Octodad: Dadliest Catch is one of the more successful attempts of having a game with wonky controls and comedic physics to provide loads of fun. But for those who don’t know who Octodad is, he is a loving father that is also a secret(?) octopus. He is the star of an acclaimed 2010 student game, and the ambassador to a game with very comedic but thoroughly difficult controls.
More Fun And Confusion in Octodad: Dadliest Catch
If you try to describe Octodad: Dadliest Catch and its control scheme to a person that hasn’t played it, things can get confusing. It is better to just show them how the game works than actually telling them about it. The game’s objectives might sound very boring for those who don’t know about the game yet. Objectives go from mow the lawn, unlocking a door, or just simply going to a different spot.
There are modes to choose from that adds to the variety of the game. First, there is the arm mode wherein you use different gestures on the iPad to manipulate the position of the tentacles to hopefully latch onto objects. In this mode, there are objectives such as slipping your wife’s wedding ring into her finger or walking through a door. These tasks, albeit very simple in terms of sound, are extremely difficult to achieve.
Players need to do things as gently as possible as one twitch can cause them to lose Octodad’s balance in more ways than one. The floppy controls are immensely frustrating, but this is the entire layout of the game’s playstyle so can’t judge it too much about this aspect. Simply put, this is a game that might make you throw your iPad across the room.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch (iPad) is all about flailing all of your tentacles around while you barely accomplish miniscule tasks. This is all combined with the game’s exaggerated, but somehow accurate physics engine. All of these elements are mixed together to form one addicting and frustrating game.
Aside from its gameplay, Octodad will win you with his irresistible personality. The graphics are something akin to the Simpsons in 3D, minus the yellow skin. Visuals are very cartoony and levels (such as your home or the museum) are places for all of your accidental mayhem.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch is a concept that is easily amusing as it is frustrating. Even if the excitement and fun of playing it will diminish over time, you won’t find yourself deleting it any time soon.