The Italian government is wading into the video game publishing world. Italy: Land of Wonders is an attempt on the part of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to introduce the world to Italian cultural heritage. It launches for mobile devices today.
Wait, what? The Italian government is publishing a video game?
Yup. Italy: Land of Wonders contains over 100 puzzle levels for players to solve and will focus on the story of Elio (based on the Greek sun god Helios), a lighthouse keeper who must light the sun that rises over Italy. As his newest recruit, you must help Elio to retrieve 20 sparks in a series of adventures around Italy. You'll meet five Guardians themed around the five touchstones of Italian culture: Nature, Cuisine, Art, Performance, and Design. It's all a little odd, but it looks charming enough. You can check out the trailer for the game right here.
What is the gameplay like in Italy: Land of Wonders?
Each of Italy: Land of Wonders' 100 levels will feature a 3D reconstruction of an iconic Italian landmark, so although you're bound to see lots of stuff you're familiar with, there will be some fun surprises as well. The Italian MFA says it's built for "those already acquainted with Italy, as well as those who are not and want to learn more". In addition to the game, Italy: Land of Wonders will also come with 600 articles filled with "stories, news, and fun facts". Of course, there's also a musical score inspired by centuries of Italian classical music and film scores to enjoy.
Italy: Land of Wonders promises to be a rather unique experience. You can download it right now via Android or iOS. The App Store page says the game was designed for iPad devices, so it's probably best to play this one on a tablet. If you don't have one, though, your smartphone will do just fine. It's completely free to download, so make sure to check it out if you're interested in a cultural tour of Italy.
Will you be giving Italy: Land of Wonders a download? Which other world governments would you like to see release a video game? Let us know in the comments below!
