Sheepo, of which we present ours today review, it’s a classic two-dimensional platform, developed by Kyle Thompson and distributed by Top Hat Studios. The title has been defined pacifist, and catapult players into a dated but timeless style of play, with a vintage aftertaste and a competitive difficulty level. Sheepo was released on Nintendo Switch last October, and can also be found on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, and PC.
Discover biodiversity, possibly without dying
Sheepo starts when the plot has already started. The protagonist, commanded by the player, is a funny one sheep armless found on a spaceship. The on-board computer is activated immediately to explain the very important task to be completed: the journey has as its destination the planet Cebron, in which the biodiversity it will have to be studied and cataloged, and then it will be saved. A tutorial quick and simple it explains the main commands; albeit without arms, the zoological protagonist can perform very high leaps, and lean against the walls to go even higher. It is also possible to jump from wall to wall in a zigzag path to reach the top.
Are present 3 difficulty levels: easy, intermediate and difficult, selectable before starting the adventure on Cebron. As already mentioned in the first part of the review, Sheepo is a videogame on the side of the environment and linked to the protection of fauna. In the game, this translates intoinability to attack and kill the creatures that meet on the planet. The player can, in fact, try to save himself by jumping away from danger and avoiding it, but he cannot fight the creatures of Cebron in any way, a peculiarity capable of increasing the level of challenge even in the event that I had opted for the lowest difficulty. . Indeed, Cebron’s biodiversity is not as peaceful as Sheepo’s intentions.
In addition to the inhabitants of the planet, also the natural obstacles they can harm the player, like whole meadows of black thorns which, when touched, quickly reduce life to zero, restarting the game from the last save point. We move in length and height, in a two-dimensional world where i reign color contrasts. Black floors and walls, purple skies, blue and white lights. In addition to jumping, the player can quickly move in various directions with the help of small teleportation points, or squares that provide a great momentum in the chosen direction. These are geometric elements that fit into the game map with the sole purpose of facilitate the protagonist to move, but which are not an integral part of the landscape.
Eggs galore
As already written in this review, the little Sheepo has an important task: to study and protect the biodiversity of Cebron. This goal can be accomplished collecting eggs creatures that live on the planet, and which can then be studied. However, where there are eggs, there are also moms that protect them. Stealing the eggs from Cebron’s animals will therefore prove to be quite complicated. Each egg will be guarded by a mother who, of course, will not be happy with the theft attempts.
Adding to the difficulty level is the inability to attack and cause damage to creatures attacking Sheepo. The only form of defense is to flee and attempt to dodge enemy attacks. As if that weren’t enough, getting to egg nests isn’t easy at all. The path is fraught with dangers, from the aforementioned thorns to very deep chasms, to creatures that are anything but friendly; and finally, once you reach the goal, you will have to face the “mother” on duty in what will be a real boss-fight.
One of the most interesting parts of the game is certainly obtaining the coveted eggs. Once a creature’s data is acquired by reaching the egg, Sheepo can take possession of his skill for a period of time limited. This allows the protagonist to overcome certain areas and unlock new ones, increasing the amount of powers as the eggs collected increase. However, the situation remains far from rosy. Powers can be used for a very short time and using them in the wrong way or situation will result in having to repeat some sequences, going back to the last save point.
The first egg obtained, for example, is that oflittle bird, and his powers allow Sheepo to to fly for a certain path, as you progress through the game. In addition to the eggs, players who want to platinum the title will have their work cut out. There are, in fact, numerous trophies to collect, not essential to continue the adventure but perfect for lovers of completeness.
Run as fast as you can
Collecting has been taken care of in detail, and represents a real challenge for the players. The developers have included many timed challenges, which require precision and speed. It may be necessary to repeat a challenge over and over again before being able to complete it successfully, even for the most skilled. The maximum difficulty adds another step on the ladder of commitment required to move forward.
Although the main adventure can be completed in a matter of hours, all side quests and collectibles greatly increase the longevity of this particular and interesting indie. Sheepo and all creatures of Cebron are also represented with colorful and sharp drawings, which will make players fall in love. The absence of the protagonist’s arms makes the character even more tender, and the white color allows him to stand out from the dark backgrounds with decision.
The two-dimensional world is a beautiful play of colors. The elements of the landscape and the creatures themselves are sketchy and not very detailed, but the palette makes each element defined and refers to cartoons. The game is in English language, but it is easy to understand even for those who do not chew it particularly well. At the conclusion of this review, we remind you that all the details of Sheepo are indicated on the official site.
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