Whilst i loved the graphics and animations the 'game' is so barebones I was left wondering where the rest of the game actually was. Race, eat, repair, race. There didn't seem to be any variety at all.
The races are a cluster-*uck of random junk from laser turrets to brick walls but everything is so small and you move so fast you can barely register what you're shooting/hitting and i found myself just boosting around randomly to get ammo as the 'tutorial' was a seizure inducing text wall that flashed on screen for 3 seconds and never came back so i wasn't sure what would and wouldn't give out ammo.
It's a lovely little game but it's just racing with some very minimal management seems more like a Flash game than a proper PC game.
Out of the blue GOG gem. Hoverbike racing inspired by Cowboy Bebop? This might be the coolest underutilized concept ever. How have I never heard of this? Autopilot instabuy. Luckily, I was not disappointed at all. On the contrary, Desert Child is a surprisingly polished, fun, and immersive freelance style adventure.
In terms of world-building atmosphere, if you're a fan of Cowboy Bebop, the style is immediately recognizable, yet still its own thing. Cyberpunk urban decay. The animations are spectacular, not only the background art and NPCs, but the hoverbike racing itself is smoothly animated and adds to the sense of speed and immersion. Top notch pixel work here. It's all the little details that add up to a fun and memorable experience.
Gameplay consists of walking around your hub town, entering races (which are the heart of the game -- racing AI for money and items), buying and selling, repairing and customizing your bike with upgrades, managing your character's hunger level. There is a fun local multiplayer too, which too few games have nowadays. I would describe it as a freelance-lite. It has enough survival and customization elements that, combined with the almost point-and-click style between races as you walk around the hub towns at dramatic camera angles, that it feels more like an adventure than a sim, although it is a lite combo of both.
Keyboard and controller responsiveness is tight, the side-scrolling racing feels as it should and becomes quite addicting, especially as you mod your hoverbike.
The SFX and music are great. The lo-fi style soundtrack is soothing, melodic, and memorable, and zones you out into a lovely timesink.
Simple gameplay elements (not a bad thing!) presented in possibly the most enhancing way I have seen in an indie game yet. Kindred spirit with 'The friends of Ringo Ishikawa', which is quite a compliment.
Linux support is a huge plus.
Only negative: A kid-friendly script toggle would've been appreciated for parents. ;)
Desert child! oh , how much I would want to give you more than three star!
As an indie, this game is quite unique : a racing game strip to bone of gameplay, with every single race that looks and feels exactly the same, yet it manages to be entertaining... but not for a long ''run'' ( pun intended).
Thankfully, and strangely enough, Desert child is relatively short, which is perfect for the aforementioned kind of gameplay.
On tip of that, the game has side missions that changed a little of the formula and add spice ( and pizza, if you played it you know what I mean) to the game.
However, this little gem ( man , it could have been an absolute masterpiece with a little more work) isn't truly about gameplay, it has something else that elevates it above its peers ( which, thinking about it, it has none) : THE VIBE.
Which, again, it could be summarized ( and summer here is important) as : synth-pop aesthetic ,completely full of 90' style, all mixed up with a strong lo fi direction.
Even seeing the protagonist walk through the city is an absolute joy filled with caring, style and precise attention to bring that ''VIBE'' in this game.
So, worth buying? difficult to say at full price. Discounted ? YES. if you are a fan of this kind of design and style.. Welp prepare to race your way to the stars.
Where to begin with this game?
It's stylish, cool and has a lo-fi charm to both its early 90s style graphics and its unconventional approach to the user interface.
I loved just walking about the towns slowly, whilst listening to the chilled out tracks you can acquire from the in-game record shop. I also loved stealing bike parts, throwing races and modding my bike - those were really surprising aspects to the game to me.
The racing itself is chaotic, glitchy and fast - and in my playthrough at least, i was never bored.
Overall, the game loop is simple, addictive and just rpg enough to keep most gamers interested for
a few hours, but if like me you were more interested in getting this for the aesthetics, and to jump in for a few short races here and there - just get it!
TL;DR : a fun little racer with buckets of charm and a world you can enjoy hanging out in, however briefly.
Gameplay 4/5
Gfx 3.5/5
Sfx 4/5
Overall 4/5
I dig this game a lot.
Realistically though, this game is probably just okay.
Desert Child is part walking simulator, part sound track sampler, part racing game. The game takes place in a post earth solar system. You play a lowly hoverbike racer trying to make it to the big race...ON MARS! You work your way up race by race, noodle bowl by McNoodle bowl, and the occasional five finger discount. The races are fun and zippy and I really the look of the hoverbikes. The walking simulator portion of the game was not my bag; however, it allows for you to settle into the ambience of the area you are staying in when you are not racing.
(I am a fast walker, pls let me fast walk)
My greatest complaint:
Desert Child was too short. I want more. I want to explore the filthy under belly of old Earth's hoverbike racing scene. I want to give corporate racing a run for it's money and show them to be just as dirty as the gangsters. I want to race on the remnants of the moon. I wanna get caught by the cops and make a jail break escaping with a cop's hoverbike. I want more bikes, more parts, more cities to explore, more lore, more hoverbike races, more variety of objectives and more God-damn beans!
I hope somebody collaborates with the Devs to make a full and more flushed out game out of this. I am into the vibe of this game. I got my fingers crossed.
Father Ted is indeed a great show,
6.5/10
