Open Country, by developer Funlabs and publisher 505 Games, is a departure from the insanity of city living and a 9 to 5 corporate job, returning to nature and its limitless beauty. This title is an open world RPG with some survival sandbox features. I think this game can be really good if you are interested in simulating the great outdoors, including hunting, exploring, and surviving in the wilderness. It should make us all feel better after a year of agoraphobia.
We are introduced to Open Country through a short animation about our main character’s desire to escape from the monotony of the urban jungle, showcasing New York City, and to go off the grid. It is implied that this is a return to nature, otherwise this story sounds like a person who worked an office job just snapped, quit their job, packed an RV, and moved to the woods. We meet the owner of an establishment out this remote area, and we become quick friends. Our new friend, Gary, quickly gives us our first assignment to help the local forest ranger. Our character is so eager to embrace this new life that we drive the RV to a ruined cabin and sleep under a make-shift shelter (not even a mile away from the RV).
In all seriousness, the story is a slow one but it unfolds naturally. Our protagonist is not the silent type and often expresses enthusiasm when lending a helping hand. There are multiple areas to explore, but they are not available right from the beginning. We can see from the travel map that we can move between these biomes at will. Saving our progress requires setting up camp, however. Failure to do so may result in a mild headache and backtracking. To be honest, I don’t know if the game would be better without the hunger/thirst meters and the necessity of a campsite to save your game. The point is to create as much immersion as possible, but I think having the option to opt out would be appreciated by more casual audiences.
The gameplay is good, but I will admit it is a little stiff. Generally, running around feels wonky in close quarters, but it’s better when we are out in the world. The UI is intuitive and pretty easy to pick up and learn. Everything you need is quickly available, whether it is your trusty compass or reading your objectives. Shooting is very straight-forward. While there is no shooting from the hip, you take aim and fire when you are ready. You even have a Witcher-like sense when you press V, and can see objects that you can pick up. This is excellent, especially when you are shooting rabbits in tall grass or are looking for sticks among branches.
The voice acting is a little atrocious, I won’t lie. It sounds a little like a Speak & Spell with a rustic drawl. The animations are okay when they speak, but they can’t get too expressive in a single conversation. The soundtrack is a different story, however. I really like it, and I wish it was more present while roaming the wilderness. Sound or no sound; they are both good to help enjoy the scenery.
Overall, I have a good feeling about this title. I can imagine myself spending hours getting lost in any of these maps. Exploring can be fun, but caution is always the best practice in the great outdoors. I tried navigating down some rocks, and I instantly regretted it; my legs fractured so easily. Autosave can be your friend, but you really should set up a campsite as the best practice. The game preview I attended on May 5th showcased a hunting dog who you can recruit. I did not encounter our furry companion in the first hour of gameplay, but the developers have said we can build a healthy relationship with the dog (and even pet it).
Check Out the Open Country Gameplay Video:
Open Country is heading to Steam. For more information, please visit: https://505games.com/games/open-country/
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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