Azada is an adventure-puzzle casual game

Casual game

A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...

 developed by Big Fish Studios Europe, and distributed by Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...

. The studio previously developed Mystic Inn

Mystic Inn

Mystic Inn is a casual game developed by the team formerly known as Funpause, now part of Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games.- Story :...

and Atlantis Sky Patrol

Atlantis Sky Patrol

Atlantis Sky Patrol is a casual game developed by the team formerly known as Funpause, now part of Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. The game is a sequel to 2005's Atlantis.- Story :...

.

Story

Hapless adventurer Titus has been trapped for years in a magical book, for a reason that is only later revealed in the game. With the last of the magical powers he acquired while trapped, Titus transports you, the player, to his study, and asks for your help to get free. The only way he can ever be released from the book, is to solve the ancient puzzles of Azada. More of the story is revealed as the player solves new puzzles.

Gameplay

Azada's main mechanic consists of escape-the-room puzzles reminiscent of adventure games of the 1990s such as Myst

Myst

Myst is a graphic adventure video game designed and directed by the brothers Robyn and Rand Miller. It was developed by Cyan , a Spokane, Washington––based studio, and published and distributed by Brøderbund. The Millers began working on Myst in and released it for the Mac OS computer on September...

. The main mechanic is complemented by over 20 different mini-games. When playing escape-the-room puzzles, one must find objects hidden in the room, and then use them together or on other parts of the puzzle in order to create a logical chain of actions that ultimately leads to solving the puzzle. When playing minigames, each minigame comes with specific instructions. Azada features known mechanics such as mastermind

Mastermind (board game)

Mastermind or Master Mind is a code-breaking game for two players. The modern game with pegs was invented in 1970 by Mordecai Meirowitz, an Israeli postmaster and telecommunications expert, but the game resembles an earlier pencil and paper game called bulls and cows that may date back a century or...

 and simon

Simon (game)

Simon is an electronic game of memory skill invented by Ralph H. Baer and Howard J. Morrison, with the software programming being done by Lenny Cope and manufactured and distributed by Milton Bradley. Simon was launched in 1978 at Studio 54 in New York City and became an immediate success. It...

 as well as new ones designed specifically for the game.

Theme and production values

Azada features a magic theme reminiscent of movies such as Harry Potter

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...

, and story elements that resemble Jumanji

Jumanji (film)

Jumanji is a 1995 American fantasy-comedy film about a supernatural board game that makes wild animals and other jungle hazards materialize upon each player's move. It was directed by Joe Johnston and is based on Chris Van Allsburg's popular 1981 picture book of the same name...

and Myst

Myst

Myst is a graphic adventure video game designed and directed by the brothers Robyn and Rand Miller. It was developed by Cyan , a Spokane, Washington––based studio, and published and distributed by Brøderbund. The Millers began working on Myst in and released it for the Mac OS computer on September...

. The game features pre-rendered puzzles with many moving parts, as well as high quality orchestral audio.

Reception

According to independent tracking site game-sales-charts.com, following its release on June 29, 2007, Azada held the #1 sales spot on its home distribution channel, Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...

, as well as the #1 or #2 spot on other major online distribution channels. Azada remained for 142 days in the top 10 charts of its home distribution portal, Big Fish Games. Azada also remained in the top 10 charts for 83 days at Pogo.com, 74 days at iWin.com, 44 days at Reflexive.com, and featured a similar sales pattern on other distribution channels.

Azada was a finalist in the Downloadable Game of the Year category, for the Interactive Achievement Awards 2008.

Sequel

Big Fish Studios released a sequel to the game, Azada: Ancient Magic

Azada: Ancient Magic

Azada: Ancient Magic is an adventure and puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios Europe, and distributed by Big Fish Games. The game is a sequel to Azada. The studio previously developed Azada as well as Mystic Inn and Atlantis Sky Patrol.- Gameplay :Azada: Ancient Magic consists of escape...

in August, 2008. Azada: Ancient Magic was less well received on various casual game site forums, with numerous complaints about "dumbing down" of the puzzles and a loss of more complex elements.

External links

• Official Azada Game Site
• Azada on Big Fish Games
• Global sales of Azada on independent tracking site games-sales-charts.com
• Nominees for the Interactive Achievement Awards 2008