There are a few terms that get the backs of gamers up: Microtransactions, walking simulator and escort mission to name but a few. Herdling doesn’t contain any microtransactions, but the other two are very apt for the type of game that it is. And if the thought of a walking simulator escort mission sends shivers down your spine, I would hastily advise you to read something else. Not for SEO purposes, but not exactly not for them either. Can I interest you in some photos I took comparing the worlds of Like a Dragon and real-life Kabukichō, or my current game of the year contender, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Still here? Very well then.
Herdling is the latest title from Okomotive, they of FAR: Lone Sails and Changing Tides fame. These atmospheric, wordless adventures are fantastic journeys, and Herdling is very much of a similar ilk.
But it’s not cattle you are herding – or cats for that matter – but Calicorns; not unlike cows mixed with woolly mammoths that come in various sizes. You can name them, feed them, adorn their horns with various collectibles, play fetch with them and even snuggle up to them to keep warm at the end of a day. And best of all, they love to be petted.
The Life Of A Calicorn
Many Calicorns also have a personality moniker under their name in the herd menu. I had one that was labelled a rascal. They didn’t go so far as to cause any mischief, but when it came to setting up a campsite on an evening, they were usually the one that needed to be cleaned up before bed. Coincidence or not, it was a fun little narrative weaved in there.
Your journey in Herdling starts off in a dilapidated city. I wouldn’t go as far as to call this a post-apocalypse, as there are cars and trains still running in this world, but you appear to be the only human left.
You will visit lush green fields, dark caves (where eyes will be watching you), and climb up vast mountains. Calicorns can be found everywhere, but so can dangers.
Cause too much of a ruckus in the caves and prepare to be attacked by what lurks in the shadows. Keep your herd close by as you traverse narrow bridges and ice caverns, as one wrong step could be disastrous. Your Calicorns aren’t invincible…
Calicorn Clunky Controls
Navigating through these twisting and tricky areas is hampered somewhat by a clumsy control scheme. In order to move your herd, you need to stand at the back of them and press RT. A cursor will appear on screen showing which way they will be going, or should be at least. Because you are essentially controlling them from the back; it’s like trying to drive a car with the steering wheel moving the rear wheels. It takes time to get used to, and even then, doesn’t feel the most intuitive.
It is also RT to cause a stampede, providing you have the requisite blue flower energy to do so. This isn’t as violent as it sounds – for most people of my age, an introduction to a stampede was in The Lion King and it still haunts us – it just means that you and your herd can sprint for a short time. This is necessary to action in order to climb up steep hills or through some thick bushel, so maintaining your blue flower energy is crucial.
And a little note here for you: There doesn’t appear to be an official name for the blue flower energy so I’m sticking with that. See also: yellow flower energy that is used to reveal faded paintings on stones.
However, to start a stampede, you need to hold RT, then release it, then press it again straight after. Similar fiddly controls are there for stopping your herd, that requires you to double tap the B button. Then holding the Y button is used to clean, pet and tame your herd. There are several shoulder buttons and face buttons not used at all that would have made Herdling a much more accessible game.
Explore A Beautiful World
But whilst these sections add something a bit different, there are times that Herdling doesn’t do much aside from have you wandering through some stunning scenery. Even for a walking simulator, there were times during it that things got a bit boring. And for a game that takes less than five hours to complete, it feels dragged out at times. Painstakingly climbing up a mountain, or fighting against strong winds, are definitely sections that don’t need to be as long as they are.
I get it though, you want us to fully appreciate the beautiful game you’ve made. And I really did; Herdling has a unique style to it that is easy to love. The gorgeous scenery, the way the Calicorns glow in different moments, the lighting and the darkness all done so stunningly, it is a fantastic looking game.
And by the end of it, there was a bond there between my Calicorns and me. There are no words exchanged, but there is a trust there between us, and that felt very real throughout.
A Heartfelt But Clumsily Controlled Journey
Herdling is not the game to convert those averse to walking simulators: It can drag, and has a confusing control setup. But it is also beautiful, heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures, and that’s all done without a single word spoken.
Sure, the story may have some metaphorical or philosophical meaning behind it, but at its core it’s a touching tale about one man and his Calicorn.
Important Links
Don’t Miss This Day One Game Pass Drop – Herdling is a Breathtaking Journey, Out Now – https://www.thexboxhub.com/dont-miss-this-day-one-game-pass-drop-herdling-is-a-breathtaking-journey-out-now/
Herdling: A Single-Player Adventure with a Heart – https://www.thexboxhub.com/herdling-a-single-player-adventure-with-a-heart/
Buy (or download through Game Pass) Herdling on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/herdling/9nnhk7k8rv9c
