Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 technology is built to make AAA games last, and look really good while they do so. But it’s also remarkable to see what indie developers can do with the tech. Like, for instance, indie dev Daniel DeEntremont, who may have a new hit for the ages with his upcoming Squirrel With a Gun.
The title really says it all, but this is not just a one-note game. In fact, it’s got something in common with Goat Simulator in terms of its level of craziness surrounding what’s supposed to be an innocent animal. As a result, when the game arrives on Steam later this year (and, fingers crossed, consoles), it’ll be a massive hit. Provided, that is, you can actually accept how a squirrel is able to get his hands on firearms.
Boom, Pow Goes the Squirrel
So the concept of the game is simple. You’re a squirrel, and you have a handgun. But not one of those mini-pistols like you’d see in, say, Rango. Rather, a full-sized gun. And that’s not the only one, as you can apparently get your hands on other firearms, such as an Uzi.
The game has you running around the neighborhood, with an option to mug people for goodies and take down enemy agents that are in pursuit. Not only that, however, but the gun actually gives your squirrel an edge when it comes to mobility.
It basically involves the recoil of the weapon. See, when you fire into the ground (or downward, something like that), the squirrel actually floats upward. This allows him to reach higher platforms that he otherwise wouldn’t be able to climb up to, or even cross gaps that may be too far for his skinny little legs to take him. This adds some extra strategy to the game as you explore the neighborhood and unlock neat little power-ups that can add accessibility to the course of your adventure. And here you thought Squirrel With a Gunwould be boring…
Squirrel with a gun is a good looking indie title
As we mentioned, Squirrel With a Gun makes use of Unreal Engine 5. That’s not to say it really needed it given the simple concept, but the neighborhood that the squirrel explores looks pretty cool, harboring a number of secrets to uncover. Not only that, however, the squirrel himself looks very photogenic, even while performing crazy actions such as firing a machine gun into the ground. And when he carries something, we swear, it’s the most adorable thing you’ll probably see all day.
Combine that with a quirky soundtrack, cool interior environments and lots of laugh-out-loud moments (we wonder if there’s a Matrix montage in here somewhere), and Squirrel With a Gun has all the potential to be one of the year’s big sleepers.
Make Room For Rocky (That’s What We’re Calling Him)
We still need to play Squirrel With a Gun to give a final verdict on how it holds up. Based on its idea, its gameplay and its epic levels of hilarity, however, DeEntremont could very well have a hit on his hands. We’ll see how it all comes together when the game releases in a few months.
But, yes, console release. Please!
Check out the Steam page here to wishlist!
