Spoiler alert, this is not a game about cute, cuddly fox cubs and a fox mother. So be prepared to play this game with a box of handkerchiefs next to your console of choice. You’re going to need them. Humans can be terrible, and Endling shows it in a beautiful and meaningful way. You are probably wondering how? Well, you’ll have to read my story to find out. Let’s dive in!
Extinction?
Will the last mother fox on Earth be able to save its three little cubs? Endling – Extinction Is Forever is all about experiences. The developer HeroBeat Studio created a game in which you can experience what life would be like in a world ravaged by humanity through the eyes of the last fox on Earth in this eco-conscious adventure. The central premise is to discover the destructive force of the human race, as it, day after day corrupts, pollutes, and exploits the most precious and valuable resources of the natural environment.
So, Nick, is this a game in which you become an eco-warrior to battle all of humankind? No – it’s all about exploration. The main gameplay element in Endling is to explore the 3D side-scrolling world and defend your cubs, three tiny and defenseless fur balls, feed them, watch them grow level after level, notice their unique personalities and fears, and most importantly, help them survive.
Nightly Gameplay
Like a good fox, you use the cover of night to guide your litter towards a safer place stealthily. Spend the day resting in an improvised shelter and plan your next movement carefully since it could be the last for you and your pups. While exploring out in the open, you hunt for food, teach your cubs new moves like jumping and climbing, battle wildlife, and learn more about the ravaging nature of humans. A remarkable feature of this type of gameplay is that it uses smell as its central premise to give life to the fox. Are you searching for food? Smell. You are searching for your stolen cub, smell. It fits the way the game is presented and pushes you to look at your surroundings, instead of focussing on action-packed gameplay (like in most games nowadays).
Taking care of the three cubs still by your side proves to be a simple task. They can go for extended periods without needing food, and the threat of starvation has no real impact on gameplay. Once the bar that tracks food is empty, a timer will start above a cub. If they aren’t fed before it runs out, they will perish. I was not too fond of that, so I kept them fed and healthy. You could opt to do the latter and provide them only the basics to speedrun through the game, but I think you’re missing the point by doing so; Endling is all about realizing what we, as humans, can do about saving the world for generations to come (and not just for humans). By evenly pacing the gameplay and unlocking parts of the story at ‘set’ moments, you get to enjoy the way of the fox (like Ylvis did), so keep that in mind when picking this up.
Philosophical
So, let’s get a bit philosophical here. Is the game really about foxes and cubs? Yes, but they are meant as a pointer towards the bigger picture. The game looks at the player and says, “That bad guy, he’s just like you. It makes you think, doesn’t it?” The game’s themes of environmentalism and resource scarcity are a cautionary tale about the current state of the human species. We are the last of a dying species, we are endlings. I think it fits the new generation that we put onto this world as we speak – we are living in a state of Conscious Competent, while the next generation will be Unconscious Competent (at least, that’s what I’m hoping for my two kids). We only have one world and Endling puts its finger right there, on the problem.
Conclusion
Endling – Extinction is Forever packs a philosophical experience behind a striking visual aesthetic and a message about the relationship between humanity and the environment. The gameplay can be a bit tedious for those who expect a more action-packed game style, but it makes up for it in storytelling and pacing the game in just the right mood for its theme. It will probably resonate with a particular audience but is undoubtedly worth your time – however, they should hire Ylvis for a theme song next time.
8/10
Tested on the Nintendo Switch.
