Whateverland Review (PlayStation 4)

For this Whateverland Review, we must find our way out of a magical prison in this non-linear point’n’click adventure full of mini-games and challenges. Get to meet the charismatic Whateverlanders, steal and deceive, or be a good boy to discover all the different endings of Vincent’s story.

Whateverland Review Pros:

• Decent hand-drawn graphics.
• 3.62GB download size.
• Platinum trophy.
• Works on Playstation 5.
• Five save slots and a sixth autosave.
• Point-and-click adventure gameplay.
• Animated cutscenes with full voice work.
• Opening multiple choice questions to set up the story.
• Really good animations that make it look like a cartoon.
• Excellent soundtrack.
• Plays on a 2.5D game world.
• Tutorial pop-ups as you play.
• Does offer run and fast cursor movement so it stays a point and click but isn’t a slow date one.
• Save and load when you want.
• Multiple choice encounters.
• The goal of the game is to escape Whateverland and you do this by either playing it helpful or by lying and stealing your way out. It’s up to you how and when you cat in a particular way.
• Plays on a screen-by-screen basis.
• Instead of the traditional cursor shape change on a particular item, Whateverland has an almost aim-assist-like ability to snap onto said item.
• Handy clues button you can use with no penalties.
• The world does house some whacky yet endearing characters.
• The puzzles are great fun as they require many different strategies, the opening lock-pick puzzle is a particular doozy.
• The game is set up to allow multiple ways to complete a task.
• I like how you can’t just brute force menu options to get what you want. For example, it will take away an option or not allow you to ask another question after you have asked one or chose an option before.
• One of the greatest opening credits sequences I have seen in a game for some time.
• Your journal keeps track of everything you have done and can help with what to do next.
• World map lets you freely jump from area to area.
• Great looking locations.
• Has a Tabletop game called Bell and Bones which is like a board game version of football. The goal is to get the bell and score in the opposition’s erm goal.
• Optional playable tutorial match of Bell and Bones.
• In Bell and Bones, you can move, use an ability, steal the bell, and pass the bell.
• Bell and Bones are played on a hexagonal grid and every action will highlight where you can throw/move the bell and/or character.
• Few easter eggs from films and characters in well-known blockbusters.
• Fast loading times.
• Every location has an animated back and foreground.
• In the library sits a book with all the Kickstarter names of backers.
• You are free to go anywhere once you unlock the map.
• Your goal is to get the seven pieces needed to banish the witch who is the only one who can send you back home.
• Multiple endings.
• As you get further in more mechanics get added to the Bell and Bones game.
• Its a really cool game and feels like an interactive show.
• Some fantastic writing.
• Memorable set pieces and sequences.

Whateverland Review Cons:

• Cannot rebind controls.
• No game/accessibility options like text size or coloring.
• Very hard to see what is clickable and what is just scenery makeup.
• The cursor doesn’t change shape when hovering over items.
• A few of the performances feel a bit flat or bland like they don’t want to be there.
• The music whilst good does seem to overpower a scene.
• Slow starter.
• Uses a system whereby at times the cursor will almost lock on to a particular part/item.
• Finding a clear space to order a run command can be hard, especially in busy/built-up areas.
• Will only show applicable actions when clicking on am Interactive part.
• The clues button just shows all Interactive points on the current screen.
• Feels like going from screen to screen can be hit or miss as to if the game recognises it.
• The game doesn’t utilize the controller like the touchpad or speaker.
• A lot of fetch questing.

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Whateverland:

Official website.

Developer: Caligari Games

Publisher: Caligari Games

Store Links – 

PlayStation