Francium is a series of short adventure games featuring a small robot, Roboto, in a world where a megalomaniac king wants to be the last of humans. Each opus presents this original and wacky universe in a different way, both in an independent scenario and in a different graphic treatment. If some episodes follow one another, some others (like this one) can be enjoyed without having played the other games. Probably because this is an "origin" Francium that would serve as one of the first episodes to do if all the episodes were brought together.
Indeed, this Francium 0.5 is above all there to present some robots that the player will find in other episodes. The restricted places confine the hero to a landfill, for the sole purpose of being able to meet his creator, while a war rages. In this polluted environment where overproduction for the sole purpose of throwing away is the ultimate goal, humanity has little future, and Roboto will only meet robots in this adventure, whether they are prison guards, prisoners or simple robots abandoned in the dump.
This Francium is entirely in 3D, in a very successful graphic rendering. Colors, models, textures, lighting, ... the whole is neat, and helps to dive into the stifling atmosphere of this world in agony. The game is fluid, pleasant, and its gameplay is deeply intuitive (keyboard arrows to move Roboto, the mouse to interact on the elements and characters near the robot). Like any great Point & Click classic, this game offers an adventure focused on exploration, dialogues, collecting objects and using an inventory.
A few mini-games are offered, which varies the pleasures. As for the adventure, it is as always original, adorable and very interesting. Always logical and motivating, this game constantly makes you want to know more, and to advance in Roboto's quest. The integration of a game jam requirement (3 rules) is so successful that it seems impossible to design this game without it. And even if this game is the result of a game jam, it remains nonetheless a real little adventure game that is enjoyable for what it is. Here we see how much the developer knows what he is doing and how to do it best.
Remarkably, a French version is even implemented, which makes the game much more intuitive for French-speaking players. This game is therefore an excellent surprise, and offers high-quality entertainment that is worth a look. Any adventurer in need of a nice Point & Click will find in this game all the answers to their requirements. It is beautiful, original, accessible, varied, very well designed: we feel the love of things well done. Essential, therefore.