In conclusion, Space Otter Charlie is a shining example of how a game with a small budget should be put together. That being said, slow down issues were limited to specific points, so this was not enough to ruin what is a great experience. The game did experience some slow down issues from time to time, especially during the last level, where parts of it came to a crawl due to an overly busy screen. Not all of it was perfect when played on a regular PlayStation 4. Whilst the soundtrack is limited, it does a good job of highlighting each segment. In summary, the game has a surprise mechanic or discovery at the end of every corridor, and each one is a joy to behold. The environmental puzzles feel excellently thought out, with combat encounters feeling like puzzles in their own right, especially some of the bosses! At no point did the game waver from being anything but a delight with each discovery supplanting each one in terms of wonderment. For a game that can really be completed in one go in around four hours, the pacing feels excellent with every level leaving you with a sense of pride and accomplishment as Charlie seems to unlock something new either halfway through or at the end of each level. Each world, space station, or asteroid belt feels unique and well put together, with no level ever feeling like a rehash of something that you have previously experienced in another area. Special mention goes to the level design.
The art style is a great plus, with a huge amount of care and attention going into the presentation and the feel of the game. With that said, a majority of the game is mostly positive. Though rare, Charlie can sometimes find himself flying off in the wrong direction outside of your control, resulting in some cheap deaths. The controls are easy to wrap your head around once you get into the swing of things, but in the heat of battle, they can feel a bit cumbersome. The Squarer button can then be used to fire Charlie’s weapons as you aim with the right analog stick, as inertia carries Charlie around. You’ll be holding down the X button to make Charlie use its limited thrusters to fly around the game’s locations by using the left analog stick to aim. So how does the game work? Well, just like Mordor, one does not simply walk into Space Otter Charlie. With otters at the forefront, the sea life of Earth decides they too should venture into the stars, with Space Otter Charlie at the forefront of their expeditions. Fast forward a few bouts of evolution, and most sea life has eventually gained sentience and intelligence. But what is in this “Otter Facts” packed game? Well, supposedly in the early 2500s, after nearly destroying the Earth due to pollution, humans straight up leave the planet to expand their reach into the stars, leaving the wildlife of Earth to fend for itself. The short answer is, “yes, this is a solidly put-together piece of propaganda game.” Otters can feel confident that their money has been well spent. But is it enough to hide the fact that otters are a menace to the sea urchin and crab societies? In what is best described as a Zero-G puzzle platformer, publisher The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild has clearly been hired by a group of otters to make a cutesy otter-themed game to garner publicity.
Space Otter Charlie will be available on Mafor the PC through Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.Did you know: “Sea otters are really cute and that’s a fact”? Wayward Distractions really wanted you to know this in what can only be described as “otter propaganda.” A message they seem to feel so strongly about they chose to make a game about it. There otter be a rule against it, but there will be no pawsing me once I get on a roll. I, for one, look forward to the incessant otter puns that I will be saying throughout my playthrough.
Space Otter Charlie has all the makings of being a lighthearted, fun action game that will be a suitable distraction during these interesting times. Throughout their journey, Charlie, Ada, and Jesse will explore derelict spaceships and stations, fight countless enemies, solve puzzles, and craft helpful items. But Space Otter Charlie is not just about the misadventures of cute spacefaring otters: these otters are traversing the galaxy, searching for a new planet to call home.
This is all you need to know about this upcoming game from developer Wayward Distractions and publisher The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild. RELATED: Dead By Daylight Gets the K-Pop Treatment in New Chapter All-Kill Space Otter Charlie Loop Hero (Four Quarters/Devolver Digital)