Believe it or not, one of my first experiences with the Contra series was on the Game Boy, and it was definitely a lot of fun. Ever since then, I have really enjoyed this genre. When I saw the possibility of playing Wild Dogs, I also had the opportunity to revisit a style of game that I hadn't gotten my hands on in a long time. But is Wild Dogs just a good versus style game or is it more than that?
Wild Dogs was created by a small indie studio right here in Brazil, in Santa Catarina. 2ndBoss was already used to developing other platform-style games, and they have excelled in the delivery of their new game. Wild Dogs, with a great soundtrack and challenging gameplay at the ideal level, is a great milestone in the Brazilian game industry.
The game is available on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam,.
STORY
Wild Dogs is set in a world suffering from an alien invasion. We play as Frank Williams and his faithful and unusual companion in this adventure, the little dog Teddy.
We go through various apocalyptic scenarios, motorcycle races, battles with mechas and unusual outcomes until we reach our final goal.
GRÁFICOS
The monochromatic pixel-art backdrops of Wild Dogs do indeed add a touch of charm to the game, but they also leave one in doubt that this game could be much more beautiful and polished if it had its own robust color palette. Perhaps we can see the lack of more effective designer work when we see the game's cover. I would say that it is not something that does justice to the rest of the game, and I am sure this may turn some people away from clicking on this game in their first experience. Even though it is simple art, the richness of detail of the pixel-art is very satisfying and beautiful in many moments of the game.
GAMEPLAY
Being a great run-and-gun game, those who think Wild Dogs is just a Contra-Style game are mistaken, it is much more than that.
The inspiration for various types of genres is quite evident in Wild Dogs. The main inspiration, of course, is the classic Contra. Certainly, the game manages to improve old formulas and revitalize the genre in a natural way, as if it were an evolution of the old mechanics applied today.
Wild Dogs also draws from sources such as R-Type, Megaman, Battletoads, and several others. The classic motorcycle obstacle course from Battletoads, applied in this game, is one of the stages I had the most difficulty getting through.
Here, we will experience genres such as Shot-and-up, Run-and-Gun, side-scrolling shooter, and several others in each of the stages, facing several mini-bosses until we reach the Boss of the stage. Each of them is unique and very well designed so that you can learn the mechanics and dodge their blows.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Here we find one of the problems I have been mentioning in the indie game industry and even games with a bigger budget, the lack of creativity in achievements and the appeal of completionists. Wild Dogs is simply inefficient in the achievements, and you simply have to complete the game to reach 100% without any difficulty. A shame for a game as good as this. I think it should have had more attention paid to this aspect.
TRAILER OFICIAL
CONCLUSÃO
It is surprising that everything Wild Dogs sets out to do is not only successful, but there is not a phase of the game where you encounter a drop in quality or you start to lose interest. All of the stages and play styles are extremely well crafted and with several references to the more intense and fun games of the 8/16 bit era. The game is a lot of fun and has a very unusual and funny ending.
Wild Dogs is a pleasant surprise of the Brazilian indie games of recent times. I can put it in the same list as Blazing Chrome, for example. Its difficulty is low in some levels, but nothing that is impossible or that you can get stuck somewhere.
Review made through Gamertag: Scoulz
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