After releasing for PC early this year, developer Size Five Games’ newest title, Earth Must Die, is now available for consoles! As a fan of the developer’s previous works, such as Ben There, Dan That! and Lair of the Clockwork God, I was quite looking forward to this one!
Touted as a “British Comedy Adventure Game”, will Earth Must Die both amuse me and satisfy that puzzle-solving itch? Earth Must Die is out now, and is available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Earth Must Die? Harsh, But Understandable…
Some of my favourite games of all time are Point and Click titles. Broken Sword, Monkey Island, Grim Fandango — I’ve done my fair share of pointing and clicking! Although the genre became somewhat forgotten after the 90s, there have still been some incredibly fun adventures worth undertaking. What’s your favourite Point and Click game? Let me know in the comments below!
Story
In Earth Must Die, players take control of VValak Lizardtongue, newly appointed Grand Shepherd of the Tyrythian Ascendancy. This wasn’t a title he earned, though, as the opening chapter shows. You see, VValak isn’t brave and burly like his father and brothers, and is often looked down on by them. Still, after his father is killed and he pits his brothers against each other, the Tyrythian Ascendancy simply has no other choice but to put VValak in charge.
Turns out, the role of Grand Shepherd isn’t exactly what it’s made out to be. Despite warnings against doing so, VValak devises a plan to conquer Earth. Unfortunately, the Terranoid Empire (that’s us humans!) takes control of the Tyrythian Ascendancy first. This sets up the main plot: reclaim your “rightful” place as the true tyrannical leader of the Ascendancy!
Earth Must Die is a genuinely funny game, but there is a catch. If crude humour, gratuitous violence, and adult themes aren’t your bag, then this may not be an adventure for you. If, like me, you’re a bit immature and don’t mind some crass jokes, then Earth Must Die is absolutely worth playing!
Gameplay
Earth Must Die, like most Point and Click games, is a relatively simple one to control. You’ll move VValak around scenes, talk to people, interact with the environment, and solve puzzles. It works just like you’d expect, although there is one little twist…
VValak is not only a bit of an idiot, but he’s also a pompous, immature villain who refuses to touch anything in the world. Why? Well, because other people may have had their dirty hands all over it! This literal hands-off approach means you’ll have to get Milky (VValak’s childhood nursing robot full of milk) or other NPCs to do the work for you. If they’re being a bit stubborn, you’ll then need to coerce them in order to do your bidding.
Puzzle solving is the main means of progression, and, for the most part, Earth Must Die‘s are quite enjoyable. There are a few more irritating ones that I only solved through trial and error. That said, the majority do have some logic behind them. Or, as much logic as possible in the crazy alien universe! Milky has their very own Milkipedia, which is essential for solving some puzzles, as well as being full of humorous text logs.
Overall, fans of Point and Click adventure games will feel right at home playing Earth Must Die. The “no touching” rule makes figuring out puzzles that little bit more unique, whilst also being very true to VValak as a character. In which I mean he’s a bit (a lot) of an arsehole.
Graphics & Audio
Earth Must Die‘s vivid, cartoony sci-fi aesthetic is absolutely beautiful to look at. The contrast between this and the level of violence is reminiscent of something like Happy Tree Friends or The Boys Presents: Diabolical. Although admittedly, not quite as gruesome! Characters are all unique, interesting designs, from the rather Dracula-esque VValak to large, gelatinous blobs. Everyone and everything you interact with is genuinely charming. In their own weird, gooey ways. Accompanying this, the animation is also top-notch, giving each character some personality outside of their lines of dialogue.
No matter how good a script is, poor voice acting can completely ruin a game. Thankfully, the entire cast are perfect in their roles. Many recognisable names, such as Joel Fry, Ben Star, and Tamsin Greig, absolutely nail their characters. The over-the-top, cartoony performances feel right at home in a game that is… well, over-the-top and cartoony!
Longevity
All in all, Earth Must Die isn’t a long game. Clocking it at around eight hours, though, it’s the perfect length for a Point and Click title. It doesn’t outstay its welcome, and the pacing is very good. Is it a game I’d replay? Yes, maybe not right away whilst the story is still fresh in my memory. But it’s absolutely one I’ll return to one day.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed Earth Must Die. Whilst not every joke landed, the game is so jam-packed with them that it got countless laughs out of me. With a star-studded cast, gorgeous visuals, and some clever puzzles, this is a Point and Click game that everyone should play!
Therefore, Earth Must Die receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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