NialIt’s first of all worth noting that Don’t Starve was a Playstation Plus game in early 2014. Some may have decided to play it and some may have left it sitting in their download list and are unsure whether to give it a try.
Don’t Starve is a quirky little indie game from Klei Entertainment with an interesting hook and unique art style which looks like it has been sketched with a biro on a rough piece of paper.
Then main objective in Don’t Starve is to survive and stay alive for as many days and nights as quite can. Nights come thick and fast and you must provide yourself with light or else it’s game over and creatures hiding in the dark will get you.
A clock dial indicates how long you have of the day or night to get through and on screen text and music will warn you when the darkness of the night is approaching. Your character also has meters to show how hungry they are or how mentally stable they are and you must try to keep these levels normal or problems will surface.
Dying in Don’t Stave is a painful experience. All the hard effort is wasted if you haven’t found any respawn points. It’s horribly punishing but it an important mechanic and it does teach you to be more vigilant and not to take it’s world for granted. After all, surviving is all about making careful decisions and staying clear of dangers. If a feeling of constant worry is your thing, then you will feel at home in Don’t Starve’s world.
Almost everything in the world is hostile so you must always be on your guard when you approach something you’re unfamiliar with and it’s this sense of unfamiliarity that is completely refreshing and exciting.
The world is often bleak, dangerous and fascinating and never loses it’s ability to make you want to explore it. The land is cut up into different areas, marshes, forests, grassland and more. Various animals roam certain sections of the land and certain artefacts and points of interest can be discovered.
You first assume the role of Wilson, a Gentleman Scientist trapped and transported to a cruel wilderness world by a demon and finds he must quickly adapt to survive and find his way home.
There are a number of distinct characters unlockable later in the game with different characteristics and abilities. Willow, for example has immunity to fire and a lighter which is an extremely useful tool.
Tools can be scavenged or crafted with various items picked up on your travels. It’s always handy to stay close to or stock up on flint, wood or dry grass as these items are by far your most precious items and you never know when you might need more of them.
The game never holds your hand. It presents you with a tough world and says “Get on with it”. It’s so nice to be able to figure out for yourself how to work the game and makes for a more personal and rewarding experience. Controls are rather simple to grasp and it’s up to the player how they tackle the world before them.
The map is gigantic. It can often blocked by obstacles which can get a little frustrating that you can’t cross and must run around. The map is only revealed if you’ve explored that area before and randomly generated each playthrough which means the map is always a mystery. There are also portals and doors to different levels featuring a different map, some with a completely new landscape and different wildlife.
It’s completely surprising how time flies playing Don’t Starve. You become utterly immersed in it’s world focusing on foraging for items and staying alive. It’s worth checking out if you like games that allow you to be strategic and have good exploration.
Version Played: Playstation 4