In my last column I discussed five games in which animals are central. I’ve found so many great games that I couldn’t put them all in one column. So today we look at more games with animals as protagonists.
lost ember
lost ember is an exploratory narrative walking simulator game in which you search for clues about an ancient civilization that has disappeared from the land. You do this mainly in wolf form, but you can also take the form of various other animals to help you navigate the terrain. You are accompanied by a red glowing orb, the lost ember. The graphics and music are very nice, and the story is moving. Some players have complained that this title doesn’t offer them enough challenge. If this is not an urgent concern for you and you are looking for a good story, then lost ember maybe something for you. The game is richly decorated with more than a dozen awards. Originally released in October 2019, the title has good player ratings. lost ember is available for the four major gaming systems for $30. Some reviewers have complained about the Nintendo Switch version of the game, so you might want to keep that in mind. Lost Ember’s gameplay lasts about 4-5 hours, and I can imagine some wanting to repeat it every few years, or however many times you watch a fun movie.
Cult of the Lamb
This is weird folks, so if you like creepy or occult topics, buckle up. Cult of the Lamb was only released yesterday, and I’ll be ready in a minute. You play as a recently sacrificed lamb brought back from the dead to be a cult leader and overthrow the current religious system to set an ancient god free…I guess. The game is part roguelike and part village town building with some minigames added. You spend some of your time defeating enemies and some of your time leading your cult. You can do weird cult things like sacrifice dissidents and turn them into food for your followers, or even convince your followers that they should be sacrificed themselves. You keep your followers nourished and happy, and I think their worship nourishes you as their leader. It looks interesting and comically gory. Cult of the Lamb is available on Steam, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S and Nintendo Switch for $25. Look forward to a full review of this game as I may be joining the cult of this title soon.
Kitaria fables
Kitaria fables is also a rouge-esque, farming sim game, but it swaps the creepy and cultish for cute and cuddly. In Kitaria fables you play as a cat who returns home to run the family’s old farm while protecting the city from monsters and generally being a hero type. Kitaria fables has mixed reviews, but overall higher than average ratings. Compare many reviewers Kitaria fables until runic factory and Stardew Valley, but they claim it misses the mark slightly on both fronts. Players have complained about the slower frame rate on the Nintendo Switch vs PC, but what else is new? There are also a few other downsides, such as low load carrying capacity, slow running speed, and lack of adequate teleport locations. The game seems especially appealing to players who enjoy spending hours tinkering and doing side quests. Released in June last year, Kitaria fables is available on all current systems. The going rate is $20, but the PlayStation and Nintendo Stores are offering the game at a 35%-40% discount for a limited time. With 15 – 40 hours of gameplay and only minor inconveniences, I think the game is worth a try if you like this genre.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
Almost every list of animal main character games included Octodad: Dadliest Catch. I’m going to be honest; I judged this game by its title and immediately wrote it off as a ridiculous concept. But in the end, I saw the name pop up often enough that I decided to watch at least a few trailers. The game is still a ridiculous concept. As the title suggests, you play as an octopus father, but your family is human. Apparently everyone likes that, but there are scientists trying to catch you. The main appeal of the game is that it uses an absurd physics engine. You have to control the various tentacles of the dadapus and navigate the deliberately cluttered environment. You’ll knock everything over and look ridiculous doing that, but it’ll be funny to watch. Octodad also makes weird blubbering noises, which everyone just accepts. He really is an octopus pretending to be a human. That’s the appeal; it’s just fun to play. The game will debut in early 2014 and will be available on Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch for $15. It’s also available through both the Google Play and the App Store for $5, as well as older consoles like PS Vista and Wii U. You might be able to score the game for $3.74 as a digital copy through the Nintendo Store, but I don’t see an expiration date for the deal, so don’t quote me on it!
Wolf Quest
Wolf Quest is a game that has been going on for over a decade. You play as a 2-year-old wolf in Yellowstone National Park who must find a mate and survive in the wild. Of all the animal simulation games I’ve looked at, this one seems to be the most realistic. I believe they even have wolf experts from Yellowstone on bail to verify the correctness of the sim. Wolves have been my favorite animal since I was in grade school, so I watched a quick playthrough with a lot of scrutiny, but it really seems to make sense. Originally released at the end of 2007, the developers have been constantly releasing updates and revamping the game. The most recent update is the Anniversary editionthat boasts of being a complete remake of the original game.
The Anniversary edition was released in July 2019 with early access and is currently only available through Steam. Older versions of the game are available through mobile app stores. Wolf Quest seems to have a cult following. I don’t see much talk about it, but you can find great archives of playthroughs on YouTube. The developers also regularly post video development blogs describing new features and various updates. Wolf Quest has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. The game currently costs $20, and both the Birthday and 2.7 version are included with purchase. Despite my aversion to computer games, I will definitely be playing for hours Wolf Quest in the near future.
Well there you have it folks, another set of five must try animal POV games. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these games and if I missed any of your favorite animal titles. Until next time, stay cool, be you. Bye!
0 Comments