Review: Earth Must Die

The indie sector of video games has continued to leave us slack-jawed with its AAA-tier creative success stories, and it clearly shows no signs of slowing down, thankfully. However, if there were one particular type of game that I didn't necessarily jot down on my indie bingo card in recent memory, it would definitely be one that's vividly reminiscent of the point-and-click flash games of yesteryear.

As it turns out, a charmingly hilarious new IP from Size Five Games, Earth Must Die, has stepped up to the plate, and it's clear that this BAFTA-winning studio hasn't lost the jolly spring in its step with its latest whimsically absurd adventure. As I filled the velvety, absolutely villainous shoes of "accidental"-heir-to-a-galactic-empire, VValak Lizardtongue, I found myself so entertained by his ridiculously comical ineptitude at his newfound position, I honestly felt more like I was front-seating a new Adult Swim series than playing a game.

While that's by no means a disservice (especially as a millennial who grew up right alongside that network's catalog of endearing absurdist comedies) to the game, it still begs the question of how Earth Must Die stands as a gaming experience. Furthermore, does the creative pivot to a heavily stacked voice cast work well enough in its favor, as it notably has for other games like Dispatch?

A Vibrant and Satisfying Genre Throwback

If there was one thing that drew me in immediately with Earth Must Die, it's absolutely the vibrant and stylish animation that clearly hearkens to the nightly lineup of Adult Swim's surreal animated comedies that filled many of our later childhoods and early adult years. However, it's not just the brilliantly drawn sci-fi settings, but also the impressively creative roster of characters, from the egotistical buffoon that is VValak down to the lowliest of creatures that populate Tyryth and beyond.

Every locale you visit is a standout piece of artistry, while the characters within them are each so eccentrically different and unique. There's seldom ever an aesthetic blip anywhere, or a detraction of immersion, and the sheer amount of work that went into crafting this cosmic world that VValak seeks to dominate is abundantly clear.

Furthermore, this strong aesthetic factor works so well in the game's favor and helps carry this story in every manner that it needs to. While it could easily pass for a whimsically campy episodic adventure on your living room television, that doesn't really diminish it as a game whatsoever.

VValak is a Delightfully Fun Villain to Play

As one can expect, it's not so often that a game puts you in the shoes of an outright villain rather than a protagonist, or at least an anti-hero or neutral party that ultimately chooses a side down the line. However, the one and only VValak Lizardtongue is a rare example of when playing as a villain works perfectly, and frankly, I wouldn't have wanted to play as anyone else in this outrageous and fascinatingly bizarre universe.

VValak (that's with two V's) is the youngest and most egomaniacal son of Quintaran Tankheart, a renowned military leader who also sat as the Grand Shepherd of The Ascendancy, a massive interplanetary alliance dedicated to "peace, harmony, and progress". However, the start of the game sees Tankheart on the verge of death, and his two older twin sons in line to inherit his title that's, truthfully, mostly pomp and frills.

The game immediately sets you as VValak, and your first order of business is to effectively usurp the throne from his siblings, because he's clearly the only one suited for the job. From the oversized collar of his gaudy red robe down to his Dracula-esque gliding gait, VValak's very aura oozes with childish self-entitlement, and he carries himself in such a way that's just so hilariously campy and over-the-top, like the cartoon villains of old.

It only comes across further in the many sequences of dialogue he has with all manner of characters throughout the game. While quite skilled at sly verbal manipulation, he still postures and bluffs his way through serious situations and otherwise clearly has very little understanding of normal societal etiquette, thanks to the silver spoon he gleefully grew up with. He puts himself on an imaginary pedestal while many around him seem utterly oblivious to his self-aggrandizing personality, and it's seldom ever not entertaining to watch.

Even as VValak slowly (and I mean slowly) learns that not every issue can be solved with diabolical finger twiddling, the soul of his character is never lost at any point, and it makes playing a villain feel like genuine, light-hearted fun.

Point-and-Click Controls are Nostalgic But Finicky

While the character and environmental storytelling is where Earth Must Die truly shines, its gameplay mechanics noticeably take more of a backseat. The game focuses on a point-and-click system that, again, is an evident nostalgic throwback to simpler animated side-scrollers from the 1990s and 2000s. It's a nice touch that works well enough conceptually, even if it keeps things perhaps a bit too simple at times.

As your journey with VValak and his trusted companion Milky progresses, you'll encounter focal points in the environments that you can interact with in preset ways. VValak can make personal observations about those points of interest, interact with them (still mostly talking, since VValak is not one to touch just about anything), or instruct a character to do his bidding.

Ultimately, while these mechanics are all quite basic, it still befits VValak's character to a tee, so it gets a pass on that front. However, I'd still dare to say that it could've gone a bit further with perhaps a couple more dynamic ones, all while not losing its nostalgic, simple charm.

All Dialogue and No Action (But It Works)

On a similar tangent, in terms of mechanics, Earth Must Die notably keeps its gameplay entirely entrenched in a dialogue format. In other words, your one true weapon is a sharp, silver tongue. To truly live up to your usurped position as an incompetent dictator figurehead of a peace alliance, talking your way through all manner of situations is the key to galactic dominati...Err... galactic peace.

Despite how simple this method of gameplay is, the team at Size Five Games excels in crafting so many hilarious sequences of banter that all mesh seamlessly with the characters and universe at large. While it may not necessarily appeal to some players who seek at least a few sprinkles of action mixed in among all the witty dialogue, it's definitely perfect for those who want just to kick back and essentially roleplay a megalomanic without chases, firefights, or quick-time events.

A Stacked British Comedy That Might Not Hit for Everyone

It certainly wouldn't be right to review Earth Must Die without bringing well-earned attention to its astonishingly stacked cast of voice actors and beloved British comedians. Each brings an absolute splash of personality to these already fantastic characters, and none of them go to waste.

At the helm is Joel Fry (Game of Thrones) as VValak, whose tone and accent fit the game's "vill-tagonist" impeccably. Then there's Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) as a notable figure of the opposing Terranoids, though, ironically, he's quite hard to recognize in this instance. Alongside them is a solid lineup of popular British comedians who each bring their own unique flair to their respective characters. From Martha Howe-Douglas (Ghosts) to Alex Horne (Taskmaster) and Mike Wozniack (Man Down), there's absolutely no shortage of star power for Tyryth.

That said, humor is a particular aspect of storytelling that impacts all manner of viewers differently, whether it's a television show or a video game. It will hit spectacularly with some while going entirely over the heads of others, and that can especially be the case with British humor in particular. While VValak's character ironically stands on his own in terms of tone and delivery, the overwhelming majority of the game's cast keep very much in line with traditional British humor and whimsy, known for its candid dryness and constant self-deprecation.

I personally found a good chunk of that comedic flavor very entertaining, as it fits with VValak's character and story quite well, even if it didn't always hit my funny bone in the ways that it should.

Earth Must Die is an unapologetically hilarious and campy sci-fi romp adventure with perhaps one of the best playable villains in recent memory. This game vigorously scratches a nostalgia itch that will undoubtedly be felt more strongly by some (like me) more than others, and a generational gap may leave younger players culturally ostracized from this experience for one reason or another. However, for the demographic that it's definitely meant to serve, Size Five Games has knocked it out of the park yet again. The gameplay itself and point-and-click puzzle mechanics can feel a bit finicky and frustrating at times in light of how much everything else shines so vividly, but that's still not enough to diminish the whimsical, nostalgic spark this game provides.