As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Survival Kids was a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. It was met with skepticism, partly because it was known as the game that crashed the Direct on April 2nd. Fortunately, I looked past this and bought it anyway. Well, what are my thoughts? Let’s do this Survival Kids review.
Story
After discovering a treasure book in the attic, you set sail to explore on a raft. Unfortunately you crash land on an island and thus the adventure begins. You hop island to island gathering harmony stones to clear out the storm and go home.
Gameplay
You work by yourself or with other players to find your raft, hunt down treasure stones, and overcome obstacles and puzzles while also having to remember to eat. The game has a lot going on at the same time, but that’s one reason why I enjoyed it. Compared to other previous entries, it may not compete well but I think players need to go into it with an open mind.
Graphics
I wouldn’t call these anything special nor do I think they aren’t anything the original Switch couldn’t handle. They’re more just cartoon-ish in design, but I also think they fit the game well enough to not gripe about them.
Soundtrack
The music for this game is very lighthearted and kid friendly. It isn’t anything serious and typically is all just upbeat. That’s not a flaw though and I have caught myself humming the tune a few times. However, it is easily forgettable if you haven’t played in a few days.
Controls
This might be my main complaint about the game. While the controls, for the most part, work well for what they do, there is one big aspect where they fail. Teamwork. When you’re trying to carry something with two people, trying to turn the right way up a hill or wherever usually results in one of you falling off the side. I think the controls were just made a little funky and wish they had a better way of doing it.
Replayability
Unfortunately, I don’t think this is a game that many will go back to after they finish the main storyline. You can go back to collect all the treasure stones and try for the best times, but even after all that, the islands are laid out the same. So no, I don’t think this game has a lot of replayability.
Scores
Story: 7/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 7/10
Soundtrack: 7/10
Controls: 6/10
Replayability: 4/10
Overall:
Conclusion
While the game is worthy of a playthrough and I do believe you get your money’s worth even at the $50 (USD), the game falls short in some areas that make it a one and done deal. While it is fun the first go around, after you’ve made it through the last island, there’s no incentive to make a second trip for missed Treasure Stones nor time challenges.
I would really recommend checking out the trailer again and if you are really on the fence, waiting until a sale happens for this one. In the meantime, happy gaming everyone.
Leave a Reply