January blues got you down? Prepare for a comedic explosion because humanity might be doomed (hilariously)! The British comedian-packed space adventure, Earth Must Die, is launching very soon, and there's a demo available right now to whet your appetite. But here's where it gets controversial... are you ready to embrace your inner villain?
Dan Marshall's Size Five Games is dropping Earth Must Die on January 27th, complete with a shiny new Steam demo. You can find it here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/EarthMustDie/. Now, what makes this game stand out from the crowded indie scene?
Earth Must Die isn't your typical hero's journey. You're playing as VValak Lizardtongue, a Ming the Merciless-esque tyrant with a penchant for planetary domination. Dan Marshall, the mastermind behind the game, puts it best: it's all about deciding "how much of a dick you're going to be." (As quoted in this Eurogamer article: https://www.eurogamer.net/earth-must-die-is-a-comedian-packed-point-and-click-in-which-you-decide-how-much-of-a-dick-you-want-to-be). So, buckle up for some morally questionable decisions!
Check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr0mqovgrHA
If you're familiar with Size Five Games, you know they love to twist classic genres. Earth Must Die follows the point-and-click adventure game formula, but with a hilarious spin. And this is the part most people miss... VValak, our tyrannical protagonist, refuses to pick anything up. Why? Because he deems it beneath him! It's a point-and-click game without an inventory, adding a unique layer of challenge and comedy. Think of it as a power trip gone hilariously wrong.
Arguably the biggest draw, besides the game's vibrant cartoon art style, is the absolutely stellar voice cast. Prepare to be amazed:
- Joel Fry (Hizdahr from Game of Thrones)
- Ben Starr
- Martha Howe-Douglas (Ghosts)
- Alex Horne (Taskmaster)
- Mike Wozniak (Man Down, Taskmaster, Three Bean Salad podcast)
- Don Warrington (Rising Damp!)
- Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace)
- Tamsin Greig (Black Books, Green Wing!)
- Stevie Martin
- Julie Nolke
- Sophie Duker
- Emma Fryer
- Alasdair Beckett-King
- Rosie Holt
- Jon Blyth
- Sam O'Leary
- Tom Lawrinson
- Sally Beaumont
- David Montieth
- Inel Tomlinson
That's a lot of comedic talent packed into one game! It's practically a comedy festival in space.
Still not convinced? Let's talk about Size Five Games' previous masterpiece, Lair of the Clockwork God. It's a relentlessly funny point-and-click adventure game that's cleverly mashed up with a platformer. I reviewed it back in 2020 (https://www.eurogamer.net/lair-of-the-clockwork-god-review-platform-meets-adventure-with-hilarious-consequences) and wrote, "Bottomless wit and some inspired design choices make this genre mash-up a joy to play." I still regret not giving it a perfect score!
No More Robots, the game's publisher, has revealed that Earth Must Die will offer roughly eight hours of gameplay. Perfect for a weekend of villainous fun.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to embrace your inner VValak Lizardtongue and decide just how evil you're going to be? Do you believe a game can be both hilarious and thought-provoking, or is it just escapism? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! I'm genuinely curious to hear if you think playing as the 'bad guy' can actually offer a fresh perspective on storytelling. Or is it just a cheap gimmick? Discuss!
