We Are the Caretakers
- January 6, 2023
- Heart Shaped Games LLC
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Get on Xbox Games Store"We Are the Caretakers" is a strategic RPG focused on conservation and community. As the leader of the Caretakers, you must protect the endangered Rhino-like creatures, the Sha'daa, from poachers and other threats. Utilize a dynamic team of characters, each with unique abilities and backgrounds, to balance the needs of the Sha'daa, the Caretakers, and the surrounding communities. Your choices will shape the future of this fragile ecosystem.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox
Reviews
- Strong focus on conservation and wildlife protection, which is a unique and commendable theme.
- Interesting mechanics with a blend of turn-based combat and strategic decision-making, allowing for varied gameplay.
- The game features a unique Afro-futurist aesthetic that adds depth and visual appeal.
- Gameplay is often slow and tedious, with shallow strategic depth and repetitive mechanics.
- Poorly developed characters and story, leaving players confused about the game's narrative and objectives.
- Numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with combat mechanics and UI, detract from the overall experience.
- story24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of character development and a poorly conveyed narrative that leaves them questioning the significance of their actions. While the unique premise of leading park rangers to protect wildlife is intriguing, the absence of a backstory and coherent mission structure detracts from the overall experience. Some players express interest in the potential of the story, hoping for improvements in future updates.
“It has JRPG-style gameplay, but the story is very unique. Basically, you lead a group of park rangers equipped with warframes to protect wildlife and deal with poachers however you see fit. You can recruit them, accept bribes, etc., which all affect your reputation depending on your choices.”
“The studio is passionate about what they've made, and that shows in the story and mechanics.”
“I only played several of the story missions, but what I saw so far makes me interested in more, and I will keep an eye on the updates and ultimately the final release.”
“Yet everything did fall short; characters were undeveloped, the story was sloppy, and the team building was lacking in depth.”
“With no story delivery, I was left with no understanding as to why my actions were important.”
“The utter lack of a backstory (even in early access) makes players ask, 'Why is this important?'”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "We Are the Caretakers" is a mixed bag, featuring a repetitive loop that some find unenjoyable, while others appreciate its unique mechanics centered around conservation and team management. Players navigate a grid-like map to combat poachers and manage resources, with options for automation and speed enhancements. However, convoluted combat mechanics and a lack of clear guidance can detract from the experience, though the core gameplay loop shows promise and is well-executed for an early access title.
“We Are the Caretakers captured my interest, not only for its gameplay and visuals, but also because it is built around something important to me: conservation.”
“Gameplay involves using teams of caretakers to explore a grid-like map for enemies (poachers), wildlife (raun), and resources, while completing the necessary objectives.”
“Although there are still some early access quirks, the core gameplay loop is already well executed.”
“Regardless of how engaging a story is (in this case, it isn’t), or how beautiful a game looks and sounds, poorly implemented combat mechanics will see me quickly stop playing.”
“Convoluted combat mechanics (with some real jarring battlefield panning/motion that is honestly vertigo-inducing and I don't normally get that), confusing and bare campaign/lore elements, and very little in the way of guidance.”
“It's not really clear what is a design choice (did they decide to take the narrative's interesting 'throw you into an unexplained world' angle for the mechanics too even though narrative and mechanics are very different?), what is an oversight, and what is a bug.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique art styles and aesthetics, particularly the afro-futurist elements, while others criticized the animations and designs as repetitive and lacking polish. Issues such as graphical glitches and a general lack of detail were noted, leading to an overall sentiment that, despite some appealing aspects, the visuals could be significantly improved.
“We are the caretakers captured my interests, not only for its gameplay and visuals, but also because it is built around something important to me, conservation.”
“I liked the aesthetic.”
“This game is a great concept, and the afro-futurist aesthetic adds a layer of depth I did not expect.”
“Animations, art styles, and designs weren’t to my tastes and felt duplicated throughout.”
“It's actually almost exactly like Northgard but with minimal building, bad graphics, slow movement, and somehow an even slower turn-based combat system.”
“The visuals leave a lot to be desired.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including glitches that can cause teams to become stuck on maps, leading to frustrating restarts and lost progress. While some players appreciate the game's design and fun elements, the persistent bugs detract from the overall experience, especially for those who expect a more polished product.
“There are glitches in the game that will make your teams stuck on the maps. I ran into it on two separate levels, which forces you to restart the level and lose twenty minutes of progress.”
“Neat idea and design approach, but it's too buggy in its current state for my tastes. I don't have time to alpha test; I'm not 15 anymore.”
“The game is still buggy in early access, but that doesn't block it from being a beautiful and fun experience.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is reminiscent of Final Fantasy, enhancing the immersive experience alongside the combat sounds, though it is generally considered average with a rating of 7/10. While it complements the gameplay, it doesn't stand out as particularly memorable.
“Check it out if you like: Final Fantasy-esque combat, graphics, and music; Divinity: Original Sin's combat; rhinos; park rangers.”
“The music and combat sounds add to the immersion, though nothing to write home about.”
“Also - that music, man.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, as players report that there is nothing new to experience after the initial 20 minutes of gameplay.
“Nothing new to experience after the first 20 minutes, offering zero replay value.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious and uninteresting.”
