I Wani Hug that Gator!
- February 14, 2024
- Cavemanon
- 21h median play time
Get on Steam"I Wani Hug that Gator" is a visual novel focused on self-acceptance and second chances. After moving to a new town, player character Inco has the opportunity to shape his final year and form new relationships, including a prehistoric romance with the feisty Olivia. The choices made will impact the development of these relationships and lead to multiple endings.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- story1,401 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "I Wani Hug That Gator" is widely praised for its emotional depth, relatable characters, and impactful narrative, often described as a heartfelt journey of personal growth and self-discovery. Players report being deeply moved by the storytelling, with many experiencing a range of emotions from joy to heartbreak, particularly through its multiple endings that reflect the consequences of player choices. Overall, the game is celebrated as a standout visual novel that transcends typical genre expectations, offering a rich and engaging experience that resonates with a broad audience.
“A deep and hard-hitting story, rich storytelling and amazing character writing sure to get you in your feels with a sense of relatability.”
“This game is by far one of the most romantic and story-driven games I have ever played.”
“The story is so well written and the characters are all so lively, it feels like a genuine experience.”
“I genuinely hate how upset this story makes me.”
“The story was an emotional roller coaster that would leave you speechless based on what choices you make, and the characters are memorable and fun to watch.”
“I never knew that a story could touch me in such a way, but here I am, in tears after witnessing what I know is the best story I have ever had the honor of experiencing.”
- emotional926 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "I Wani Hug That Gator" is overwhelmingly praised, with players describing it as a profound and heart-wrenching experience that evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to deep sadness. Many users report shedding tears multiple times throughout the game, particularly during its impactful endings, which resonate on a personal level and often lead to self-reflection. The narrative's ability to create relatable characters and emotionally charged moments has left a lasting impression, making it a standout title in the visual novel genre.
“I wani hug that gator is something truly special, not just for the romance and dating aspect (which is still phenomenal), but for the intense emotional moments that honestly left me reevaluating some of my own life after experiencing it.”
“This game has made me feel emotions I haven't felt in years, never have I ever felt as sad or as happy than I did while playing this game.”
“The story emphasizes themes of trust, merit, and the essence of genuine connection beyond superficial differences that enriches its emotional depth.”
- music399 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, with many players noting that it perfectly complements the art and character development. The soundtrack features a mix of beautiful, memorable tracks that evoke strong feelings, often leaving players in tears or deep contemplation. Overall, the music is considered a standout element of the game, with many recommending purchasing the soundtrack for its quality and emotional resonance.
“The music absolutely is amazing and matches the scenes, and the characters are so stellar.”
“The soundtrack is phenomenal, perfectly forming the mood of each scene.”
“The music is genuinely beautiful, the ambient sounds setting the tones of which they are played in - not only that, but you find yourself attaching that music to specific scenes and places, reminiscing about those moments even when you're not playing them.”
“There is no main soundtrack to this game, mostly just groups of royalty-free tracks that can be used anywhere.”
“Heard there was an issue with the music composer, and honestly that is the only gripe I have with the in-game songs; I found them having looping parts too often, but overall a good job on that part as well.”
“I would've liked to see a song with actual singing, but what we got is fine.”
- humor198 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in "I Wani Hug That Gator" is a blend of clever writing, absurdity, and emotional depth, often catching players off guard with its ability to transition from laugh-out-loud moments to poignant scenes. While it retains some of the quirky charm from its predecessor, "Snoot Game," it shifts away from more crude internet humor to a more nuanced and heartfelt approach, making it both funny and relatable. Players appreciate the well-crafted jokes and character interactions, which contribute to a rich narrative experience that balances humor with genuine emotional impact.
“The art was fun, the characters were all believable, really good writing and funny too!”
“I dunno but it's also funny as hell - they take great advantage of the limitations of the visual novel format and create dumb scenes that had me breaking down in laughter.”
“It's funny, witty, it's touching, the music is an absolute blast and I never expected a game of this quality for such a meme title.”
“I'm glad I played it before all the references became unfunny and outdated.”
“Snoot game may have been cavemanon's equivalent to 'what is a woman?' but this game is their unfunny 'lady ballers'.”
- graphics141 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and charming art style, which enhances the emotional storytelling and character depth. Many reviewers highlight the stunning animations and expressive character designs, noting that the visuals create an immersive experience that captivates players. However, some criticism is directed at the occasional lackluster backgrounds and inconsistencies in character portraits, suggesting room for improvement in the overall visual cohesion.
“The artworks are really pretty and the animations here and there are absolutely stunning.”
“The art style is vibrant and charming, perfectly complementing the quirky and delightful plot.”
“Absolutely amazing, stunning art and visuals with dope animations here and there, a major step up from snoot game in production value.”
“The graphics of wani are deceiving.”
“The drawn ones do look great, however, there are also several stock photos with filters applied that look jarring and certain character portraits that don't match the other characters in the art style.”
“Lunara should have been designed visually to be more like Kiara in that she doesn't stand out visually in the way that someone important to the story does; someone like Morgan, who, although visually very distinct due to her species and the art style she's rendered in, fades into the background due to her showing up for like 3 frames in the whole game.”
