Developed by New York-based indie staff 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 sizzling pursuit, all whereas utilizing a wide range of completely different weapons, automobiles, acrobatics, and outfits to traverse in any other case inaccessible areas and even assist members of the neighborhood neighborhood reasonably than menacing them.
This recreation is each bit as pleasurable as it’s straight-up loopy. There’s an unprecedented quantity of selection in gameplay, the graphical high quality could be very spectacular, and it additionally hearkens again to the golden age of 3D platforming in its construction and total 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 by.
“The world it’s set in does a wonderful job of delivering an excellent 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 definitely loads of it, particularly for a recreation that at the beginning look, arguably appears to be like fairly generic on the floor. Nevertheless, this recreation is something however generic in each facet. The world it’s set in does a wonderful job of delivering an excellent depth of variety ready to be skilled. Apart from that, nevertheless, Squirrel with a Gun can also be graphically gorgeous, all the way down to even the smallest particulars such because the squirrel’s truthful follicles, the reflections in both the squirrel’s eyes or the agent’s sun shades, the breathtaking water results, and the very good 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 principle goal is to gather two several types of acorns scattered all through the neighborhood. These embrace 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 can be obtained by finishing particular duties throughout every completely different part of the neighborhood.
These acorns are used to progress additional all through the sport, in addition to unlock completely different weapons to wield, completely different automobiles to trip, and even completely 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 may be ascertained by climbing flagpoles relative to every space, and the participant should then receive them by enterprise precision platforming, defeating enemies, driving automobiles 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 excellent sense of problem available relating to the platforming facet. An excellent factor is that gamers are given the choice to take their time relating to this. It gives an excellent gaming expertise for each newcomers to the style in addition to seasoned veterans in search of an expertise new to what they’re used to. Inevitably, comparisons may be drawn between this recreation and Conker’s Dangerous 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 an especially entertaining recreation. Weapons usually are not simply used to defeat enemies, but additionally to traverse obstacles and remedy puzzles. There are methods apart from utilizing weapons to subdue enemies reminiscent of 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 stage of technique to undertake.
Nevertheless, 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 harking back to how saves can be dealt with in basic video games, it might make it significantly simple to lose progress if gamers neglect to do it.
I reviewed the PC model, and full keyboard and controller assist is obtainable. They’ve been carried out extraordinarily properly; particularly given how a lot variety there may be in its gameplay and what number of completely 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 outstanding flaw.”
In terms of platforming, adjusting the digicam sensitivity choice can be advisable for anybody who might initially battle 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 delight. There may be additionally an auto-aim operate that makes gun wielding welcomingly uncomplicated, even when driving automobiles on the identical time.
To finish Squirrel with a Gun to 100% can take a most of 8 hours, which is the sport’s most outstanding flaw. In comparison with the aforementioned conventional platformers, it falls wanting them in that respect, and can inevitably go away gamers wanting extra.
The silver lining is that the variability in gameplay and the basic construction of the sport each supply scope for growth if a sequel and/or a religious successor is ever developed. This recreation does have the potential makings for a outstanding gaming sequence if the builders determine to increase upon it, and naturally, there may be greater than sufficient selection in gameplay to make this title extraordinarily pleasurable for the small period of time it may be made to final. However regardless, Squirrel with a Gun is way too brief.
“The cinematic finishes gamers can execute whereas defeating enemies are additionally hilarious at occasions and solely add to Squirrel with a Gun’s total 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 trend 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 rather more easy than thematically compelling, that’s not what gamers will play this recreation for. Gamers shall be moved to laughter with virtually each comical cutscene that takes place all through the sport and shall be typically 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 total comedic aesthetic.
In a market that’s changing into more and more tough 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.