Guacamelee

Platform(s):

Linux, Mac, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Release Date:

April 2013

Genre:

Action/Adventure, Puzzle, Side-Scroller

Creators:

Drinkbox Studios

E 10+

Fantasy Violence
Mild Blood
Suggestive Themes
Use of Alcohol

Guacamelee is a puzzle platformer that takes place during a Mexican melodrama involving the afterlife and a quest for true love.

Challenging Play

Great Music

Click a title to learn more about each topic.

Story & Themes

Juan Aguacate is a guava farmer living in a small Mexican town. Juan is in love with El Presidente's daughter, and he is killed when an evil skeleton attempts to kidnap her—in the Land of the Dead, Juan is given a magical mask that transforms him into a Luchador. He then must embark on a quest to rescue the woman he loves.

Save Points

Guacamelee autosaves at the beginning of each platform and when health is replenished.

Difficulty

Some have described Guacamelee as overly difficult at parts.

Heads Up!

Violence Cartoon violence only.

Scary Imagery Many of the bad guys are skeletal in nature, but are not meant to scare.

Sex & Nudity There is some mildly suggestive dialogue.

Discrimination While the game is set in Mexico, it is also filled with tongue-in-cheek humor, some of which may play into stereotypes of Mexican culture. The game also tells a fairly tired story—the main character has to rescue his damsel-in-distress.

Conversation Starters

What are some things game designers should look out for or be aware of when making a game about a culture foreign to their own? (Guacamelee was made by a Canadian studio.)
What did you think of the characters in Guacamelee? Were they stereotypes, or were they funny? Can they be both?

Heads Up!

Genre:

Action/Adventure, Puzzle, Side-Scroller

Interests / Subjects:

Animals,
Art (Painting, Drawing, etc.),
Fairy Tales,
Fantasy,
Languages,
Magic,
Music,
North America,
South/Central America,
Travel

COMPETENCIES / INTELLIGENCIES:

Critical thinking,
Physical coordination

REGION OF ORIGIN:

North America/U.K./Australia

ONLINE PLAY:

Cannot be played online

DIFFICULTY SETTINGS:

Yes

Violence:

2 / 5

Scary Imagery:

1 / 5

Sex & Nudity:

1 / 5

Strong Language:

0 / 5

Substance use:

1 / 5

Consumerism:

7 / 5

Guacamelee

Story & Themes

Save Points

Difficulty

Heads Up!

Conversation Starters

Genre:

Interests / Subjects:

COMPETENCIES / INTELLIGENCIES:

REGION OF ORIGIN:

ONLINE PLAY:

DIFFICULTY SETTINGS:

Violence:

Scary Imagery:

Sex & Nudity:

Strong Language:

Substance use:

Consumerism:

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