• April 24, 2007    Home > Game Reviews > Verdict

    Wild Earth: Africa

    This safari-themed sim is a pleasant surprise.
    Version
     PC    		Developer
    Super X Studios    		Publisher
    Xplosiv (EU)
    TBC (USA)    		Genre
    Sim

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    Page 2

    "The game is likely to polarise opinions. To some it will appeal, whilst to others it will repel with little middle ground in between."

    A handy direction finder will appear on-screen should your curiosity take you too far astray though and this will lead you back to your main objective. Not too much in the way of grey brain matter is required to play through this title as there is little in the way of puzzles to be solved. The most complex things get are in listening to your guides' instructions and determining where to find your next photo or how to get from A to B. Thus most of your cognitive functions will be engaged in simply listening, looking and learning, picking up clues about your next target and trying to remember all you can just in case you should find happen to find yourself stranded in Africa and 1-on-1 with a herd of angry elephants.

    The audio on the whole is good, consisting mainly of animal noises and the general background ambience of the Serengeti. Plus your footsteps, which suitable change depending on if you're squelching through marshland or crunching over dry grass. Music is typically emotive of The Lion King and is used to good effect throughout the game.

    The interface is bright, clean and simple and keeps with the overall feel of the title, no doubt in an effort to to appeal to the younger, or perhaps even older gamers - so-called casual gamers for whom the violence or dexterity of twitch gaming is unappealing, confusing and off-putting.

    Each level or stage takes the form of an assignment, with you being requested to complete a series of photos for a Wild Earth article. Cleverly, after each assignment you can view a web page of the finished article in your browser, complete with your pictures embedded in the article.

    All this goodness though is a blessing as well as a curse as the game is likely to polarise opinions. To some it will appeal, whilst to others it will repel with little middle ground in between. Chances are that most will already know beforehand on which side they fall. For some, the canyon between entertainment and edutainment really is too wide to cross.

    Download a demo of the game from the official website.

    Graphics Sound Gameplay Depth Presentation OVERALL
    7.5 7.0 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.0


    THE VERDICT:     Informative, educational and enjoyable, this is shooter with a difference, where your weapon of choice is a camera. Simple and serene, the game will appeal to those after a tamer, timid and more peaceful experience - such as adults whom are not regular gamers, parents interested in a purchase for their children, those with a special interest in Africa and wildlife, as well those simply wishing to learn.

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