Game:
Flockers
Developer:
Website:
Flockers
STEAM EARLY ACCESS Release Date :
16th May 2014
Platform:
PC
Reviewed on PC
The Sound Architect was luckily able to try out the Steam Early Access Release of Flockers. Flockers is basically a modern take on Lemmings from Team 17, the awesome UK guys who brought us Worms!
Read Sam Hughes’ review below:
As mentioned previously Flockers is basically a game with the same premise as Lemmings but with the sheep from the Worms Universe. Surprisingly, it is also…. a LOT more sadistic, which I love! The objective of Flockers (as expected), is to safeguard as many sheep as possible from the beginning of the level to the end. Simple right? Wrong, sheep WILL die!
There are various abilities including jumping sheep, super sheep, exploding sheep etc very reminiscent of Lemmings moves. The sound of this game very much reflects its sadistic quality, which there is a lot of.
For example when you see this…
…you’ll see what I mean.
The music is very eery and compliments the sinister undertones with a retro industrial feel, plus a very Sonic-esque quality to it, in my opinion. With repeating melodies and interesting carnival-like instrumentation and rhythm, the music tries to trick your brain into thinking that you’re in a very relaxed happy fantasy world as the sheep in front of you are in ridiculous amounts of peril. It does get a bit repetitive as the levels progress but this is a Steam Early Access so I hope to hear more variety of music in the full release. It’s also natural for this type of game to have a repetitive theme to help the player focus more on the game play, much like Lemmings or Sonic.
The sound design is brilliant. The sound of sheep dying alone is perfect. It is a horrible haunting sound that make you feel the loss and pain for your sheep….whilst also making you have to suppress a sadistic laugh of satisfaction as it’s so hilarious! No? Just me then… The size and weight of everything around you is felt, the giant circular saws, the heavy compression machines as well as every other mechanical form of impending doom in your way.
Overall I highly rate the sound design and music in Team 17’s Flockers, especially as it is all done by their one man audio army Oliver Wood! However, I do look forward to hearing more in the full release.
Here’s a gameplay trailer with the music to get your blood, well your sheep’s blood, flowing!
So check out Flockers and enjoy, err we mean avoid, the screams of your sheep!
Keep up to date with Team17 at their links:
Official Site: www.team17.com
Twitter: @Team17Ltd
Facebook: Team17
G+: Team17DigitalLtd
Youtube: Team17SoftwareLtd
Enjoy!
Review by Sam Hughes
Uploaded 16/06/14