PC: Wild Earth

Ratings

Graphics:9.00 [Bar of Width 90]
Sound:7.00 [Bar of Width 70]
Gameplay:7.00 [Bar of Width 70]
Environs:7.00 [Bar of Width 70]
Replays:7.00 [Bar of Width 70]
Gamelength:6.00 [Bar of Width 60]

Our Take

I would probably describe Wild Earth as a "First Person Edutainment title", however that might be confusing. "Photo journalistic simulator" makes it sound really complex. I think when it comes down to it, we can call Wild Earth a cool indie title. Did you ever want to go on a Safari, or be a photographer for National Geographic? I have, and I am sure you or your kids have. Now you can practice before you get the big interview. Maybe not, but the game captures the feel amazingly well.

There aren't too many games based on taking pictures, but usually the ones that are end up being really interesting. Fatal Frame and Pokemon Snap spring to mind, and both were really cool titles. Wild Earth puts you in the shoes of a fledgling photographer, who is assigned to take pictures for articles for Wild Earth. Pretty simple, and thats where the strength of the game lies. The controls are standard FPS fare, but there is no gun, just a camera. Crop marks on screen show let you frame your photos and left clicking takes a picture. The mouse wheel zooms in. When I explain it like this, it sounds pretty boring, but its not.

You start on your first assignment by leaving your camp and running around the plains taking different pictures of Elephants. You are told what type of picture you have to take, and so you keep an eye out for it. When you snap the required frame, the expedition leader tells you a little bit about the animal, or whatever ritual the animals might be performing. It keeps it interesting. One of the first pictures you take is of a giant mound of elephant crap, so if that doesn't hook hook you, nothing else will. You don't really have to run from place to place snapping all the required photographs, you can take pics of whatever you want. Also, there are little bonus picture requirements that pop up, which help to facilitate you getting into the area a little more.

The feature that really changes this from a tour into a game is the articles at the end. When you snap a required photo, it is placed into the article. Literally. At the end of each mission, you can view the article in your web browser, and your photos show up, as well as some real links to the things you've seen. Its great. The kicker is that you have to nail the photo you want the first time, because the article uses the photo you first snapped to fill the requirement. So don't just rush through taking snapshots. If you can, take time to frame beautiful shots of the animals. This isn't a death match, its a paced experience. Every photo you take is saved, and you can “Manage Your Portfolio”, going in and changing names of pictures. You can access them outside of the game too, so if you want to share them, or if your kids do.

In a game based on visuals, you would hope it looks good. Wild Earth not only looks excellent, you can maximize the settings on the most median of computers. While the landscape is standard fare and does look good, the real treat is the animals. They look outstanding and their animations are excellent. If more independent developers could wring these kind of graphics out of such small requirements, I would be in heaven. The levels are fun too, and about the third level is where things start to heat up, when you jump in a chopper to take pictures of the migrating wildebeest through Ngorongoro Crater. It only gets better from there, going on night Safaris and down the river to chase Crocodiles.

I really don't have much negative to say about the game. If you like a ton of depth and strategy in your games, this probably isn't your game. The downside to it, is that you have to put a little into it to get a little out of it, and a lot of gamers can't handle that. They need their experience handed to them completely. I can be imaginative, and I have always wanted to be a National Geographic photographer. Check it out, it's only $29.95, and really anyone can pick it up and have fun with it.

http://www.wildearthgame.com/

Overall Rating: 8.00

Lucas Allmon
June 17, 2006