Whalien Unexpected Guests Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · February 2, 2023

For our Whalien Unexpected Guests Review, as we Push and Pull our way through this heartfelt adventure! Fin, the mechanical whale you call home, is plagued by mischievous Squiddies. As Ernest Hemingwhale you set out on a Fin-tastic journey to help your friend with his unexpected guests.

Whalien Unexpected Guests Review Pros:

Decent cartoon-like graphics.
3.7GB download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Graphics settings – resolution, v-sync, and motion blur.
Controller settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders.
3rd person action gameplay.
Tutorial videos pop up as you play.
It’s a game all about pushing and pulling objects to advance.
Slight puzzle elements.
A lot of humor and puns.
Conversations are done via speech bubbles in real-time allowing the game to continue.
The spring people are the inhabitants of the world and they will help and hinder you.
The game uses its own language.
Push and pull balls are balls you can throw long distances and activate to create a push or pull field.
In-game cutscenes.
Each area/level has X amount of collectible stickers to find.
Physics plays a huge part.
Anything you can push/pull highlights when you are near it.
Very satisfying to play.
Tells you when you last saved.

Whalien Unexpected Guests Review Cons:

All settings got locked behind a splash screen saying I have unsaved video settings and no matter what you press, it doesn’t go away.
The tutorial videos are not always helpful.
The menus are a tad clunky.
Stickers feel underwhelming and kinda pointless.
Cannot rebind controls.
Not always clear what to do and where to go.
Puzzles generally resort to just chucking each ball and seeing what works.
Checkpoints are not always ideal.
Very easy to miss stories or conversations.

Related Post: Exit Man Deluxe Review (Xbox Series S)

Whalien Unexpected Guests:

Official website.

Developer: Forbidden Folds

Publisher: Forbidden Folds

Store Links –

Steam

7/10
Graphics - 7/10
7/10
Sound - 7/10
7/10
Accessibility - 7/10
8/10
Length - 8/10
8/10
Fun Factor - 8/10

7.4/10

Summary

The goal of the game is to use your push and pull powers and solve puzzles as you platform your way around. Sounds simple and to be fair it plays like that but it is so charming and full of fun that it’s a smile-inducing romp. I had issues with a menu not playing ball but apart from that I had an absolute blast going through the levels, the platforming is solid whilst the puzzles were integrated well and they never felt too taxing, enough of a challenge to elicit alation. It is a game that can entertain young and older gamers, it is a one-and-done but it’s a memorable run and I thoroughly enjoyed it. When the game had you using your push and pull to move objects like carts and platforms on rails the game really shone and it’s one of its strongest parts, in fact, I would say it needed more of it but overall it’s a solid offering.