By: John C. Mayberry
The great outdoors. A nightmare of mosquitoes, man-eating wildlife, and the oh so important task of pitching your tent over ground that isn’t littered with stick, stones, or anything else that will make sleeping impossible. For most, however, it is quite the wonderous setting for any relaxing getaway, live action or in this case, virtual. The concept of the indie game Wind Peaks, takes two of the most relaxing things you could think of, camping and an updated version of the classic hidden object game, and creates a fun and family-friendly experience ideal for the younger audience. Albeit not something that would be geared to fans of the action genre, it succeeds in reaching the target audience it was initially aimed towards, in addition to being mentally stimulating and beneficial.
As most indie games, Wind Peaks doesn’t rely heavily on any detailed plot, just something short, sweet, but still keeps the attention of the younger audience. Involving a group of scouts and their scout leader finding a map to a mystical part of the forest, the gameplay will have you progressing through ten different areas, where the player is tasked with locating the various objects needed to advance in the game. That is seemingly all there is to it at first glance, until the player notices that some objects must be found in a certain order, and are treated to animated cutscenes which, like the levels themselves, features hand drawn artwork that one would expect to find in children’s book.
The artwork alone adds a certain level of whimsical fun and relaxation, but the addition of the sounds of the outdoors, the detail in the levels and, despite that it is a bit easy to get around, the challenge in paying close attention to detail is still present without assistance which will keep the little ones busy, and thankfully silent, for quite a while. Just don’t expect for the older or more action gaming-oriented audience to give this title much attention, however, since it is more likely this will be a means of killing time in any random waiting room rather than holding any real replay value for them. For the audience this game is garnered towards, on the other hand, Wind Peaks is surely an entertaining little gem that no young, elementary school-aged child is not going to have already downloaded to their Switch consoles.
PROS:
Art style – Clear and sharp-looking, the hand drawn artwork is something anyone from adults to kids can appreciate. With the cartoonish look the game’s levels are designed down to the detail of the levels themselves, it’s clear to see how much time and attention went into it, as everything looks impressive but more importantly, attention-grabbing for kids.
Added features – Hidden object games are always basic, so its difficult for them to grab as much attention as they do sometimes. Actoon Studio adds a bit of innovation to this by not only requiring the player to search for objects in a certain order to introduce a puzzle element to the game, but also the inclusion of animated cutscenes that advance the plot as well.
Sound quality – The sounds used in Wind Peaks are just as the art style is, clear and sharp. The sounds of nature are captured perfectly and exude the sense of rest and relaxation players will likely feel for themselves with the sounds, visuals, and the casual nature of the gameplay combined.
CONS:
Not for everyone – It is quick to see that this game only reaches out to a specific audience, and although may be meant for all ages, doesn’t necessarily mean, it would be appealing to all ages. Although a casual experience, many will consider this too casual, so much so that the simplistic nature of the game will likely turn some gamers away because of the overall lack of a challenge.
Minimal replay value – Also due to the simplistic gameplay and short, ten level length, the replay value for this game is not much to speak of. Possibly non-existent to some, depending on any player’s preference. It’s good to occupy long stretches of time in waiting rooms or while you’re holding on a phone call, as this game can keep your attention if you’re invested enough in it, but not much else outside of that.
Minimal challenge – There is a certain amount of challenge provided by Wind Peaks as is. Although hidden object games at their core require only require someone to have a sharp eye, there is little to no challenge for gamers that have more fast-paced, action-oriented preferences in their games. What adds to the lack of challenge as well is a feature where you can set a timer for yourself, and if the object you’re seeking isn’t found within that timeframe, you will be shown almost exactly where the object is.
OVERALL SCORE: 7 out of 10
For what it is and who it’s for, Actoon Studio succeeds on most levels at producing a game meant for children. Wind Peaks exudes a family-friendly atmosphere while being visually engaging and relaxing to the young, school-aged fledgling gamer. As the next generation of said gamers grows to maturity, however, they will inevitably demand more out of what they play, which may unfortunately lead to this game becoming a childhood memory rather than something they will continue to play into their older years. Which is not to say it will never be played again. Once this gaming generation grows up, they will want something they can share with their own little fledgling gamers one day, for which Wind Peaks is not only perfect tool to keep these future PC or home console fiends pacified, but also for enhancing the bonding experience between parent and child as well.
