GAME REVIEW | A Party For Ewe in Revamped "Home Sheep Home"
It was 1995 when Shaun the Sheep first appeared onscreen in Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave. Since then, the Mossy Bottom Farm resident has outshined his Oscar-winning pals, with a bountiful of TV series, specials, movies, and even a themed wedding spot in Japan! In 2014, Shaun the Sheep invaded the video game realm with the release of Home Sheep Home. Now arriving on consoles in a Farmageddon Party Edition, fans of the laid-back lamb can embark on a grand day out with their sheepish pals in tow.
Like its predecessor, the Farmageddon Party Edition has three players controlling Shaun, Timmy, and Shirley as they go from Point A to Point B. Getting to their destination isn’t so straightforward, as hazards, gaps, and even the occasional trap will make reaching your goal a lot more difficult. But with a keen eye and a knowledge of what can be used at your disposal, Shaun, Timmy, and Shirley will certainly find their way back to the farm.
Home Sheep Home does a good job holding players’ hands as they learn the ins-and-outs of the game. Using Timmy’s nimbleness, Shaun’s leaps, and the strength of Shirley, those playing solo or co-op can find a way to complete each level. It doesn’t come easy, with there being plenty of ways to trial-and-error each situation. With that being said, even when it’s super difficult, one can’t help but smile at the coziness of this game.
Each level acts as a strong brain teaser, with there being multiple ways to think outside of the box to find a solution. Sometimes magnets will be involved, other times a trampoline. Heck, a good ole batch of dynamite even comes in handy when it comes to solving these pesky puzzles. But the key element of it all is teamwork, as one will have to work with their fellow sheep to solve each problem.
Playing with friends, Home Sheep Home invites a little chaos into the mix. If you’re just running around and doing random things, you’ll make it harder for everyone to solve the puzzle. But with some vocal instructions and the like, the game becomes a solid team-building exercise. Be it at the farm, the streets of London, or even outer space, each level will offer a bountiful of challenges for you and your friends to solve.
On the other hand, playing Home Sheep Home solo is extremely difficult! The first few levels are easy to figure out, but when you have to do multiple things at once with Shaun, Shirley, and Timmy, that’s when things can be very tricky. Where teamwork is key in co-op mode, timing is the most essential thing when conquering this game solo. No lie: it can get a little frustrating.
Leaving the story mode, the Farmageddon Party Edition plays host to a good collection of multiplayer mini-games. From races and volleyball to even a battle royale, these breaks from the main campaign offer loads of fun for fans of Shaun the Sheep. For a family series, the competition can get pretty heated, especially when it comes to the battle royale stuff.
PROS:
- A plethora of brain-teasing levels
- Fun multiplayer mini-games
- Has a good sense of humor
CONS:
- Can be tough to conquer solo
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Like the series it’s based off of, Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition offers plenty of fun and laughs with the Shaun the Sheep crew. Although it’s difficult to play solo, the real joy comes when you work with your friends to solve these challenges. Just make sure you get back home before Bitzer and The Farmer have noticed the flock’s gone missing…
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Sam Brace of Decibel-PR. Reviewed on the Xbox Series X.
