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Sights & Sounds

Almost too cute

Sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly where a game's artistic influences come from. That's certainly not the case here. This is all Wind Waker all over. Just check out all the big, expressive, cel-shaded faces, verdant environments, and watery surroundings
The only real difference is that here, everyone is an adorable animal
I didn't really mind the copy/paste nature of the visuals; I actually found the game's tendency to lean heavily into the cartoonish cuteness enhanced the experience
With that in mind, you may be wondering: Is the OST more in that "epic" orchestral Zelda vein, or does it, too, aim for cute? Well, it's definitely the latter. Be prepared for a suite of cheerful keyboard/guitar and light percussion typified by xylophone, clapping, and snapping
Altogether, it's clear from a presentation standpoint what the devs were going for: a kid-friendly, cozy, heartwarming sort of action-adventure game


Story & Vibes

Growing up

Like the title suggests, you assume the role of the nominal Lil Gator (apparently unnamed). Before his sister (also apparently unnamed) went off to school, the two of them used to go on little play adventures starring the Lil Gator as the hero while his sister acted more or less like a DM: pathing out quests, inventing enemies, and creating a long-running story
She's back in town to visit, but unfortunately, she's bogged down by an important project that she's cramming to finish. Undaunted, Lil Gator enlists the help of his friends to create an adventure so inspiring that his big sister will have no choice but to participate
Their plan is to get every kid in town in on the adventure. Using various methods (mostly fetch quests and merely asking nicely), he sets about the path of recruiting everyone to build a gigantic castle on the island town's playground
As you might expect, though, things don't necessarily wind up working out smoothly. Big Sis is dedicated to her project and doesn't want to play until she manages to wrap up her schoolwork
The end result is a tale about growing up, respecting others time, and understanding that you can't always get what you want. It's not really so much a coming-of-age tale as it is a small object lesson about maturing a little bit and becoming more understanding of others
The general thrust of the narrative reminded me of a slightly more kid-oriented version of A Short Hike. In both, you play a cute little animal in a short adventure who winds up maturing a bit thanks to a pithy, emotional lesson
Unsurprisingly, the vibes are as cute, lighthearted, and chill as can be


Playability & Replayability

Kiddy quests

Every character you encounter as you embark on your adventure has some sort of recruitment quest for you to complete. The vast majority are fetch quests, but others may ask you to defeat enemies, craft items, buy something, solve disputes, or complete other tasks. Some can even be recruited by simply speaking with them
In order to find all these friends, you'll need to be able to traverse the scenic environments. Besides running, of course, you'll need Zelda-influenced traversal in the form of climbing, gliding, and swimming. Your swimming and climbing can be upgraded using special bracelets, so be on the lookout for those. Gliding can be upgraded as well, but not until the post-game
There isn't combat in the game in any real sense. You do get weapons, but considering that all your enemies take the form of cardboard cutouts, they don't pose much of a threat
Getting around can be a little frustrating until you get your bearings. There is no map in your inventory, so you'll need to use signs and park maps to figure out which way you're headed. There is an unlockable fast travel service (be on the lookout for whales), but there aren't many locations to choose from. I think the intent is that you just explore and figure it out on your own, but it can still take Lil Gator some time to waddle from A to B
Even if you don't manage to recruit all the town's kids or get all the upgrades, you'll have the opportunity to do so post-game. You'll even get a special item capable of pointing you towards the remaining characters you haven't found yet
With the short 3-5 hour runtime (depending on how much of a completionist you are), this would be a pretty easy title to pull out and replay if you're looking for something cute and unchallenging. However, after 100%ing the game and remembering that I have similar games like Smushi Come Home on my backlog, I think it may be a while before I consider a revisit


Overall Impressions & Performance

Quick reprieve

While this isn't a terribly impressive or exciting title in terms of gameplay, I can still see its value. It looks nice, provides a few smiles, and doesn't waste your time. I could see it as a great game to co-play with a kid or younger sibling if you have one
If you don't though? It's still a nice change of pace if you need a break from more challenging or violent titles. The cozy game crowd will love this one regardless
Ran flawlessly on the Steam Deck. That platform is excellent for these little bite-sized adventure titles


Final Verdict

6.5/10. If you want a little nibble of a Zelda-flavored snack that plays well, finishes quickly, and doesn't test your brain or your reflexes, you'll get some enjoyment out of this one. Given the quick runtime, though, maybe wait for a sale