- character development63 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the well-paced and realistic growth of relationships, particularly between key characters like Inco and Olivia. The storytelling, combined with stunning animations and character designs, creates a captivating experience that evokes a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak. However, some reviewers felt that certain antagonists lacked depth, which slightly detracted from the overall character development.
“It captured me from the start with the fun character designs and the world building, and it's kept me enamored with its plot and the effects of your choices, the humor in its writing, the beautiful animations that enhance certain scenes to hold an emotional power over you that few other creative mediums can achieve, and of course, the slow budding relationships between characters.”
“From absolutely soul shattering to genuine joy, the storytelling and character development are both relatable and human. The characters felt alive in a way that not many pieces of media have ever been able to convey to me, and experiencing this game was worth every cent I spent.”
“If you're looking for a visual novel that brings to the table actual character development, a love story that will warm your heart, and a not-so-straightforward 'me make girl happy, girl love me and me get best ending' choose your own adventure visual novel, this is definitely one of the best by far.”
“I loved them still, but I wished they played a bigger role when it comes to character development.”
“New information getting introduced at the end of the game without any real way to feel it out, character development ending suddenly, and no real follow up on other curiosities that came up throughout the game.”
“In regards to endings, I appreciate that you can see individual character development drastically better in this game than in Snoot Game.”
- gameplay39 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a visual novel experience, characterized by simple mechanics and a focus on narrative choices that can lead to multiple endings. While some players appreciate the depth of character development and emotional engagement, others criticize the limited interactivity and excessive dialogue, which can feel tedious and detract from the overall experience. Overall, opinions on gameplay vary widely, with ratings ranging from 1/10 to 7/10, reflecting a divide between those who enjoy the story-driven format and those seeking more traditional gameplay elements.
“The choice-driven gameplay keeps you hooked, making every decision feel impactful.”
“Several hours worth of gameplay with four endings means you'll feel good, sad, and everything in between and get your money's worth.”
“Gameplay-wise it's a visual novel that tracks the growth of the main character and love interest separately with a pair of hidden variables to create four different endings.”
“Just so everyone knows, this is not a game; this is a slightly animated book with very few bits of gameplay here and there. I love all the characters and the story, but this is not a game because I hate reading and was kind of hoping for the 'gameplay' and 'choices' to keep me involved. As I'm writing this, I'm just about done with it and just kind of start skipping most of the dialog since it's mostly not important. Some might call it filler, which in a normal game would be fine, but since there's almost no gameplay other than clicking and reading, the filler gets tedious 1/4 of the way through.”
“Gameplay gets a 1/10; you click, that's it.”
“Gameplay is obviously very simple; it's a visual novel.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its outstanding art and music, which effectively enhance the emotional depth of the story. The original soundtrack, along with its dynamic shifts, contributes significantly to the overall experience, particularly during poignant moments. Reviewers appreciate how the visual and auditory elements work together to create a compelling and immersive atmosphere.
“The original soundtrack also adds well to the atmosphere.”
“The music and the way it can stop suddenly or switch up significantly builds the atmosphere, definitely helping with hitting the nail during the more sad scenes.”
“The original soundtrack also adds up well to the atmosphere.”
“The art brings a whole atmosphere of both emotion and story.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability primarily through its four distinct endings, which change based on player decisions, allowing for varied outcomes. However, some players feel that the differences between the endings are limited, mainly affecting the epilogue and late-game content. Overall, while the potential for different outcomes exists, the depth of replay value may not be substantial.
“My only complaint is how there's not much in terms of replayability other than getting the four endings, in which those only change the 'epilogue' and late-game stuff.”
“With four endings, there's definitely replay value to see how one small decision can snowball into a totally different outcome.”
“There's four endings to get in this game, lending itself a lot of replay value.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to be buggy, with some users experiencing crashes on startup that require a reinstall to fix. However, it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck when using the Steam Linux runtime.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck (just use Steam Linux Runtime).”
“The game can be buggy, which might lead to crashes on startup until you reinstall.”
“The game can be buggy, which might lead to crashes on startup until you reinstall.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it heavily relies on reading and minimal gameplay, leading to a sense of filler content that detracts from engagement. Many express frustration with the lack of meaningful choices and gameplay, resulting in a tendency to skip through dialogue. Overall, the experience feels more like an animated book than a traditional game, which may not appeal to those seeking interactive gameplay.
“Just so everyone knows, this is not a game; this is a slightly animated book with very few bits of gameplay here and there. I love all the characters and the story, but this is not a game because I hate reading and was kind of hoping for the 'gameplay' and 'choices' to keep me involved. As I'm writing this, I'm just about done with it and I just start skipping most of the dialogue since it's mostly not important. Some might call it filler, which in a normal game would be fine, but since there's almost no gameplay other than clicking and reading, the filler gets tedious a quarter of the way through.”
“There are few things to complain about, none of which is actually important; there is some slow pacing at the beginning making a certain scene tedious, and the only inconsistency is inco texting another character about the place he is visiting. He describes the sea and sends a picture of it to another character, but the picture he sends is of a road in a forest.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received positive feedback, with users noting that it performs exceptionally well.
