“The Wild Eight” is not a new Tarantino movie, it’s actually an upcoming Kickstarter project from developer “Eight Points“. The Wild Eight is a new entry into an already saturated market of “survival co-op” games, but what really drew me to it however, was the idea of a procedurally generated world that managed to coexist with a “mysterious storyline“. The survival game genre has never managed to sink its hooks into me but nonetheless I was intrigued. The fact that the game has made $60,000 of a $50,000 goal is impressive and so I decided to download the pre-alpha demo and share a few of my thoughts.
In the way of a story there’s not much… as of yet. We wake face down in the snow as a rugged beardy bloke, it seems as though one of Bear Grylls sky dives has gone horribly wrong. You are the lone survivor of a plane crash (although this wont be the case when multiplayer is added) and your only real goal for now is to survive.
Graphics
The art style though uncomplicated, is unique and charming. The game utilises an intentional polygonal and blocky style, with crisp and clean textures that contrast the harsh landscape. The dark yet mellow colour palette helps to the highlight the importance of fire and its role in your survival, at night the flickering flames of your campfire look stunning against the the icy whiteness of the tundra environment. Light sources quickly become a bastion from the cold and the creatures that would enjoy nothing more than to make you their next meal.
Even though the game is a pre-alpha build, we are also treated to some other lovely little immersion building flourishes. You’ll immediately notice the trail of footprints left behind in the thick snow as you move between shelter, as well as the slow fall of fluffy snow drifting between the trees. Some really beautiful particle effects add a nice dynamism to the environment, making the expanse of the lonely world feel very much alive. You might also notice the shadows cast by trees that help the player determine the time of day without having to rely on the game’s U.I, very clever indeed.
Sound
A simple but haunting piano melody lingers in the background. During it the day it makes everything appear so serene, it provides you with a sense of hope as you scrabble around in the snow for what few items the gods of procedural generation have seen fit to leave you. At night, away from your camp, freezing to death, the melody takes on a more harrowing tone. The abiding tune invokes a sense of despair and desperation as you become unsure of yourself and the ability to make it back to shelter before you perish.
The game is layered with atmospheric noises, from birds twittering at the start of a new day to the bloodcurdling sound of wolves in the dead of night (which often came so suddenly i spilled my tea). It’s genuinely impressive, little things like the crunching of the snow as you move through the wilderness and the zapping sound of haywire electronics near the crash site all help to build a more believable world. These simple touches give the game an added depth and being invested in a survival game is pretty essential when it comes to raising the stakes.
Gameplay
As this is a survival game, you’re probably going to want to try and survive. To do this you’ll have to improve your shelter whilst crafting all kinds of primitive gadgets and gizmos, all the while remaining hopeful that you won’t be passing through a wolves digestive system in the near future. You’ll spend a lot of your time in the Wild Eight running around gathering basic resources using the tried and tested Minecraft method of punching trees and rocks with a nice meaty “THWUMP“!
When you’ve punched so many rocks that your fists are bleeding, you can then return to your shelter or workshop to craft gear and character upgrades. Initially you’ll only be able to make simple sticks and stones but after improving your shelter and workshop a little (level 2 is the maximum in the demo) you’ll be able to increase your movement speed or produce simple medicines for example. When you’ve completely deforested an area like some kind of crazed property tycoon, you’ll be given the option of folding up your tent and workshop to place elsewhere, which gives you the freedom to explore the procedurally generated map.
In addition to the obligatory health and stamina bars, we have ever depleting meters for both hunger and warmth, that you’ll probably only notice when one of them kills you. I really like the dichotomy of having these two contesting metres! One urges you to stay at the camp where you can remain comfy and warm but will inevitably starve, the other forces you into the freezing wilderness and into the jaws of predators. This is a great system! It creates a unique and genuine dilemma for the player and you quickly learn that in order to survive you have to be willing and able to compromise.
The controls in the Wild Eight are a little bit clunky and the isometric view doesn’t so often help as it does hinder. Certain objects can be obscured from the player by trees and rocks, it can get annoying when your trying to smack a wolf with a stick, but instead you start cutting down trees.
Final Thoughts
After two days of survival on my first run, I attempted to beat up a boar with my bare hands, this ended badly… I had no choice as I was starving to death, but it didn’t feel cheap or frustrating, it just made me want to do better. I had not managed my resources properly and was forced into an impossible situation, death is just a part of the learning experience. The game is unforgiving and the learning curve is steep, but I had a blast with it and after a few deaths you get into the rhythm of survival, you are simply hooked on improving for your next run.
All in all I can see why this game has been so passionately backed, it’s a simple, creative and rewarding experience. The Wild Eight has helped me understand the “survival craze” taking place all over steam at the moment. The game offers pure moments of unadulterated fear and elation, just a couple of emotions games haven’t made me feel for a long time. If you’d like to keep an eye on it’s progress or simply want to check out the demo for yourself head to www.Kickstarter.com! Oh, and please, don’t feed the animals.
RSS