This week, a game that makes everything a hassle
At roughly an hour in length, Octodad is definitely more of a taster than a fully fledged game, but with a sequel in the works and an indie team in need of both support and encouragement to see it through, it's definitely worth taking some time out of your afternoon to experience it.
Octodad puts you in the odd-fitting shoes of a cephalopod trying to pass himself as a human; cleaning the fridge, playing football with his son and fetching his daughter her favourite stuffed dolphin are all taken in his bandy, slippery stride.
These mundane tasks are rendered monumentally infuriating by the controls, which manage to simulate his plight with merciless efficiency. Movement involves holding the mouse button that corresponds with a given leg, dragging it across the screen and then letting go, dragging back and repeating with the other foot. Hand control involves much the same, and requires precision tentacle-groping to snake your slimy mitt past picture frames and flowerpots to grab whatever it is you have your eye on.
It sounds ridiculous, and in the context of any other game would be, but after a few minutes it proves surprisingly easy to slap your way across the room like John Cleese doing the Funny Walk, spraying ink and bubbling to yourself in frustration. The climax of the game is a particularly tense affair, and never again are you likely to find yourself foiled by a small stepladder.
It's a shame, then, that there isn't more to do, or indeed more opportunity to explore, because while it's hard to see Octodad working as a full-length game, as a sandbox it could be pretty amusing, especially if it requires you to perform more complex tasks than the ones on offer. There's nothing really wrong with it (and despite a one-hour lifespan it's still pretty detailed and complete for a free indie game), but it definitely feels like a taster for something a bit lengthier and significantly more varied.
Don't take this as a sign that it's not worth downloading, just be aware that the experience is only going to fill a portion of your afternoon, and, like all games worth playing, leaves you asking for more.
Download now from http://www.octodadgame.com/ to help ensure that more will indeed come.
At roughly an hour in length, Octodad is definitely more of a taster than a fully fledged game, but with a sequel in the works and an indie team in need of both support and encouragement to see it through, it's definitely worth taking some time out of your afternoon to experience it.
These mundane tasks are rendered monumentally infuriating by the controls, which manage to simulate his plight with merciless efficiency. Movement involves holding the mouse button that corresponds with a given leg, dragging it across the screen and then letting go, dragging back and repeating with the other foot. Hand control involves much the same, and requires precision tentacle-groping to snake your slimy mitt past picture frames and flowerpots to grab whatever it is you have your eye on.
It sounds ridiculous, and in the context of any other game would be, but after a few minutes it proves surprisingly easy to slap your way across the room like John Cleese doing the Funny Walk, spraying ink and bubbling to yourself in frustration. The climax of the game is a particularly tense affair, and never again are you likely to find yourself foiled by a small stepladder.
It's a shame, then, that there isn't more to do, or indeed more opportunity to explore, because while it's hard to see Octodad working as a full-length game, as a sandbox it could be pretty amusing, especially if it requires you to perform more complex tasks than the ones on offer. There's nothing really wrong with it (and despite a one-hour lifespan it's still pretty detailed and complete for a free indie game), but it definitely feels like a taster for something a bit lengthier and significantly more varied.
Don't take this as a sign that it's not worth downloading, just be aware that the experience is only going to fill a portion of your afternoon, and, like all games worth playing, leaves you asking for more.
Download now from http://www.octodadgame.com/ to help ensure that more will indeed come.
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