Approximately 2 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on PC. Rating: 4.5 out of 10ĭisclosures: This game is developed and published by Might and Delight. Anyone interested in what the series brings to the table should instead try either of the previous titles for a more accomplished, realized adventure. At best, it plays like an half-finished, repetitive experiment that can be easily completed in an hour. Shelter 3 is hard to recommend, both to fans of the series and newcomers. However, the soundtrack is the standout of the entire affair, sounding like something that would be appropriate on a journey through the savannah, but with a hint of free jazz and a sprinkle of organic sounds that fit the overall tone. Graphically, at least, Shelter 3 still looks unique with its mixture of low polygon models and surreal textures. There are no unlocks or achievements at the end, so there seems to be little point in replay. There’s also an inkling of overall narrative that links the days together but it’s too generic and vague to be interesting. Unfortunately, navigation - the main part of the experience - is frustrating.Įxploration takes the player through repetitive environments, and these seems to be intended to invite a reflective, introspective mood, but this vibe is disrupted by predators ready to decimate the herd and starvation around every corner. Reaching the end of Shelter 3 is a matter of keeping some elephants in the herd alive, reaching and indicated destination on the map and… that’s it. At that point, the meter will become half-replenished and the player can continue. If the herd fails to find enough food of substance, one member of the herd will fall dead. Moss can also be foraged, but that seems to add almost nothing. Food is mostly obtained by headbutting trees and eating the fruits that fall down. The devs say that “wisdom, empathy and leadership play an important role in your survival”, so it’s disheartening to discover that the only mechanic that seems to matter is the stamina/food meter. There’s also a button to rally the herd, but this seems mostly useless? Apparently it’s to be used in case of predator attack, but nothing really happens. The only interaction for the player will be pressing a button to “groom,” but the animation is unclear and players can rest assured that nothing will happen if the mother forgets about the baby altogether. For example, the theme of motherhood is still present via a small baby elephant walking alongside the herd. I wish I could say that there was more substance to Shelter 3, but the other mechanics seem half-baked, at best. While this sounded interesting to me initially, what it boiled down to was walking around, grabbing food, reaching a destination, and repeating it all the next day. Shelter 3 asks the player to control in real time an elephant leading a herd, via third person view, tasked with finding a new home as they venture into the savannah, risking starvation or being eaten by predators. Unfortunately, this third iteration seems to have lost the magic. The first two Shelter entries showcased developer Might and Delight’s ability to weave magic into simple gameplay mechanics that wonderfully immersed the player into a role that might feel familiar to humans, yet still distant. At its core it’s a wildlife simulator, but it’s also a meditative exercise reflecting on the role of motherhood. The Shelter series is an exceptional case in the often-peculiar world of independent gaming. WTF Most of the commands don’t seem to do anything at all. LOW Finding out that I don’t really care if the herd dies. HIGH Finding another tree to headbutt before the herd dies. The Best Will Fall And The Rest Will Follow
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