Echoes of Ciudadela Asks You to Solve Mysteries of an Abandoned Soul
I was recently introduced to Echoes of Ciudadela, a puzzle-solver and narrative-driven game with minimal mechanics. At first, the experience seemed to me like a well-painted picture of Autumn with a young protagonist, Katari, who was doing his best to be the “ideal” son.
However, as the game went on, my perception shifted. I went from a place of playing a puzzle game to one that wrestles with a common mystery found in our world: solving the heartbreak of a son who has been abandoned by his father.
Solving the Puzzle of Grief
Our protagonist in Echoes of Ciudadela may be perceived as a cliched young man who must do what he has to do - take things into his own hands to gain closure on his father’s death. Regardless of what he may be feeling in the moment.
From the voice actor’s brilliant performance to the heartfelt monologues, it’s quite clear that this journey is less about exploring a nature-esque landscape and more about a father’s legacy left for his son.
What starts as a question mark ends with an “oh, I see now!” moment that can be felt through the pixels and polygons.
It’s one thing to feel a character’s pain through an interactive experience, but it’s another to feel their resentment flowing through heartache as the game goes on.
However, in my playthrough, I began understanding Katari’s unspoken words and wishes that were never felt between his short-lived relationship with his father.
Putting Together Pieces of a Ghost
My favorite part of Echoes of Ciudadela remains in the diversity of its puzzles. There are runes to uncover, dials to move around, symbols to make sense of, and pieces of furniture to be put into the right (and wrong) places.
Even though many of these puzzles had me scratching my head and debating my three and a half brain cells, as soon as they were solved... an aha moment gave it closure.
Every piece of every puzzle meant something to Katari and his father. Without spoiling anything - consider Echoes of Ciudadela as a narrative experience that translates a father’s last words and wishes into intricate challenges for his son to solve.
In a way, I wasn’t just understanding Katari’s psyche; I was also getting to know his father. And the legacy of their relationship that was yet to be founded throughout a mysteriously crafted land.
Mind you, there’s also a Balearic sling to master. I found myself busy targeting and interacting with random things, and somehow solving a puzzle. That’s how I get through most of life, anyway.
The What-Could-Have-Been-Solved
While the adventures and puzzles remain etched in my memory as a large part of the experience, I do wonder if there’s more? Katari is a curious young man who found a new path while solving his own.
It’s this open canvas of an adventurous mind that excites me more; is there more to this family history than the developer tells us? Or is it left to our imaginations to ponder over?
Echoes from Ciudadela may be a tiny and complex adventure; it’s not an easily forgotten one. If you’re into walking simulators with a pinch of heavy storytelling and puzzle solving, I think this one’s worth trying out.
Credits:
Images borrowed from Adventure Game Hotspot.
A huge shoutout to the lovely voice acting by Valentin.
A heartfelt thank you to the Starfall PR team for sending me the game code <3
Kronos Interactive for making Echoes of Ciudadela, duh! Find it on Steam.
