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Don’t Starve Review for PlayStation 4 (PS4)

Don’t Starve Review for PlayStation 4 (PS4)

Follow the Instructions in the Title

The title of this game gives you one simple instruction – Don’t Starve . However, this is something that’s easier said than done. Not that this is a bad thing, it’s kind of the point of the game – hence its name. The game gives you this advice for a reason: if you die, it’s kind of permanent. You’ll have to start over from day one of survival, which influences your actions and decisions throughout your survival experience in the interest of self-preservation.

As you can imagine, the longer you survive, the more difficult it will become to do so. You will be fighting against monsters, the elements, your own madness and your biggest enemy of all – hunger. Don’t Starve doesn’t give you much to go on from the beginning, and the learning curve in the beginning is sure to get you killed several times. You are dropped in the middle of a strange world, told you should find something to eat before it gets dark and that’s it. It’s part of the games charm, forcing you to figure out the best way to survive, and thrive, in this foreign land.

Wilson, the main character you start with, is a gentleman scientist that can grow a bitchin’ beard. His inherent smarts give him an edge in this world, the ability to create tools and weapons out of items found in the environment. This is pure resource gathering and management, but in the midst of this dangerous world, this can be quite a challenge. Gathering materials for basic tools is your first challenge, then using those tools to build yourself a fire for nighttime is imperative. You WILL NOT survive the night without light, just a heads up. Also, don’t think you’re safe just because you gathered enough to start a fire; you will need some sort of fuel to keep that fire going through the night. You can burn all sorts of materials, the most common being logs, but you can even burn Beefalo manure if that’s all you’ve got. Survival is rough. Do what you gotta do.

Don't Starve Screenshot

Now that you’ve picked up on the basics of survival, you will continue on until the inevitable happens – you will die. It’s nothing personal and it’s not a reflection of your gaming prowess in any way. This is supposed to happen. The way Don’t Starve gets away with this seemingly frustrating eventuality is simple, but genius. The longer you survive, the more experience you gain, which unlocks new characters and game content. In essence, your death progresses the game. So don’t get down because you got desperate and tried to slay that Beefalo and it handed you your arse, it’s just the way things are and there isn’t much you can about it. I won’t lie, it is still a little frustrating to make it several weeks or even months into your precarious situation, only to meet your demise at the hands of swarm of bees, but the rewards that you earn by dying after surviving for a long period of time do soften the blow considerably.

Don't Starve Screenshot

Don’t Starve came out on PC earlier this year, and the port to PS4 came with one challenge that the development team at Klei handled very well – the translation of the control scheme to a controller. While I’m sure it’s quite a bit easier to navigate menus on the PC platform, the control scheme of the PS4 version works well and gives you the ability to switch between and use items efficiently with a little practice. Starting off can be a bit of a challenge, but once you learn the controls they flow relatively well without detracting from the fun of survival. My fear for this game being adapted for console was that I would be trapped in an endless loop of menus, crafting and creating for the majority of my time instead of exploring and surviving. Thankfully, the control scheme is balanced enough to allow you to move in and out of menus quickly and effortlessly, once you get the hang of it.

Don't Starve Screenshot

Visually, this game isn’t a feat of graphical engineering, but it doesn’t have to be. The art style is dark, with a hand-drawn look, and with characters that have comical cartoon appeal, without looking like it is intended for children. Due to this low-tech approach to visuals, I have yet to see any graphical flaws in the game as a whole. Character and world animations are unfailingly consistent and the artistic flair that is prevalent in independent games shines through to create a rich world to explore. Add to that the comical soundscape creatures and Charlie Brown Teacher voice overs, along with a soundtrack that would make Tim Burton proud, and you have a complete package that will keep you engaged to what is truly important in this game – survival.

Don’t Starve isn’t perfect, but it brings something to the PS4 that is sorely needed. Its addictive qualities keep you playing, forcing you to lose hours of your life to dodging Pig Men, hunting rabbits, and gathering supplies to see how long you can last. This game will keep you playing that shiny new PS4, which is exactly what the PS4 needs right now. Now, time to jump in this rabbit hole and go to the Kingdom of the Bunnymen…hopefully.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
The darkly sketched art style is both unique and appropriate. 4.0 Control
The controls translate well to a controller from PC, with only a few minor hiccups. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
With no audible dialogue, this game relies solely on its comical sounds and Tim Burton-like soundtrack. 4.5 Play Value
An overall addictive experience that will keep you playing. 4.3 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Play as Wilson, an intrepid Gentleman Scientist who has been trapped by a demon and transported to a mysterious wilderness world.
  • Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises.
  • Gather resources to craft items and structures that match your survival style. Play it your own way as you unravel the mysteries of this strange land.

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