The Great Tree

Unique experiences come from original ideas, since they can get away with many other issues, as long as they provide the players with something new and interesting. Thus, whether it's a radical gameplay mechanic, or a fascinating story that keeps you engaged despite the horrible controls and lazy graphics, a single element is usually enough to captivate the attention.

Such is the case with The Great Tree as well, which, despite the fact that it may look like a casual experience for occasional gamers, it does features some neat ideas that might keep you playing for longer than you would expect. The pleasant and exquisite graphics depict dreamy landscapes that are truly magnificent, making it rather difficult to focus on the actual game every once in a while.

To start off with, the story revolves around a big and powerful tree, as the name practically implies. Your role is to play as a fairy that's in charge of collecting pollen for it, as well as avoid the dangers that lurk around the forest and put your life in jeopardy along the way. Moreover, a strange force is also sucking the lie the tree, making it weaker every day and affecting the entire ecosystem.

One interesting gimmick that's part of the game is the fact that it employs some RPG elements as well, since it allows you to increase your stats after you acquire enough experience. Hence, you can increase your magic powers or gain more hitpoints, in order to become more resistant to enemy attacks and make your spells more effective as well. It is also possible to upgrade your wings and take advantage of the bonuses they provide.

As previously mentioned, the game features marvelous graphics, even if most of it are static backgrounds. There is a lot of motion on the screen, however, as well as a rich palette of particle effects that come in all sorts of different colors. The animations are also nicely done, especially when it comes to the fairy and her movements around the trees.

In the end, The Great Tree has more than enough levels for you to play through and they get increasingly more difficult along the way. Hence, while it may be rather simple to avoid the enemies in the beginning, you really have to pay attention toward the end, since they get faster and more aggressive.