Inspired by a call to live a simpler life and away from the noise of the urban jungle, we run away from our claustrophobic office cubicle and break for the Open Country. Open Country is an open world survival RPG with a focus on the great outdoors, developed by FUN Labs and published by 505 Games.
As far as stories go, Open Country does not really scratch that itch. Our story here is very linear, but the only thing that remotely feels engaging is our friendship with the dog. I understand that we also want to restore the lodge, help out the local ranger, and hunt game. These objectives drive most of the character’s actions, but I am not personally excited about doing chores (in real life or in a video game).
I like the gameplay. Running around only feels clunky when you are indoors, but you will be running around outside for the majority of the time. The UI is easy to access and manage. You can hold Q to see your immediate objective in real time. Inventory management and equipping items is also easy. My only complaint is that it took me a while to find out how to fill up your water bottle, and I don’t remember any tutorial telling me how to do it. Keep in mind that since this is a survival game, you have stats that drain, such as energy, satiety, thirst, and general health.
Crafting can be a little hard to manage at first, but you get used to it fairly quickly. Most building/crafting items are found on a menu. Other times you need to interact with an object directly, like a campfire to kindle and to cook. Your tools and gear also wear and tear over time, so you need to be mindful of your supplies. Perishables also degrade over time as well. You can buy items back at the lodge if you are in a pinch, but I would recommend using the hunter’s sense and eating a lot of berries and mushrooms.
Hunting is actually very cool in this game. One mission is about you tracking a stag that the ranger has determined has a disease and is at risk of spreading it. You don’t just know where the deer is located; you have to scout ahead and find them near locations on your map. You can hear them and use stealth to get closer to them. Sometimes hunting requires a lot of patience. Other times, you will be shooting at rabbits like Elmer Fudd or will be shooting at hungry wolves. Multiplayer revolves around hunting, in which case you either hunt cooperatively or competitively.
Now down to the stuff that I don’t like! I think there should be a casual mode that removes the depleting statuses and gear degradation. I am in fact a casual country boy. I also think there should be a tutorial for your individual needs, especially thirst and injuries. My bones are made of glass and I get thirsty very quickly. Multiplayer also could use a LAN connection. And the big complaint: the game is really buggy right now. The audio in the beginning was weird (the voice acting is not great), my character’s face disappeared in a cutscenes, and the deer I was hunting glitched out of existence, causing me to have to redo the mission many times.
Overall, Open Country feels just a little too hardcore for me, but it feels like it should be so more casual. I think this game can be fun, especially in multiplayer. I just wished that the final product was more polished than the earlier version I played last month. I’m sure that the bugs will be fixed in time, but it gave me a poor impression. I think a fair rating for this title should be a 7 out of 10.
Check Out the Open Country Trailer:
For more information about Open Country visit www.opencountrygame.com.
Steam Review
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.
More Stories
ROGUE WATERS Pirate-Infused Turn-Based Tactics Releases Developer Walkthrough Video
Outright Games and Mattel’s MATCHBOX DRIVING ADVENTURES Now Available for PC and Consoles
KEYLOCKER: Turn Based Cyberpunk Action Review for PlayStation 5