I guess The Critter Chronicles was more of a side project. Of course, it is a decent-length adventure game, but in comparison to the 1st Unwritten Tales game, it feels less ambitious and more condensed. It's shorter, it has only two playable characters and it has fewer locations, most of the game takes place in the Northlands, where Nate crash lands.
Let's rewind a bit. The Critter Chronicles takes place before the events of The Book of Unwritten Tales. Nate has just won himself an airship and the orc bounty hunter Zazi is chasing him, causing the ship to crash into the Northlands, where the Critter and his people are as well. We actually get to know Critter and his background a bit better, as it's revealed, that he is in fact an alien and his people's ship has crash-landed on the icy land as well.
Munkus has found the aliens as well. As they have technology beyond his understanding, he's obviously thinking they have some previously unseen magic. Needing help, the critters at first asked his help, but have now lost the heart of their ship to the toady wizard. They need that back. And Nate needs their help to repair his ship, so Nate and Critter need to work together so everyone can get what they want: Nate his ship repaired and Critter the heart of Layla, the daughter of his boss.
Just like in the first game, you'll meet zany characters, fantasy parodies, and jabs toward pop culture and sci-fi. If that's your jam, then the game might provide more than enough entertainment. Personally, I can't say I'm a huge fan of it, as I find it mostly a tad boring. And I don't really like Nate at all. He's just not a fun character.
Overall, The Critter Chronicles, just like its predecessor, is a pretty solid-looking game. The background art looks very nice and detailed and the character models are more than serviceable, at least when seen far away away. The music is good. The voice acting is more of a hit-and-miss, but then again, I didn't really find the humor great either, so that might have something to do with it.
The Book of Unwritten Tales is perhaps a tad too long game for its own good, The Critter Chronicles is much shorter, but it's also a blander experience. While I can somewhat recommend the 1st game, this one I just can't, unless you are a die-hard fan of the series.
Those interested can get the game from GOG or Steam.
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