Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale review

There is a long tradition of artists turning their wounds into work. Painters, novelists, and filmmakers have understood that the process of creation can be cathartic. Taking something that is painful and turning that into a relatable narrative might just embody that old cliché about lemons and lemonade.

Expectedly, games are steadily joining that movement, and Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale stands as one of the more authentic examples of a developer using the medium not merely to entertain, but also to heal. Rooted in personal trauma, specifically a mother’s rejection, there’s a candor in Apopia that’s missing from most games. As much as I crave sweaty-palm escapism, I also love a game that explores some of life’s intricacies.

A Kingdom with No Exit

Sugar Coated Tale follows Mai, a girl who falls into a cave while hiking with her mother and lands in Yogurt, a fanciful rabbit kingdom. Unfortunately, Yogurt is under the control of an entity named Boss, who is preventing anyone from entering or leaving. As such, Mai is pushed into working with a kitten named Nico, the ousted princess Moly, and a trio of misfits to unravel why the kingdom is closed. Ultimately, Mai needs to find her way back home.

Sure, that premise sounds simple, with a plotline focusing on a lost child trying to return to their mother. But that simplicity is complicated by catalogue of muddling feelings. Mai has no other place to go, but mixed feelings about her parent complicate this trek. And while I found the realistic exploration of dysfunction relatable, I wasn’t always amused by Apopia’s attempts at humor. To a lesser extent, the storyline is guilty of not developing key members of its cast.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Intriguingly, contrasts are pervasive in Sugar Coated Tale. Mai remembers her mother as two entirely different beings: one who loves and wants the world for her, while another abuses her and considers her a disgrace. Best of all, developer Quillo Entertainment isn’t interested in offering a tidy solution. Like Mai, the player is forced to accept these opposing temperaments. Instead, Apopia will put you through cycles of hope and frustration, hoping that you find acceptance.

But this dissonance isn’t just part of the narrative but also shapes the game’s mechanics. Mai’s fragmented perception gives her a special ability: being able to traverse Dark Worlds. These are dimensions that exist inside each individual, allowing you to view a person’s thoughts, memories, and past. The protagonist uses them to understand what the people of Yogurt are looking for, as well as visiting recent memories to find missing items of people. Given this approach, the game makes catharsis interactive. By stepping inside another person’s pain, the focus is on exploration, rather than erasure. And it’s moderately gratifying as well.

Expectedly, the Dark Worlds offer several startling reveals. One world divulges a childhood defined by neglect and struggle with addiction. For a game that kicks off with bunnies in a whimsical kingdom, that was the moment when I reflected on how deep down the rabbit hole Apopia took me. But it’s not the only eye-opener. On the surface, the world of Yogurt is bright and colorful, resembling an impressionist-leaning Nickelodeon cartoon. But those sporadic descents into literal darkness delivered a contrast that was a bit haunting. I’d say there’s a good chance that you’ll think about Sugar Coated Tale long after the credits roll.  That said, it’s a rather short experience, so savor rather than binge.

Puzzles, Pastimes, and a Dating Sim

Most of the game’s trek is handled like a classic point-and-click adventure. Each chapter has a specific goal, whether it’s finding a code to a gate, locating a library entrance, or tracking down a missing person. Completing those tasks requires speaking to characters, understanding their needs, and gathering the items to satisfy them. Luckily, Sugar Coated Tale isn’t as frustrating as some of the adventure games I played, although I did get stuck once.

Meanwhile, mini-games punctuate the puzzles. You’ll tackle everything from rhythm-based tests, baseball challenges, grappling-hook traversal, stealth sequences, and even a full-on dating simulator parody. Largely, these were creative and often forgiving, offering a nice break from the main quest.

A Few Stings Accompany the Wave of Emotion

Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is not a perfect game.  A few puzzles can frustrate, some mini-games drag, and a few of the game’s supporting characters don’t have much depth. But as an act of catharsis modeled and shaped into something playable, it’s a remarkable feat. Quillo Entertainment reminds us that when narrative-driven games are at their best, they explore issues that we often struggle to speak about aloud.

Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.