The Mooseman Review on Xbox

All reviews (unless stated otherwise) are based on the Developer/Publisher providing myself with a review code, which i am grateful for, but does not influence my outcome.

The Mooseman is best slow walking story laden game, designed to provide a immersive experience based on a finno-ugric culture of bygone pagan times.

The premise is you are the Mooseman, and you have the ability to see all that is hidden to the mortal eye. You are about to visit three layers of this universe - the first one is the Lower World where the dead reside…

The game boasts worlds designed on perm animal style, a number of collectibles each with a unique pagan explanation, different powers to unlock, puzzles and folk Komi music.

Gameplay

The gameplay starts with your protagonist purposely making his way from left to right along the level taking in the sights and sounds of this pagan inspired world. Whilst this maybe too slow for some, there is a reason, as the surroundings are of utmost importance when it comes to the game’s puzzle solving.

The majority of this is using one of your abilities to see things from the other side. A button press allows you to move from the ‘real’ world into the realm of the dead. This is the main feature of what the game’s challenge is based upon. Stationary objects in one realm will be illuminated as actual living creatures in the other that can move towards or away from you, or even create a bridge in an uncrossable area. Because of this, so you will find yourself looking at ledges which you just can’t reach, and switching into the other realm to establish whether there’s anything around you can move to use as a route forwards.

This is just one aspect that helps resolve puzzles, it also helps you see collectibles in the form of coloured artifacts. Collecting these artifacts places them in a list which reads like a comprehensive reference book to all of the mythologies the game represents. 

Lots are easy to find, but there are specific ones where you will need to do a correct motion or solve a riddle to gain them. One such riddle had me copying the sound some crystals made to form a song which then dropped a artifact. If I hadn’t been switching constantly between worlds, I would have easily walked passed it.

There are bosses to each of the three main worlds, with the lower one being a huge spider. Defeating said bosses are actually pretty easy and can easily and often rely on either pressing some switches or avoiding attacks in general, till the end appears.

Once out of the depths you will have collected the Shondi (a piece of the sun), which acts as a shield. This illuminating presence protects the user from one hit only. If you are struck, the power diminishes and you must activate it again. Its pretty simple to do, but adds a layer of complexity to the simplistic gameplay. You must time the use of this ability to protect yourself from relentless flying beasts, and was one of my more favourite elements of the game.

Control wise, the game is smooth and responsive even it its limited movement. If there was areas I did fall, it was often due to my own stupidity of not understanding the situation, rather than the controls.

Overall the game is more about the experience and education of this long forgotten pagan world, and in that, it does it perfectly. I found myself enamoured by the delights of this intriguing mythology and came away appreciating a forgotten lore that I doubt few even knew existed. The only gripe I could come up with, is that its very short, which left me really wanting more.

Graphics

The games visual style is the tried and tested monochromatic visuals that has been used to great affect in other games. Here its is as equally impressive in distinguishing the real world and the land of the dead. It uses a lovely overlay to the main world showcasing off the Perm animal styles with great effect. 

Each world you travel through is a visual feast for the eyes and keeps you engaged with every new area you enter. The animation of the main protagonist too was superb and walking through this games worlds had so many set pieces that could be a still, from a painting.

Sound

The game sounds is where it really shines with its tribal Komi songs and throat singing used to great effect. The environmental sounds are perfect for this type of game and there was nothing better than listening to the crunch of footsteps in the snow, the rasp sound of the wind blowing, or the splash of water, to wash away your stresses. The sounds and music have been well directed to ensure that you are perfectly engaged with the journey unfolding, and it helps this story welcome you, like a parents loving embrace.

Verdict

This leads me onto the rating of the game:-
Now I rate games in order of, avoid, on sale, great purchase and must own. My rating for Mr Mooseman is a "Great Purchase’’.

It’s a great game that’s story is alluring and keeps you engage from the beginning to the end with its lovely use of visuals, folk music and smooth controls. My only real complaint is that for me, the experience was too short as I wanted more.

The game is currently priced on Xbox at £5.59 or approx $7, and depending on skill and patience would give you about 2+ hours worth of gameplay. Whilst there is a number of artifacts to collect which you can go back to each level and find, there really isn’t any other replayability.

If your looking to have a short but truly engaging experience into a forgotten pagan folk lore and listen to inspiring folk music, this is perfect for you. Or if you want something new, short and sweet to experience over a couple of lunches, this again would be ideal.