Sheep ReviewBy Jaden [Editor Note - I have to apologize for the lack of screenshots for this review. Something about sheep makes our usual methods of taking screenshots just not work. So as you read the review just picture this : Cartoon looking sheep wandering in a maze. If that's not good enough for you, you can head over to the official site at http://www.saveoursheep.com/ and get a better idea of what the game looks like. We now return you to the review. -Blackclaw] This is one really messed up game! Just a glance at the outside of the Sheep box is enough to tell you that. The box explains that sheep "are actually highly intelligent beings from another planet" that have gradually assimilated with their new environment and become dumb. The list of the game's features includes, "Incredible A.S. (Artificial Stupidity) actually simulates the unique folly of sheep." Add to that the hysterical, adorable graphics and anyone is sure to be hooked. Game Play
You can choose from four characters (two humans, two dogs). There are 7 worlds with 4 levels each. You must go through the worlds in sequence, but you can play each world's levels in any order. There are also 4 breeds of sheep that have slightly different tendencies, although they are all stupid. You must herd each breed once in each world but you can play them in any order. It is often difficult to determine which features on the map are helpful, which delay you, and which can kill your sheep. (Hazards that kill sheep do not kill you-they just knock you down for a second or two.) That is part of the puzzle and makes the game quite challenging. Adding to the challenge are the time limit and the minimum number of sheep you must save. Your game ends when your time expires, when all the sheep on that level are dead, or when you exit a level without saving enough sheep. You have the opportunity to replay a level after you have completed it. (Note that "replay" anywhere it appears means to re-attempt the level, not view what you did on the level.) Herding the sheep can be very difficult. They definitely live up to the stupity Empire claims. Read the signs and talk to the pigs, standing sheep, and other folks along the way to get helpful hints, particularly on the training levels. There are a few things, though, that you're better off knowing right away: As the herder, you must drive the sheep from behind, not lead them from in front. The only time the sheep will follow you is when you pick up a radio, and it only lasts as long as the radio is playing music. Your shepherd moves relatively quickly, but that is necessary to drive the sheep. You can slow down by right-clicking, but you will not drive the sheep while going slow. You can run by left-clicking. Running is great when you're trying to head off your sheep before they run into a hazard or when you're trying to run the wrong way down a conveyor belt. You can pick up sheep. Right-click near a sheep to pick it up. Do not hold the mouse button down. Once you pick up a sheep you can carry it over grates that the sheep will not cross or you can throw it down (right-click a second time) where you want it. Picking up a sheep is also the only way to get them off of sheep-activated buttons and to pick them up if they've been stunned. In addition to picking up and throwing sheep, right-clicking will open gates and flip switches. There is usually nothing on a map to indicate that you've reached the boundary for that level. You know you've reached the border when you can't go any further in a direction. The most annoying thing in Sheep that is not part of the challenge is that the points take way too long to rack up at the end of each level. On some of the easier levels, it takes longer to watch your points add up than it does to play the level. There is no need for this dramatic tallying. I also find it annoying that you can't play any level you want. Some people are not interested in building their skills or conquering the game step by step, they just want to sit down and have fun for a few minutes. As a puzzle strategy game, there is no multiplayer version of Sheep. It might be interesting if there were one, though. Imagine two shepherds going head-to-head trying to save the most sheep, stealing sheep from each other. Or imagine someone activating traps, obstacles, and prizes as the shepherd navigates the map. Someone more messed up than me might even think of a viable way to have someone play the sheep. CustomizationThe only customization currently is that you can choose from four characters (two humans, two dogs). I expect it won't be long before additional worlds, characters, and/or sheep species are available. Perhaps some day there will be a level editor. CommunitySince there is no multiplayer version of Sheep, there is no online community for the game. There are many websites out there, though. Check out Empire's Sheep website at http://www.saveoursheep.com/. GraphicsThe graphics for Sheep are intentionally and appropriately simple. They are very well done and are hysterical. The opening sequence is great-it makes fun of things like Diablo II and the movie Titanic. RequirementsWindows 95/98 166 MHz (266 or better recommended) |
Sheep is a puzzle strategy game. You are a sheep
herder (either a person or a dog) trying to save as many sheep as possible by herding them through lands filled with hazards. Hazards include sharks swimming in fields of grain, disco clubs where sheep
dance and overheat, electric fences, and land mines. You must determine where to herd the sheep and get them there safely. You get points for each sheep you save plus bonus points for saving all the sheep
on that level, saving them quickly, or getting stars along the way. Getting the golden sheep in each level will get you a bonus level for that world. Note
that the sheep must get the stars, but you can get the golden sheep yourself.
