REVIEW : Space Otter Charlie (XBOX Series X)
Space Otter Charlie is a great illustration of the freedom afforded to indie developers looking to explore fresh but risky ideas. Built by developer Wayward Distractions and published by The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild, the play is a puzzle-platformer set in space, where players take charge of a delightful otter cruising through a variety of left space stations, asteroids, and other mysterious locations.
With Space Otter Charlie taking place in the gravity-free confines of space, getting around is not a simplistic process. The primary hurdle in the game comes from being capable of precisely move through the diverse areas, avoiding opponents and obstacles along the way. The best analogy to illustrate the way that players manoeuvre is like swimming through water, with Charlie’s actions having a floaty feeling to them that lacks accuracy a great premise gave the protagonist’s true affinity for swimming.
For some, this might be irritating at first, as platform games usually need responsive switches so players can move around almost on impulse, knowing precisely what each keypress will correspond to. While that is not the case in Space Otter Charlie, it is by design rather than an act of sloppiness. The very act of moving through space is what Space Otter Charlie is built around. Of course, this does suggest there are some exasperating moments where it appears impossible to get through a tight or spinning area, yet these are exceptionally rare and don’t sour the experience.
In terms of levels, Space Otter Charlie sees players traversing through a variety of different locations. Each area has its own set of opponents to defeat and catches to avoid, giving players a nice array of challenges. The different conditions also ensure that boredom does not set in by visiting the same sort of places that all look similar. The title also has a Metroidvania influence, forcing players to get keys and backtrack to open up new areas.
The last big gameplay element is the different upgrades on offer. While out exploring, Charlie will find all sorts of resources that can be collected and taken back to the hub base to build upgrades. Some of these are entirely necessary, with puzzles being impossible to complete without them, while others provide a delightful boost that is not stringently needed but is absolutely helpful. Space Otter Charlie might be something of a disappointment for those who love complicated puzzles to solve, however. The vast majority of problems are simple efforts that require players to block lasers or manipulate platforms by hitting switches with the correct weapon.
The story of Space Otter Charlie takes inspiration from real lives problems surrounding climate change catastrophe. In this fictional future, humans have abandoned Earth after temperatures soared, leaving behind all the creatures to fend for themselves. Luckily, a group of otters has created a space program from the scrap left behind by virtue and intends to explore space in an effort to find a new home.
To be honest, the narrative in Space Otter Charlie doesn’t matter all that much as the focus is entirely placed upon the gameplay. The story is used more as a quick introduction to the world and to provide a bit of colour to what’s going on as players hit the buttons they’re supposed to. It won’t give players much in the way of motivation, or even a compelling background plot, and even the brief moments of dialogue can be skipped through without any consequence.
