Review At A Glance
Pros:
*Poignant, touching, emotional story
*Unique experience, expands upon original
*Large, detailed environments
*Well chosen achievements and non-punishing dynamics encourage exploration and replay
*Flat shaded polygon aesthetique
Cons:
*Relatively short game
*Repetitive
Conclusion:
Shelter 2 is a third person perspective game where you play as a mother lynx. The game follows the life cycle of the lynx family from birth and envelops the player in its gripping, emotional story. This story, however, is simply told in an understated manner; and develops organically during gameplay. Game dynamics are simple, yet new ones are slowly introduced seamlessly as the game unfolds. It is the explorative, meditative character of the experience which sets it apart. Explore, hunt, discover and provide for your cubs; as you successfully do this, you cannot help but realize that the universal struggle for survival is not singular to your family. The prosperity of your family comes at the expense of ravaging the lower rungs of the food chain. As a lynx, right in the middle of the food chain, its just a matter of time until the circle of life has its way. There are no higher stakes than the game of life.
If you are in the mood for a slow paced game with a beautiful, large, natural world to explore, including day/night cycles, seasons and a unique flat shaded polygon aesthetique, you will truly appreciate the effortless, graceful manner in which this game tells its story.
Full Review, No spoilers:
Intro, Story and Gameplay sections abridged to avoid spoilers.
Experience the struggles of a mother lynx as she provides for her cubs and as the seasons of the year and stages of life progress. You start as a lone pregnant lynx; first sequence of the game is relatively linear, and reminiscent of the original Shelter. However, after this scene you are confronted with the wide-open expansive world that this iteration provides.
Design:
Meticulously drawn landscapes with meandering rivers, tree ladden forests, populated lakes, central valleys and hilltops can all be explored at your leisure. The unique look of the game entices the player to continue exploring the habitat and get to know the different areas and terrain features.
Characters, including cubs and other animals, have all been designed with loving care. Each of your cubs has a different fur coat, which allows you to assure you feed them all. Other animals also have a charming aesthetique, which you can appreciate while stalking and hunting them as they trudge, borrow and graze along in an appealing, animated world.
Sound:
The real standout on this front is the music; which has impeccable, professional production value. It was once again created by Retro Family. You can feel the vibration of each strum, the rumble of each drum, the crispness and immediacy of the sound. Music is the voiceless narrator which, along with the evocative art, sets the tone of this story. Game music is varied and fitting to the different stages, situations and environments.
Sound effects are serviceable and, even though fitting, can grow repetitive. Some of them are quite subtle and amazing; such as the sound of you/your cubs eating.
Replayability:
Replay value is provided by the availabilty of achievements and to follow/grow your family line. Even though each life cycle is generally similar to the last, the expansive open-world and the beautiful art does entice you to continue exploring. You might also want to re-play while mantaining all of your cubs alive. Generally speaking, 3-5 hours should be sufficient time to explore a good portion of the world and develop at least 3 generations. However, the game can be enjoyed for way longer than this; especially if you wish to be meticulous in the exploration of the different habitats and complete the achievements. The game has 5 steam trading cards, and provides 3 drops.
Conclusion:
Shelter 2 is a unique, contemplative experience. The incredible music and its particular hand-drawn style set the tone for the touching, emotional journey through the life of the lynx family. The goal and controls of the game are simple, this understated style lends itself to provide a poignant, memorable experience. If you enjoyed the original Shelter or are in the mood for a short simple game; one which tells a touching story of life in the animal kingdom through a synergy of music and art, I invite you to give Shelter 2 a try.
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