Do you like to play video games? Is your favorite animal an octopus? If either (or both!) is true, then boy do I have the perfect game for you. Now, before we get into this I should admit a few things. First, I like video games, but I'm not a fanatic. I haven't played a lot of household name games, so I am certainly not an expert on the subject. Second, I am not good at video games. Granted, I'm not terrible at them, though my brother would probably argue that I am. That's why I get so dang excited when I find a fun game that I can play that is challenging but not impossible. Without further ado, may I present to you:
Yup, you read that right. Octodad: Dadliest Catch is perhaps one of my new all-time favorite games. It is a sequel to Octodad, which I have yet to actually play. The premise of the game is simple. In the second installment of the game, you are an octopus pretending to be a human. You have married a wonderful woman, Scarlet, and have two kids: Tommy and Stacy. For some reason, though, there is a scary chef trying to expose you and is threating to make you into sushi. Sounds wild, right? The concept is incredibly original, but the game designers also did a great job of making it believable. Now, you might be thinking that an octopus posing as a loving father/husband is anything but believable, and to some extent you're right. However, the dialogue and interactions between the characters are what sells the whole idea.
This is an impeccable feat, considering that Octodad only speaks in blubs. While you are off doing your tasks, you often hear your children and wife talking to each other, or to you. As you mow the lawn, for instance, you overhear your wife, Scarlet, asking Stacy why she is putting ketchup in her brother's cup. Stacy replies "I'm making a magic potion!" Scarlet suggests that Stacy could read a chemistry book and learn how to make "real" magic potions, and Stacy replies with a slight whine "But this is a real potion." The conversation seems like it could actually happen between a mother and her young daughter. Most of the dialogue works in a similar manner. Plus, the script is downright hilarious. In certain places, the game makes fun of itself and the inherent absurdity of a sea creature masquerading as a father.
The controls are also something that makes the game unique. Instead of the traditional WASD controls for most PC games, Octodad: DC primarily relies on the mouse. You control each of Octodad's limbs as you try to complete daily chores, go to the grocery store, and navigate a tricky situation at the aquarium. If you start acting suspicious (knocking things over, bumping into people, etc.) then a small meter will begin to fill. If the bar gets filled, then you have to go back to the last checkpoint. Of course, like any game, the controls can get frustrating, but I never felt like throwing my computer across the room.
The only complaint I have about the game is the length. I completed the entire story in about a day. It was so much fun and I wanted way more. But if that's the worst thing about the game, then I'd say it's pretty good.
