


This creates a world that is hard to leave and that stays with players after the game is closed.It is difficult to talk about The Wild at Heart without referring to a long list of other media. It draws players in, fully immersing them in the world through sight, sound and interaction. The Wild at Heart is also reminiscent of a 3D Over the Garden Wall, with triangular noses on round faces in a verdant forest that alternates between being bright and foreboding, touching on a sepia-toned feeling of melancholy.Ĭoupled with a story that is designed to tug on the heartstrings and finely tuned mechanics that tie into these themes, the end result of this nostalgic aesthetic is a truly effecting game. The animation style and soundtrack work with the story's setting to create this feeling of nostalgia, for the full glory of the game's Greenshield society and for a forest free from the horror of the Never, but also for safe spaces and the naivete and innocence of youth. Where The Wild at Heart truly excels, however, is its vibe.

RELATED: Become the Master of Gravity In Sky Beneath's Portal-Inspired Puzzle Platforming The Gustbuster can also pull items closer to the player and even collect some items. The woods are littered with windmills that, when activated by the Gustbuster, will open doors to new areas or spew scrap parts necessary for crafting. RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: How to Create Memorable PuzzlesĪs cute and important as the Spritelings are, they aren't the only thing that makes The Wild at Heart fun. The Gustbuster vacuum backpack that Wake wears throughout the game serves as the main way that the character interacts with the environment. While Spritelings can be re-hatched, the small animation that plays on their death really drives the moment home and emphasizes the attachment players have established with them. While they don't offer a lot of personality or individuality, they'll express confusion if players send them to unspecified tasks, fly into the air if they meet with a vacuum blast and, if set against a foe too strong, even die. But players also connect with these Spritelings on their adventures.
