Burly Men at Sea is not a game about getting from point A to point B, but rather a stroll through a fantastic world where the impossible lurks just beyond the edge of the scenery.Īs the brother’s story unfolds, the decisions you make at certain junctions will direct the course of their adventure. This highly stylized world reacts to your touch, and each area practically begs to be lingered upon, prodded, and fully explored. Cuddle a crab, poke a puffin, manhandle a moose, tickle a tree, and jiggle a jellyfish. The entire game is delightful, and so overflowing with childlike charm that you can’t help but get lost in it… and you should take the time to poke around at the background. It’s a little subtle and sparsely used, but does wonders to pull you into the world of the Brothers Beard. Adding to the experience is the brilliant integration of the Joy-Con rumble feature. The mechanics are incredibly simple, you literally just drag the background and poke the objects and animals you find there, but that’s not a bad thing due to how how immersive the while thing is. While it’s difficult to describe, it’s easy to understand in action, as you can see in the video in the header.īurly Men at Sea is almost more of an experience than it is a game. Instead, you use your finger to drag the scenery to the side, allowing the background to extend that direction, and the brothers naturally move to inhabit the now-available space. This swipe-based game is perfectly suited to the touch screen of the Nintendo Switch, and, interestingly, with one singular exception, you never actually control the brothers themselves. The fantastical events the brothers experience are told with a bit of fairy tale narration, with a singsong-y tone similar to that of a children’s book. The artwork is breathtakingly lovely, simple and whimsical, and the gameplay settles somewhere between a visual novel and a choose your own adventure book. It tells the story of the brothers Beard, Brave Beard, Steady Beard, and Hasty Beard, who find a blank map and set off in their beloved boat in search of adventure. The good folks at Brain&Brain have perfected the art of saying more with less, and crafted a magical, charming folktale which is heavily inspired by Scandinavian mythology.īurly Men at Sea does not involve pirating, drinking, or other ‘manly’ activities which you might expect given the game’s title. There’s always the temptation to add more, but in doing so, you lose the elegance of simplicity. It’s hard to paint a picture with as few shapes as possible, and it’s difficult to convey a feeling as concisely as possible. Gamer's Voice Single Player Award Nominee (SXSW 2016)īurly Men at Sea is the second game from married duo Brain&Brain, developed during their own adventures as nomads and erstwhile farmhands.Simplicity is an art.Best Story Game of 2016 (Rock, Paper, Shotgun).Excellence in Narrative Honorable Mention (IGF 2017)."The closest thing I've played to an interactive fairy-tale. "Artful interplay of visual minimalism, waggish writing and hilarious but also haunting sound effects generated by gorgeous a cappella voices. "It's a tiny-but-then-not-tiny, lovely thing with so much character and a wonderful sense of adventure. Playful Aesthetic: Colorful art style with handcrafted animation, set to a whimsical original soundtrack inspired by folk music of the far north.Innovative Controls: Shape the narrative through a unique, draggable viewport and your interactions within it. Branching Story: Play through multiple choice-driven adventures, each designed to be completed in a single sitting.You play as storyteller and wayfinder, shaping a custom tale that begins again where it ends. With gameplay halfway between a visual novel and a point-and-click adventure, the branching story carries its ungainly heroes into waters where lurk creatures from Scandinavian folklore and other misadventures. A branching folktale misadventure about a trio of large, bearded fishermen.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |