A Heartfelt Reunion in the Wild
There is no doubt – Adorable Adventures from Wild Sheep Studios is adorable. Utterly adorable.
Far from being the best game you’ll ever play, at times, it’s good to just immerse ourselves in a joyful, heartfelt tale. Should you be looking to wile away a few hours of your life, and feel that a lovely relaxed affair is the best way to do it, we can wholeheartedly recommend Adorable Adventures.
Boris the Baby Boar
Following the life and times of Boris the baby boar, in Adorable Adventures you’ll be tasked with helping this young boar bring his family back together. See, after a devastating forest fire, they have been split, left to their own devices, mostly kicking around as loners, without a care in the world. But Boris has had enough of being alone, preferring the company of his siblings and mother. Only once the band is back together will Boris be happy.
What plays out is a lovely adventure in which you and Boris will be left to traverse and navigate a fairly sizable world. Starting off small, with areas locked off until siblings are found, you’ll hop, skip, and jump your way through this land, dashing when appropriate, slowing things down to take in the wider world on many occasions. And slowing down is absolutely key to helping Boris along.
The Power of the Snout
You see, navigation is handled by Boris’ supreme sense of smell. This little boar can pick up anything floating through the air, from bits of litter (pick it up, bin it!), to truffles, a whole range of flora and more. But of course, the main scents are those of his fam; pick up a trail, follow it until you uncover those most loved.
The thing is, in Adorable Adventures, those scents merge. Whereas you may be happily scooting through a forest, looking to find your honey-loving sibling, a more powerful smell will emerge, dragging you from your objective, along a wild goose chase. It’s here where the fun of the game pops and we’ve had great joy in following a scent to a flower, then another, and another, all in hope of uncovering enough in order to be able to ‘mute’ that scent, ticking it off in a glossary, before getting on with the task at hand. But even then, the joy of the collectible, of uncovering everything that Adorable Adventures has to hold, will see you moving this way and that, through a range of biomes as you look for completion; rolling meadows, deepest forests, mysterious caves and rocky outcrops all await this boar.
Puzzles are afoot too. For instance, some siblings will refuse to join the gang unless you carry out a couple of requirements. There’s nothing ever too taxing here, but it does ensure you will need to take in and scour the lands to a decent degree in order to make progress. An early example would be in trying to entice Mimi from the confines of the most dark of caves, lighting the way for them. Or maybe you’ll be hunting through a forest for some honey in order to ensure Belle joins up.
Boarish Agility
Boris is more than equipped for navigating this world. Fairly speedy from the off, a dash helps traverse the wider landscapes with ease, whilst a little jump aids in scaling rocks and the likes. With the world about as vertical as it is horizontal, you’ll need to make the most of all of Boris’ skills along the way.
Adorable Adventures looks nice too; elevated beyond being just another cute indie platformer, mostly thanks to the atmosphere that Wild Sheep Studios have managed to create. Expect calmness to be found throughout, aided by a gentle soundtrack, ambient sounds, and the freedom to wander at your own pace without pressure.
Except for the odd ‘race’, this is a game that never tries to push you, instead being happy to let curiosity lead the way. That slow approach won’t be for all, particularly those after fast-paced action, but should you be willing to sink yourself into its cosy little world, there’s something nicely therapeutic about helping Boris piece his family back together.
Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll discover that there is real charm to the world; uncovering the weirdest of secrets is a constant joy. We’ve kicked a football into a net, we’ve jumped through hoops, we’ve sat underneath a waterfall, and we’ve spent far too long racing along tracks, hitting checkpoints and beating par times. There’s just so much to uncover in the game, that you could well find the couple of hours of story to be doubled once the bug hits.
A Properly Adorable Tail of Discovery
And bringing it all together is some ever-so-delightful commentary on how this little boar’s life is playing out. Booming from above, working as a narrative-builder, the tale and comms that unfolds is brilliant, yet still subtle, heart-warming when all looks bleak.
So yes, Adorable Adventures is properly adorable. Aside from the odd bit of backtracking that goes on for a tad too long, mostly thanks to a map that really does very little, and some clunk in Boris getting stuck in scenery, this is a delightful tale.
Come to Adorable Adventures for the tale of a little boar attempting to reunite his family. There is no doubt you’ll stay for the secrets, the collectibles, the vibes, and the sheer depth of gameplay.
Important Links
Adorable Adventures Arrives On Xbox, PlayStation And PC – And It’s Almost Too Cute To Handle – https://www.thexboxhub.com/adorable-adventures-arrives-on-xbox-playstation-and-pc/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/adorable-adventures/9nr3nc1whgv0
