Samorost 3

Development

The development started in 2010. Samorost 3 was developed by a team of about six people. Developers drew artistic inspiration from animated films by Czech directors like Karel Zeman, Jan Švankmajer, Jiří Barta or Břetislav Pojar. Another source of inspiration were films by Russian animator Yuriy Norshteyn. The game consists of 45 screens that were changed many times during development. Another important part of development was sound recording. It was created by people making weird noises in microphones. These people include Bára Kratochvílová and Miloš Dvořáček. Other sounds were created by Tomáš Dvořák as he used multiple instruments, such as lollipop used to a strum, to create required sounds. Dvořák also composed the music for the game.

Samorost 3 was released on 24 March 2016 for Steam, and 3 December 2016 for Android.

Gameplay

Samorost 3 features gameplay similar to previous Amanita Design games. The game contains no comprehensible dialogue, only a system of animated thought bubbles and gibberish. The player controls Gnome on his journey through space full of planets, equipped with an inventory and a flute. He explores the environment, solves puzzles and collects items required for the obstacles that come in his way. He can also communicate with creatures he meets during his journey. These creatures include ghosts who need Gnome´s help. The player can also use a flute that is required to solve some puzzles.

Samorost 3 features a walkthrough that can be accessed at any time by playing a minigame if player gets stuck. The walkthrough is not in written or spoken form, but instead a series of sketches describing the puzzle at hand and its solution.

Plot

Samorost 3 starts when a magical flute falls near Gnome's house. Gnome decides to find out where it came from and sets out on a journey through the cosmos. He speaks to an engineer and asks him to build a toadstool rocket, which he does by reusing parts found scattered on his home planet. Gnome flies from planet to planet and meets multiple creatures who he helps with their problems using the flute.

Gnome eventually discovers two illustrated books and learns that the flute belongs to four monks. Not long ago, the monks were all at peace, until a giant orange space octopus arrived from a black wormhole and started consuming planets. The monks saw the octopus coming and consulted an engineer (the same one from Gnome's home planet) to build a three-headed watering spaceship controlled by the flutes that they can fly on the back of, and a mechanical knight powered by a black orb with which to fight the octopus and save the universe. The knight dismembers and kills the octopus, then the knight goes to sleep on a moon, and the orb is locked away and protected by a guardian monk.

In the second book, one of the four monks uses his flute to create evil spirits, and the other three monks banish him for doing so. He secretly takes the spaceship and converts it into a three-headed fire-breathing mechanical dragon. Flying on the dragon, he snatches the other three flutes from the monks and casts the monks out of their mountain castle. However one of the flutes flew away, and this is the flute that landed on Gnome's planet. He then uses the dragon to consume good spirits he finds on other planets and then seizes the black orb so that the knight cannot be awakened.

Gnome eventually reaches the planet of monks, sneakily steals the black orb from the evil monk, and uses it to revive the mechanical knight who then slays the dragon and presumably killing the evil monk in the process. Gnome celebrates with the remaining three monks, who reward him with the power to travel instantly across all the planets and returns the black orb to its guarded storage. Gnome finally returns to his home planet to greet his dog.

Reception

Samorost 3 has generally been well received by critics. It currently holds 80% on Metacritic.

Washington Post called Samorost 3 "a strange and beautiful point-and-click adventure game." T review likened Samorost 3 to Loom as both games "feature a hooded main character who channels magic out of music." The review praised the animation and surrealistic visuals. Another point of praise was a hint system that can spare player of frustration. The review finished with recommendation for parents who "look for something to play with their young children."

Kill Screen review called Samorost 3 "The best adventure game in years. The review praised the design of the game world and its visuals. The game was also praised for its explorative gameplay that gives player a feeling of exploration.

Kotaku included Samorost 3 in its list of titles with the best video game music of 2016.

Samorost 3 is nominated for 6 Czech Game of the Year Awards. It was nominated in categories Best Game, Best PC/Console Game, Best Audio, Best Game Design, Best Story and Best Visuals. Winners were announced on 10 February 2016. Samorost 3 has won in 3 categories - Czech game of the year, Czech game of the year for PC/Consoles and Best audio. Samorost 3 was the most successful game at Czech Game of 2016.