The American Dream Review (Oculus Rift)
For the purposes of transparency, this review was created using a code provided by the company or their respective PR company. The use of a review code does not affect my judgement of the game.
Given the current climate in America, gun culture is becoming a huge a talking point. Where countries like the United Kingdom and Australia have strict gun laws, due to the dangers of them being in the hands of every Tom, Dick and Harry, guns are readily available in the US. Now you may wonder why I mentioned Australia… well the studio Samurai Punk is based in the AU. But, with the game setting out a political statement and also trying to make it a fun VR game, does this really work?
The game does tell a story of sorts, by taking you through key moments in every Americans life, okay maybe not every Americans life, given it has a shotgun wedding. This is played out by replacing all the everyday objects with firearms, in a satirical take on the firearm culture or even fetish that is America, all presented as The American Dream.
Given the fact they have this all playing out with the use of firearms, as you would expect the gameplay is very much a shooting gallery. But, with the number situations and tasks you are given it keeps the shooting fresh. Be it carrying out jobs like flipping burgers, washing cars or putting holes in bagels or taking your love out on dates to marrying them – the team have really found a way for guns to be used for everything. You will also be required to use different guns for different jobs, again mixing the gameplay up as you go through the twenty-plus stages the game offers.
You will also need to purchase these guns throughout the stages – well when they are first needed. In order to purchase these you are scored at the end of stage, which turns into dollars. However, at points of the stages you may be deducted money from your bank. This can be for messing up some of the tasks or covering the cost of an engagement ring – although this easy to earn back, and the firearms you need to purchase aren’t overly priced. This means you will always have the money available, there wasn’t one point where I was required to replay levels to gain more cash to continue.
Where the different firearms, and styles of the tasks you are given keep the game fresh. I found by the end of the game I was starting to lose some interest in the game – which came down to the game and gun-play becoming a bit repetitive.
Taking into the satirical humour the game is offering, I personally felt that the game should really approach the presentation in the correct way – which I feel the they got this near perfect.
The visual style of the game is based around the 1950’s America, and makes me think of the lovely pre-dystopian Fallout setting. The game will take you through this multiple stages of the American life via an on-the-rails experience, like you are part of a fairground ride. This is further cemented in by the colourful, painted and wooden cut-out design of everything within the game. Painting the picture of the perfect idealistic setting you see of America with houses surrounded by white picket fences, and the perfect life. But, where the visuals give this idea, when it comes to the use of firearms, the little snippets of film about the guns and how they’ve shaped America it brings that darker tone to the game.
This is all pulled together with great use of audio, but as with the gameplay this did come with some slight issues. Firstly you are taken through the stages and given commentary on that part of your life by Buddy Washington – an all American Labrador. His over-the-top love for guns and promotion of the American Dream really does keep you entertained throughout the game. Both Buddy and all the other odd-ball characters you meet are all well voiced acted, and this really keeps you immersed in the ride the game is taking you on. The humour that is played out in the game is really all satirical, but in its own way brings with it a message on the gun-culture in America, but I personally don’t think the game is poking fun at American’s, but more the idea of some people’s obsessions with firearms within their country.
I did mention that there is some issues with the audio, this comes down to repeated lines when completing some of the shooting galleries, and in some cases Buddy and one of the other characters might talk over each other. But, those are the only real issues I found with the game when it comes to presentation, which brings this strange and funny idea, and world together.
When it comes to the controls this played in a seated position given the fairground ride feeling to the game, making the seated position best for immersion. The game is also only playable with the Touch Controllers, as you would expect each hand is represented by a gun, be it the pistols or one with a hand attached to it to help hold and reload the larger/automatic firearms. The way you re-load is certainly a fun and interactive way. If you are using the larger guns that require the gun with the hand attached to reload, you will either grab the clip or catch it and bring it to the gun to reload. But, if you are using the pistols, you will hit the button on the side of the cart and this will fire the clip into the air in slow motion, and you need to catch it with the gun. Then you will use the triggers to shoot, it all seems very responsive and not once did I lose tracking, even with a two sensor set-up.
As previously mentioned the game comes with twenty-plus stages of the life cycle, and to get through them it is going to take you around three to four hours. Personally I feel that you might struggle to go through the game again, unless you want to try to find the hidden Captain America looking stars around the levels. The reason I say this is because the humour will keep you amused the first time around, but that is a huge part of the game and keeping you entertained in your play-through.
Conclusion
The American Dream brings a political message about the obsession with firearms in America, by making a game about guns. If you are a really big fan of satirical comedy, and not to involved or offended by the state of the gun-culture in America then this game is certainly one you want to play – but, it’s take on the current situation will certainly rile some people. The gameplay does become a little stale for the last quarter of the game, but the humour is going to keep you going until the end.
Also available on HTC Vive
Developer: Samaria Punk
