Octodad: Dadliest Catch is a great example of the harm video-game tropes can do to a solid, innovative concept.
Octodad’s premise and gimmick break down under the weight of its self-serious story, and the whole product suffers for it. It sounds silly to say, “I want to do chores in a video game, except as an octopus,” but that’s exactly what I want. There are limitless possibilities far more interesting than the high-stakes, video game-esque, “Play the Hero!” scenario we actually got in Octodad. I wanted to see Octodad just, well, being a dad.įorget the villian, I just want to spend time with Octodad’s kids. I wanted more, but I wanted more of that initial promise. And the sequence shouldn’t even be that hard, except your AI partner occasionally fails to react the way she’s supposed to when she’s supposed to and causes the fight to grind to a halt.Įven though it clocked in at barely two hours long, I was more than ready for Octodad to be over by the end.
The whole ordeal is compounded by a generic “do this thing three times” boss fight where one mistake causes the entire sequence to restart. Instead, I’m wrestling against my own incompetence because it’s a hindrance, in a game where forced incompetence is supposed to be the joke. I just want to gallop around awkwardly and look silly and accidentally run the lawnmower over my own head. It sounds silly to say, “I want to do chores in a video game, except as an octopus,” but that’s exactly what I want. Stealth missions, puzzles that require nigh-pinpoint accuracy-these are frustrating enough in normal games, but in a game with a purposefully obfuscated control scheme? Trample your wife’s garden and she’ll reprimand you! Throw the burgers on the ground and nobody bats an eyelid! Slip on a banana peel and look ridiculous!īut without giving the plot away, Octodad’s back half takes a turn for the serious.
The game is at its best when the stakes are low. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. And a lot sillier. Intentionally confounding games like Octodad need to strike a tricky balance. By pulling the left or right trigger, the sticks instead take control of Octodad’s legs. It's an ill-advised move that quickly flips the game from funny to maddening. By default, the left analog stick moves one of your arms toward and away from your body, while the right stick raises and lowers the arm. You’ll control three appendages in the game. I assume the developers agree, seeing as you unlock a Steam achievement for plugging in a controller. In that spirit, I do not recommend playing this game with a mouse and keyboard-plug in a gamepad if you’ve got one handy. Ian McKinneys Octodad (Nobody Suspects a Thing) is the catchy theme song for Octodad: Dadliest Catch used in the trailer and credits sequences for the game. Think QWOP, Surgeon Simulator, or Probably Archery. Granting semi-control of a wildly gesticulating octopus may make. Octodad: Dadliest Catch joins a legion of other recent games where movement is the hardest mechanic to master. Octodad: Dadliest Catch is obviously very silly, you don't have to get past the title to realize that. And, as the game’s excellent theme song helpfully informs you, “nobody suspects a thing.” Well, except for your archenemy, a crazed chef who is somehow the only person who sees through your incredibly poor disguise to your true nature.Įven finding a tux can be an adventure when you’re an octopus in a suit. It doesn't matter which order you visit the sub locations, but before you do, go ahead and grab the tie.Yes, you are a father who is also an octopus-thus the “Octodad” name. Accompanied by the ridiculously catchy theme song (download it here), Phil Tibitoski, president of Young Horses, details. From here your family will scatter and you have the choice to follow them.
#Octodad dadliest catch theme free
Toilet and Trouble can be accessed in both story and free play mode, however unlocking it in free play will end the level and it will be selectable on the free play menu.Īvoid the biologist by using the otter cut-outs as cover and make your way up the stairs. If you feel so inclined, you can try the The Secret Level Toilet and Trouble, or you can proceed with the game. If you follow the path of the velvet ropes and don't cut in front of any of the other patrons, you will unlock an achievement.īefore making your way to the turnstile, take a moment to grab a tie and once you've finished, grab the turnstile ticket and make your way to the turnstile. The first task is to get the coupon from Scarlet and exchange it for a turnstile ticket. Octodad is dragged by his excited family to the aquarium.