Saving the Axolotl

About

You play as Cincuenta, an axolotl fighting to save his polluted home in this 2D platformer. Navigate canals choked by trash and overrun by invasive fish while dodging toxic spills and construction machinery. The game switches between fast platforming sections and slow exploration where you confront environmental hazards. Each level represents a different threat to Cincuenta’s world, blending combat against garbage piles with stealthy avoidance of predators. The game stands out for framing environmental decay as a tangible enemy. Garbage and invasive species aren’t just obstacles, they’re consequences of real-world issues. While some sections feel repetitive, the hand-drawn art and melancholic soundtrack give weight to Cincuenta’s hopeless yet determined journey. Players spend more time avoiding than defeating foes, mirroring the struggle of conservation efforts. The lack of combat variety softens the impact, but the 3 hour runtime leaves a lingering sense of unease about habitat loss.

Storyline

In the depths of the canals of Xochimilco, a mystical place full of life, lived "Cincuenta," an axolotl. He was no ordinary axolotl, for his name came from the local belief that he was one of the last fifty wild axolotls left in the world. Cincuenta’s home was a watery paradise, with crystal clear waters and plants that moved in rhythm with the currents. However, everything began to turn for the worse. Three enemies threatened Cincuenta's existence and the balance of his home. The main enemy was "Human Being," the human being. With his insatiable desire for expansion and development, "Human Being" drained the canals, built over them, and poured toxic substances that poisoned the water. But he did not act alone. He had two minions who were just as destructive. "Junk," the garbage, was evidence of human being responsibility. It floated in the water, tangled among the plants, and choked aquatic life. Each 'Junk' was a reminder of "Human Being's" carelessness and how their actions directly affected beings like 'Cincuenta.' Finally, there was "Carp the Fish," the carp fish. Artificially introduced into Cincuenta's habitat, this fish became a voracious predator. With its insatiable appetite, "Carp the Fish" consumed everything in its path, including the eggs and hatchlings of the axolotls.