Developed by New York-based indie workforce Dee Dee Creations, Squirrel With a Gun is a sandbox shoot ‘em up and 3D platformer following a mischievous squirrel on a quest to gather acorns, wreak havoc throughout a tranquil neighborhood, and defeat a company of brokers in scorching pursuit, all whereas utilizing quite a lot of totally different weapons, autos, acrobatics, and outfits to traverse in any other case inaccessible areas and even assist members of the neighborhood group fairly than menacing them.
This recreation is each bit as pleasing as it’s straight-up loopy. There’s an unprecedented quantity of selection in gameplay, the graphical high quality may be very spectacular, and it additionally hearkens again to the golden age of 3D platforming in its construction and general aesthetic, regardless of some minor flaws.
Squirrel with a Gun takes place in a sandbox neighborhood full with homes to discover, roads and avenue obstacles to both run throughout or drive round or to even carry out stunts for extra bonuses, underwater areas to discover, secret bases to flee, rivers to water ski on, and even bouncy castles within the sky to bounce via.
“The world it’s set in does a wonderful job of delivering an awesome depth of variety ready to be skilled.”
The watchword of this title is selection, and by way of the sport’s conceptual design, there’s actually loads of it, particularly for a recreation that at the beginning look, arguably seems to be fairly generic on the floor. Nonetheless, this recreation is something however generic in each side. The world it’s set in does a wonderful job of delivering an awesome depth of variety ready to be skilled. Apart from that, nonetheless, Squirrel with a Gun can be graphically beautiful, right down to even the smallest particulars such because the squirrel’s honest follicles, the reflections in both the squirrel’s eyes or the agent’s sun shades, the breathtaking water results, and the excellent use of lighting within the underground base sequences.
At its core, Squirrel With a Gun is a standard 3D platformer, functioning basically equally to the likes of Banjo-Kazooie, and the unique Jak & Daxter. The primary goal is to gather two several types of acorns scattered all through the neighborhood. These embody the common acorns discovered all around the streets, in homes, throughout obstacles, and even up energy traces, however they will also be collected by both entertaining or menacing the locals, and by defeating enemies. There are additionally golden acorns which might be obtained by finishing particular duties throughout every totally different part of the neighborhood.
These acorns are used to progress additional all through the sport, in addition to unlock totally different weapons to wield, totally different autos to journey, and even totally different outfits to put on that can be utilized to traverse minefields and discover underwater; in addition to them getting used to unlock new skins for the participant character. Places of collectibles might be ascertained by climbing flagpoles relative to every space, and the participant should then acquire them by enterprise precision platforming, defeating enemies, using autos and fixing splendidly elaborate puzzles strewn throughout the neighborhood.
“Gamers save their progress by latching onto birdhouses scattered all through the sport versus their being a easy save choice within the pause menu for instance.”
Squirrel with a Gun has selection not solely in its conceptual design but additionally by way of gameplay. Puzzles are very cleverly designed, and there may be additionally an awesome sense of problem available with regards to the platforming side. A very good factor is that gamers are given the choice to take their time with regards to this. It supplies an awesome gaming expertise for each newcomers to the style in addition to seasoned veterans searching for an expertise new to what they’re used to. Inevitably, comparisons might be drawn between this recreation and Conker’s Unhealthy Fur Day, simply with out as a lot of the mature content material as the previous. There’s even an outfit that may be unlocked much like Rareware’s squirrel.
However with all the opposite components of this recreation sprinkled over the 3D platforming aspect of it, it makes for a particularly entertaining recreation. Weapons aren’t simply used to defeat enemies, but additionally to traverse obstacles and resolve puzzles. There are methods in addition to utilizing weapons to subdue enemies akin to climbing on them and performing cinematic takedown strikes. There are additionally a good few boss fights thrown in for good measure that once more require an honest degree of technique to undertake.
Nonetheless, gamers save their progress by latching onto birdhouses scattered all through the sport versus their being a easy save choice within the pause menu for instance. Whereas it’s a good little gimmick paying homage to how saves could be dealt with in traditional video games, it might probably make it significantly straightforward to lose progress if gamers overlook to do it.
I reviewed the PC model, and full keyboard and controller help is obtainable. They’ve been applied extraordinarily effectively; particularly given how a lot variety there may be in its gameplay and what number of totally different instructions there are to execute.
“To finish Squirrel with a Gun to 100% can take a most of 8 hours, which is the sport’s most distinguished flaw.”
Relating to platforming, adjusting the digital camera sensitivity choice could be advisable for anybody who could initially wrestle on this regard, however as soon as accomplished, the controls don’t are available the best way to hinder the sport’s sense of enjoyable and pleasure. There may be additionally an auto-aim operate that makes gun wielding welcomingly uncomplicated, even when using autos on the similar time.
To finish Squirrel with a Gun to 100% can take a most of 8 hours, which is the sport’s most distinguished flaw. In comparison with the aforementioned conventional platformers, it falls wanting them in that respect, and can inevitably depart gamers wanting extra.
The silver lining is that the range in gameplay and the basic construction of the sport each supply scope for growth if a sequel and/or a non secular successor is ever developed. This recreation does have the potential makings for a distinguished gaming sequence if the builders resolve to increase upon it, and naturally, there may be greater than sufficient selection in gameplay to make this title extraordinarily pleasing for the small period of time it may be made to final. However regardless, Squirrel with a Gun is far too quick.
“The cinematic finishes gamers can execute whereas defeating enemies are additionally hilarious at occasions and solely add to Squirrel with a Gun’s general comedic aesthetic. “
The premise of Squirrel with a Gun is so simple as it’s hysterical. A lone squirrel breaks right into a top-secret base and steals a golden acorn. He’s then pursued by a company of brokers in typical James Bond style to retrieve the acorn and terminate their furry fugitive goal. After having escaped the ability, the squirrel resolves to gather extra golden acorns, assist and/or harass the inhabitants of a quiet peaceable neighborhood, and defeat the company pursuing him.
Whereas the plot is far more easy than thematically compelling, that’s not what gamers will play this recreation for. Gamers will likely be moved to laughter with nearly each comical cutscene that takes place all through the sport and will likely be usually charmed by its very primary preliminary premise. The cinematic finishes gamers can execute whereas defeating enemies are additionally hilarious at occasions and solely add to Squirrel with a Gun’s general comedic aesthetic.
In a market that’s turning into more and more troublesome to face out among the many crowd with extra indie titles launched 12 months after 12 months, Squirrel with a Gun’s splendidly hilarious and fascinating expertise does a wonderful job of standing out amongst many different titles.
This recreation was reviewed on the PC.
