Herdling Review – Herd Instinct

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In simple terms, Herdling is a new game from Okamotive, famous for the FAR series. You start as a young character living under a bridge in a city teeming with life. Your journey begins when you encounter a mystical creature called a Calicorn and help remove a bucket from its head, taming it in the process. With your new companion, you explore deserted urban streets, gradually expanding your herd of Calicorns and eventually leaving the city to venture into the wilderness. Although the game is mostly silent, what’s implied can create some of its most powerful moments, much like the FAR series.

The contrast between urban existence and exploring nature’s expanse was captivating enough by itself. One particular instance depicted my group grazing beside a train; another occurred as I watched a solitary car traverse a bridge above, mirroring the protagonist’s initial journey. However, Herdling transcends these comparisons, offering a narrative centered on forming connections and nurturing one’s herd. Even with minimal knowledge about them, this theme resonates surprisingly well with the protagonist’s personal tale.

It’s not clear how these creatures initially found themselves in their current state, but it adds to their charm when they rescue and integrate other Calicorns into their group. Each creature’s situation provides enough background information to help piece together the story. For instance, did one of the Calicorns seek refuge and get injured by something that caused it to hide under a train car whenever I approach? Or perhaps another Calicorn was abandoned on a ferry in the middle of a lake?

Every Calicorn possesses unique characteristics, with some subtleties barely noticeable and others quite evident. Although it’s intriguing to envision more complex characters emerging more swiftly, the diverse behaviors, antlers, and affectionate responses they display when stroked provide an engaging experience in themselves.

Over time, these creatures, initially known as “This and that Calicorn,” develop beyond their names, Zoe being the first I trained. She’s large yet tender, displaying affectionate behaviors towards me at times, almost like a gentle nudge for attention.

Gian, who I rescued from falling off a cliff, is a testament to courage. His unwavering resolve mirrors his bravery, although it sometimes feels like a reflection of the hardships he’s overcome to continue living.

Shinyuu, a troublemaker, continues to puzzle me, but their carefree, mischievous character has grown on me over time.

Each Calicorn is unique, some subtly so and others quite noticeably. Though I wished for a faster evolution of distinct characters and emotions, their individual movements, horns, and responses to petting provide sufficient interest. Interacting with them – feeding, petting, healing, and decorating them with trinkets found on your journeys – adds charm. Despite some rough fur edges in graphics, the Calicorns are adorable yet herd-like. It seems more logical within the game context, I promise!

In some artwork accessible only to the Calicorns, there’s a hidden tale unfolding. It features a cryptic shepherd who appears to be traveling the same path as our main character, hinting at a shared destiny. This leads one to ponder whether this whole journey is predetermined, maybe a trial that both the protagonist and their guide must endure together.

In my exploration, I’ve noticed the city isn’t heavily integrated into the world-building, yet it’s adorned with intriguing totems and monuments that seem to tell tales of past travels and ancestors who once walked these streets. The cityscape is marked by an overwhelming number of dilapidated buildings and deserted infrastructures, adding to a sense of eerie emptiness. This unsettling atmosphere suggests that something isn’t quite normal about this world, but it’s not the main narrative focus.

Have you been pondering: What exactly is the gameplay mechanic in Herdling? The name itself offers a hint. As the shepherd of the herd, your task is to lead them from one location to another. By pressing the Right Trigger, you guide the herd towards a certain spot. Pressing and holding it down enables you to place a marker that they’ll follow, but you can’t just stand in one place and repeatedly press RT. Instead, you must keep yourself behind the herd, adjusting your position to move the guiding marker, ensuring the herd has a safe path. Over time, you’ll learn to hold down RT and press it again for a speed boost, which creates some truly amazing scenes when you’re let loose in larger areas.

What remains consistently impressive is Herdling’s exceptional art direction. Sometimes, it’s radiant, like when twilight paints the seemingly never-ending fields of blossoms and clouds dance over the distant mountains.

As you progress, you’ll encounter light challenges that require solving, such as maneuvering heavy objects with the help of the herd, leaping over small crevices, and activating switches. However, the task becomes precarious when you need to move the herd cautiously to prevent them from coming into contact with any sharp environmental hazards. One part involves carefully navigating them around pine cone-like formations in a forest, which are unstable and trigger aggressive giant birds.

In these situations, halting and gradually guiding the herd at certain points is crucial, which can be quite demanding and painful when a Calicorn gets hurt. The game’s progression might seem straightforward, but I enjoy the options to explore alternative routes. Should I choose the more apparent path or encourage the herd to dash through some pine cones, collecting the flowers left behind and gaining extra speed? This seems like a minor decision, yet it provides refreshing variations for those who are up for the challenge.

As I navigate through this game, similar obstacles arise, and sometimes it’s a bit awkward to steer the group in tight quarters, especially when they unexpectedly turn back on themselves. Guiding my character to maintain the lead while avoiding collisions with other Calicorns can be challenging at times. However, by holding down the sprint button for quick maneuvers, these issues seemed few and far between.

A common thread that runs throughout is the breathtaking art direction by Herdling. At moments, it’s radiantly vivid, as twilight paints an infinite canvas of blossoming fields and clouds dance over distant mountains. Yet, the mood can shift dramatically, such as when traversing the vast lake on a ferry, where fog mysteriously thickens. Nevertheless, the lighting, shadows, and texture create a striking contrast, while the style seamlessly combines the animated and realistic.

Although it significantly varies from the game titled FAR, notably by absenting survival aspects and machine administration, the game Herdling possesses a distinctive appeal characteristic of Okamotive. This results in an encounter that is simultaneously soothing and deeply moving.

During certain instances, there’s an occasional hiccup with the game’s performance – the frame rate occasionally dips significantly. It doesn’t make the game unplayable, but it can dim some of the experience. Luckily, the music is flawless, seamlessly shifting from soft to lively tunes instantly, although the choice of tune largely depends on the specific moments in the game.

Beyond its controls and fundamental aspects, Herdling doesn’t offer an unusually unique adventure. The puzzles aren’t particularly challenging, and the level design, although subtly complex, is quite straightforward. However, it manages to blend elements of mood-setting, atmospheric enigma, and animal empathy simulation in a compelling manner, resulting in a thought-provoking experience.

As a dedicated gamer, I gotta say, Herdling isn’t gonna consume your life, but it sure does deliver the right amount of fun for what it brings to the table. It may seem quite distinct from FAR in terms of survival elements or machine management being absent, but boy, does it have a unique charm all its own, courtesy of Okamotive. The experience is like a soothing balm one moment, and a heart-wrenching roller coaster ride the next!

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-08-22 13:16