Australia’s wild life and scenic nature is a wonderful sight to behold, and it’s very rare to see such a unique ecosystem represented in video game form, so getting a game that shows it off is something of a rare treat, and thankfully Paperbark came along to show the outback off.
The game was released in early 2018 for iPads and iPhones, and later the same year for PC’s through Steam.
Paperbark follows a sleepy wombat as it explores the Australian bush during a very hot Australian summer. What starts as a regular day for the wombat as it spends it’s time foraging for food soon turns into the wombat trying to find a new home as the Australian summer turns deadly.
The game has you rummaging through the Australian Outback as a wombat as it’s looking for food to eat. While the game might be a bit slow, it’s also short, which is preferred with a game like Paperbark, since not only any longer and it would have overstayed it’s welcome, it would completely ruin the children’s storybook tone that it’s going for.
The game’s art style is gorgeous, using the watercolor style to great effect. Obviously taking inspiration from Australian storybooks such as Blink Bill, Diary of a Wombat, and Possum Magic, along with Australian landscape artists such as Arthur Streeton, Arthur Boyd, and Eugene von Guerard, just to name a few. It also made me feel nostalgic for the ‘furry friends’ chocolate that Cadbury put out.
Despite only not only having a narrow view in camera perspective but also in the whole picture of what Australia’s flora and fauna can look like, it really shows off just how beautiful Australia’s native wild life really looks.
Along with the art style, the game also puts the sound of the Australian wildlife to great use, and as a native Australian, it sounds exactly like how Australia sounds, hearing kookaburra’s in the distance, insects flying around, and the sounds of the Wombat rummaging through the bust looking for food.
It took me about 45 minutes on my first playthough, but that was me ignoring all of the small collectables, which could easily double the length. I’d say for younger audiences, it could easily take them 3-4 hours.
If you have children who love animals, or are someone who loves the Australian outback, then this is a definite recommend.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/916900/Paperbark/
Cult Classic Corner - Video Games 