Pools and waterparks may have gone the way of the buffalo this summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some wet ‘n wild fun from the comfort of your own home. Available now on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC, The Otterman Empire - from developer and publisher Tri-Heart Interactive - puts the watery action in your hands with lots of variety for younger and older gamers alike.
Tri-Heart Interactive was the recipient of the Epic Games MegaGrant for The Otterman Empire, which was developed for over three years with a significant amount of community feedback being used to make the game what it is. In fact, the game has already received its first post-launch update as the team continues to provide players with an otterly-amusing gameplay experience.
No Squirreling Away From Action
The Otterman Empire is a fast-action party shooter in which players take control of various otters and other water-based animals who are out to put a stop to the evil Tiko, the mad scientist otter on a mission to wreak havoc and take control of the entire galaxy. Fortunately, the player-controlled characters are outfitted with different weapons and jet packs, allowing airborne battles to take place in addition to the fray taking place on the ground.
In order to stay airborne and keep their weapons charged, players need to refill their gear using the water that can be found throughout each level. Fortunately, there are plenty of watery opportunities available, as The Otterman Empire’s campaign mode features a large variety of challenges in each level, spanning across eight different planets. Each level has a different mechanic for defeating Tiko - such as taking out a certain number of enemies or obtaining a certain amount of points - which helps to keep the intense (and often chaotic) campaign mode fresh. Replayability exists in the form of star ratings for each level, meaning the higher the score in each timed level, the more stars you’ll receive. It’s a worthwhile endeavor to gain more stars, since doing so unlocks additional outfits for the characters, allowing players to add a bit of customization to their playthrough.
Play With Your Significant Otter
The Otterman Empire’s campaign mode can be played solo, or with up to four other players, allowing for plenty of co-op otter-blastin’ action. A versus mode also exists, letting players duke it out for otter supremacy.
The only issue with multiplayer resides in the game’s controller setup. Players cannot use a single Joy-Con, forced instead to use two Joy-Cons. This isn’t necessarily a huge issue, but for those trying to play with four players at once, that means that eight separate controllers are needed, which is a pricey expense for those with only two to four controllers.
Speaking of control, The Otterman Empire’s control scheme is a bit different than what most gamers are likely used to. Whereas the select button for many games is the A-button on the Joy-Con, with the B-button being used as the “back” button, The Otterman Empire switches these roles, making for a bit of a confusing initial experience. This isn’t a major concern, but is noted as more of a warning as to the game’s learning curve.
Beyond The Otterman Empire’s control scheme, the level design feels a bit busy and condensed, which can be frustrating when trying to find or avoid enemies. It could be argued that the level design fits the chaotic nature of The Otterman Empire, but gameplay and overall player control and strategy would benefit greatly from levels being a bit more spaced out and open.
Break On Through To The Otter Side
It’s a bit difficult to nail down who The Otterman Empire is for. On one hand, the premise, content, and control scheme seems perfectly fine for older kids. However, the party game aspect and strategy required to master gameplay feels suited for co-op couch parties. But maybe that’s the point. The Otterman Empire won’t blow you away with anything new, but it is an otterly fun time that is accessible to a wide spectrum of gamers and abilities.
A Switch copy of The Otterman Empire was provided to TheGamer for this review. The Otterman Empire is available now for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC.
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