Herdling: A Chill Stroll Through Magic Alps Hides a Bloody Emotional Ambush
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
While Eurogamer notes *Herdling*'s gameplay might be a bit too chill, don't let that fool ya, mate – this game delivers a quietly devastating emotional experience through its unique herding narrative, proving that sometimes the easiest treks lead to the deepest emotional ambushes.
Right, so I've been tinkering with this game called *Herdling* that Eurogamer's Jim Trinca recently had a gander at, and bloody hell, it’s one of those titles that sounds simple on the surface but, like a misfired teleportation spell, lands you somewhere utterly unexpected. We're talking magical alps, adorable ram-like beasts, and an emotional trek that, while perhaps a bit *too* easy on the ol' twitch reflexes, manages to snag your heartstrings with the precision of a seasoned bard.
Fair warning: the initial premise – an extended escort quest where you shepherd a flock of 'Calicorns' (think technicolour, vaguely magical goats with splendid horns) from a dystopian city's edge to mountain peaks – might conjure images of frustrating pixel-pushing. And you wouldn't be wrong to think that, because games are practically experts at making us feel things for digital creatures in peril. *Herdling* slots right into that proud lineage, sitting alongside classics like *Ico* and *The Last Guardian*, and even those more recent 'Sad Dad' simulators that seem to be popping up faster than mushrooms after a rainstorm.
But here's the rub, or perhaps, the twist in the digital tale. *Herdling* shares a fair bit of its DNA with the critically acclaimed *FAR: Lone Sails* and *FAR: Changing Tides*. Those games were all about nurturing and navigating a magnificent machine through bleak, beautiful landscapes, building a proper bond with your metallic marvel. You felt like a gifted engineer, constantly tinkering and fixing, every creak of the vehicle a throb in your own digital heart. You *earned* that progress. And, according to Jim Trinca, that's where *Herdling* takes a slightly different path, a bit like trying to summon a fire elemental and getting a gentle breeze instead.
See, the original review points out that *Herdling*'s challenges—be they light puzzles or its 'forced stealth' sections (which, let's be honest, often get a bad rap)—aren't exactly the stuff of legend. In fact, they're described as 'comically forgiving.' Imagine trying to sneak your entire flock of Calicorns past a 'sleeping murder owl' (a creature Jim describes with the delightful phrase 'horrid masked birds of prey with the wingspan of a minibus'), only for the game to basically shrug if you knock over a couple of stone cairns. Your herd magically narrows its silhouette, the owl barely stirs, and the only actual 'attack' is a hard-coded chase sequence you can't avoid anyway. It's a piece of piss, as we might say. Not exactly the adrenaline-pumping, nail-biting stealth mission you might expect from creatures designed to pierce the soul with their vacant death stare. My own curiosity immediately piqued: did they *want* it to be this easy, or was it a missed opportunity?
The *FAR* games, by contrast, made you feel like you were operating a steam engine – complex, intricate, a true test of your engineering prowess. *Herdling*, on the other hand, presents its 'machinery puzzles' with less fanfare. 'There was a lever, I pulled it, and the job was 75% done,' Trinca notes. Now, there’s an analog to *FAR*'s plate-spinning controls in the 'unwieldiness' of herding these magical goats. Your flock goes 'more or less' where you want, stops 'more or less' when asked. It hints at a *Surgeon Simulator*-esque challenge, where the true hurdle is bridging the gap between player intent and clumsy on-screen actions. But, and this is a crucial 'but,' after half an hour, it becomes second nature. It’s a road trip, apparently, 'without any roadblocks.' You just… go.
So, if the skill challenge isn't the main draw, what *is*? This is where *Herdling* pulls its truly impressive magic trick. It's all about the *journey*, the *emotional resonance*, and that profound sense of progress – and devastating loss – that comes with an arduous undertaking. Your Calicorns aren't just generic blobs of pixels; they're individuals. Some love playing fetch, others are perpetually covered in mud, and some possess a quiet, contemplative beauty behind those googly eyes. You can even name them! And when you lose one? Well, that's where the casual stroll turns into a punch to the gut.
Jim recounts losing a Calicorn named Butthead (brilliant name, by the way) during a treacherous traversal. Butthead slid into the depths, yowling. And here's where *Herdling* gets genuinely clever, tapping into a side of gaming narrative that feels genuinely fresh. Butthead doesn't just disappear. He reappears later as a spectral ghost, snuffling for ethereal food, running gleefully with his living siblings. It’s a profound, unsettling commentary on grief – how a loss isn't just an event, but a persistent *state change*. It messes with causality, with object permanence, leaving you with that yearning for them to *move on*, yet glad you experienced the bittersweet sting of their spectral presence. It’s a narrative feat that only video games, with their unique blend of interaction and art, can truly achieve.
At a slim three hours, *Herdling* isn't going to demand hundreds of hours of your life. It’s a tightly bottled package of feelings, designed, perhaps, to be a 'one-and-done' experience that’s even more poignant if you carry the weight of a mistake or two (like, say, losing a Butthead). If you're a gamer who thrives on skill challenges, on being a master engineer or a stealth ninja, then *Herdling*'s lack of friction might leave you feeling a bit cold. But, if you're like me, someone who loves getting completely absorbed in a world, who finds deep satisfaction in wordless stories told through movement and interaction, then *Herdling* is absolutely worth a look.
It might not reach the lofty, mechanically brilliant heights of *FAR: Lone Sails* – because, let's face it, what truly does? – but *Herdling* offers a different kind of spell, one that bypasses the brain and goes straight for the heart. And sometimes, mate, that's the most powerful magic of all.
Tags: Indie Game, Emotional Narrative, Adventure, Video Game Review, Far Series
Original article: Eurogamer