There are occasions after I want that I may simply vanish and reappear in a complete new world stuffed with people who don’t know me – even higher if it’s a world that doesn’t face the present struggles that ours burdens us with. This form of escapist fantasy is what makes me get pleasure from video games a lot, truthfully, as life turns into a battle once in a while – however there’s clearly at all times an upside. Once you hit all-time low, it will probably solely go up, proper?

Developer: Caligari Games
Publisher: WhisperGames
Genre: Indie, 2D, Point & Click, Adventure
Release Date: September fifteenth, 2022
Reviewed on: PC
Available on: PC, Switch, XB1, PS4
Copy was offered by the developer/writer.

A recreation that form of performs with that concept is Whateverland. After a housebreaking went unsuitable, the primary character Vincent will get transported into the titular land the place no one ever ages and the place persons are changed into their true type as soon as they offer in to their vices. To return to his unique world, Vincent has to search out seven items of an historic spell to summon the witch/goddess Beatrice whose necklace he tried to steal… and to take action, you both assist others and attempt to change for the higher – otherwise you solely care about your self and steal, trick and deceive.

Whateverland is a journey via some form of purgatory that Vincent, a sarcastic and selfish burglar and thief, finds himself in. Accompanied by the Shakespearean-looking ghost Nick, Vincent makes his approach via the world and both helps others or he doesn’t hassle. The gameplay is non-linear. You can go wherever at any time and make progress on totally different quests concurrently. Catch misplaced rabbits, type fish, tattoo a mermaid, or prepare dinner some ramen – the selection is yours… when it comes to whether or not you wanna do it or if you wanna do it.

The puzzles and quests may be relatively obtuse at occasions. Despite having the choice to spotlight the choices accessible to you by way of a button press, I discovered myself typically questioning what I’m precisely purported to do at sure time limits. You have a list the place you retailer objects you discovered however you’ll be able to’t work together with them and the world – one thing that I’ve seen typically in different Point & Click video games.

I don’t wish to evaluate Whateverland to different PnC video games, although. After all, I haven’t performed too many. The ones I’ve performed had been nice – and thus, I’m not precisely certain what commonplace could be honest over right here. One factor, nevertheless, that I do know is that Whateverland has an fascinating premise and that it’s a bit tough across the edges.

A welcome addition to the management scheme is you could double-click to run. You additionally don’t must traverse the identical areas time and again as you merely click on onto the map and “fast-travel” to the varied areas. Something I want was totally different, although, is the truth that you must shut objects you’ve interacted with so as to click on on one thing else. At the identical time, the sport is riddled with some bugs right here and there that I discovered relatively annoying. All of this, although, is nothing that may’t be ironed out with a patch or two.

The puzzles that you simply encounter aren’t the toughest on the planet, even for a PnC beginner like me. Most of the time, you’ll attempt to distract somebody so as to get an merchandise and provides it to another person. Other occasions, you could type fish, tattoo a mermaid, edit a novel or choose a lick so as to get what you need. At all occasions, you have got the prolonged however “good” alternative of truly serving to individuals – or the “bad” alternative that’s typically faster the place you merely steal stuff from individuals with none regard to their needs.

Despite being a beginner to the style, I do know, nevertheless, that characters are all the things. The puzzles may be straightforward or exhausting however what makes a Point ‘n Click journey really “good” is fascinating characters – and Whateverland has loads of them!

I don’t like Vincent as a personality however I really like this contact of “gay” that his relationship with Nick has. Similarly, the world encompasses a huge solid of weird and quirky figures which can be trapped on this world. Their personal tales had been entertaining to me for essentially the most half.

Eventually, although, I realised simply how shallow some characters are. Once you exhaust their dialogue choices, they’re simply there… probably not including something to the world… and that’s a disgrace. I’d have cherished to know extra about Poe – who apparently is trapped on this world – or the girl on the Ramen store however they only don’t actually go wherever at any given time.

And nicely, you additionally must combat in turn-based minigames named “Bell and Bones”, an odd mixture of chess and basketball, to develop into the very best “Bell and Bone”-r in Whateverland – and to additionally get the ultimate piece of the spell. This minigame isn’t defined significantly nicely however when you get it, it’s pretty straightforward. Even if you’re caught, although, you’ll be able to nonetheless immediately win any given spherical with using golden yarn, a useful resource you discover scattered all through the world, virtually skipping this completely if it’s not up your alley.

Overall, I really feel conflicted about this recreation. The overarching story is fascinating but it surely falls aside at one level. The particular person characters’ plots are entertaining however the characters themselves are shallow. The minigames and puzzles are assorted and add extra layers to the sport however they are often relatively obtuse and the shortage of assist or explanations actually hurts the sport.

Vincent will encounter many characters that let you know about them proudly owning a chunk of the spell… and each time there’s a however, similar to with this conclusion right here. The stellar voice appearing, the charming hand-drawn artwork fashion, and the wonderful soundtrack are good and all… however I’m undecided in the event that they’re sufficient to avoid wasting the sport.

I had enjoyable till a sure level, after which I simply received an increasing number of annoyed with sure mechanics and the state of the sport being relatively unpolished… I don’t assume that any of that is unfixable however it would take a whole lot of work earlier than it’s polished sufficient to actually shine. Whateverland might be a gem… however in the meanwhile, it simply feels too tough round its edges and it’s a little bit of a disgrace.

This publish was first printed on Indiecator by Dan Indiecator aka MagiWasTaken. If you want what you see right here and wish to see extra, you’ll be able to test me out on Twitch and YouTube as nicely.