultimately taking care of marine life was top notch, but that is not what truly sold the experience for me.
Once the tutorial ends, we are guided by our father to a trashy garage and told to convert it into a shop. It was here my pessimistic mind first began to think that the charade was over and that the repetitive grind to boredom was to begin
I was wrong.
After I finished cleaning up, the junk either trashed or sold, the garage started to bear exactly what was in store. Transparent outlines became visible by the walls, each unveiling a shelf filled with items. Many tables came available for me to place my aquariums. I got to work!
The better you build, the more your fish are worth…. The more the fish are worth, the more they reproduce, the more they reproduce the more there is to sell, the more you sell, the more money you have to build. This cycle would continue on and money would increase.
It keeps evolving:
- Customers come in, you have to keep the store stocked.
- Private contracts that would teleport you to the clients locations (each time some place unique). These clients would have you fix or build brand new aquariums.
- For every job, there would be a fee, and it was up to you how much you wished to spend to get the job done, as you were free to keep whatever remained.
- The marine often sends special samples of endangered fish, tasking you with increasing their numbers and selling them off. In return, you would get the ability to now buy those fish from markets.
But what is the goal, you ask?
At the top of the screen, the objective read clearly… make 10,000 in cash to unlock the Aquarium. Reach the goal and you will get a bigger store with more tasks and even more places to put fish. Reach the goal again in the new shop and you get an even bigger place to run your business. The grand gameplay loop could keep one hooked for hours and hours on end.
In the start it seemed difficult to play but soon, money started rolling in and the target was reached.
Meh…
The tale of Aquarist is nothing out of this world and it does not have to be. You are a young fish lover aspiring to be a renowned businessman in the field. All dialogue and story push that narrative and do not really affect the way you may choose to play this game.
Niggles:
Aquarist has some annoying quirks that can bother players. Sometimes, you have to walk a long way just to do a simple task, which feels like a waste of time. Also, some things that should be easy, like taking fish out of the tank, end up being a pain because you can only do it one fish at a time.
Another problem is that the game doesn’t explain well if certain fish can live together peacefully or not. This can lead to surprises and confusion when your fish start fighting unexpectedly. It would be better if the game gave clearer advice about which fish can get along in the tank, so players can avoid problems and enjoy their aquariums more.
The sound can be inconsistent, with some elements being quiet while others produce ear-shattering noise. (Note: Keep sound down when picking and putting down aquariums.)
But these are just as they seem, just niggles and minor inconvenience that are easily overlooked in the vast offerings of this game.
What an Experience!
As my time with Aquarist comes to an end, I find myself longing to play more of this wonderful experience.
Yes, it may feel a tad bit slow at times but with a little push, any true appreacter of games, will easily spend hours in this wonderful little game. It is quite evident from the get go that a lot of effort went in. As the game proceeds, this feeling only becomes better and the loop more enticing.
