Unsung Gems: Afrika

If there were indeed a diamond in the rough when it came to PS3 exclusives, Afrika would be it. Now before everyone rolls their eyes at the game that has been out for years and is essentially a photography simulator, stow the woe and keep on reading. Not all diamonds are perfect, but this one is a true gem.

Let’s get the boring bits out of the way. Afrika, named Hakuna Matata was released in Japan/Asia In August of 2008. Now comparatively to a game that is out these days the graphics are starting to show. But when I experience Afrika, I try to remember that the game itself is indeed over 2 years old and was only released to the US under its new name. Coupled with the might of National Geographic, westerners were able to experience this safari of sorts on the PS3.

You choose from either a wildlife journalist or a zoologist, the other remains at the base camp to guide you through your learning of the game. And this is where all your game time begins from. You are given missions in the form of emails downloaded onto your in-game laptop. These missions revolve around your documenting the inhabitants of the reserve cordoned off called the Manyanga Conservation Area.

HOTs

Unique

OK folks. If you like shooting anything with a pulse that requires a bullet and trigger, step away now. This is a simulator. You cannot run over your wildlife friends with your jeep or drop sandbags on their heads from the hot air balloon you can travel in at a later date. Games such as Afrika are few and far between. Why? Because they aren’t the typical standard of what gamers require these days. But I think this is why Afrika stands out. It offers a unique blend of simulation and learning that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Graphics

Graphically this game is a stand out. The detail in capturing never ending plains of Africa littered with its vast expanse of wildlife is incredible. Up close the animals look, move and damn near feel like the real thing. They interact as if they would, had you been there in the flesh. Speaking of flesh, yes, the predators will attack you, but no flying limbs or disemboweling to be found here. This is a photography sim, not The Ghost and the Darkness.

Content

Being a Sony exclusive, naturally all the in-game photography equipment is by, well Sony. You can purchase new cameras and upgrade them with advanced lenses so you can shoot from further away without the risk of being mauled by Simba. The photos you take have dual purposes. You email them for your mission objectives and also by documenting the animals you unlock those species for you to later go back and learn about. Video and image content is available much like an encyclopedia and this really does make this game an open to all ages type.

Realism

Just like if you were documenting in real life, you must proceed with caution, and, dare I say, patience. Observing how the animals move within their territory is the key to snagging that brilliant shot which will fetch you more income when you email it off. Very exciting (if you like photography on any level) when you get that absolute perfect shot you couldn’t have gotten at any other time.

NOTs

Time Taken Up

Travelling wise can be a bit of a pest. Even when you get to drive the jeep yourself, you have to travel there and then drive back. No teleporting included. Again this can be two fold; adding to the sim feel of the game or being needlessly aggravating. While handling is fairly adequate for what you’re doing and it is nice to be in control of your own jeep wrangling destiny, it just takes too long at times.

Also the glaring issues with this title, it comes in the form of load times. Installing the game takes years and thinking that would speed up the loading process, would be unfortunately wrong. Once you are loaded past the main menu screen options it is quick throughout the rest of the game, so it is nice to not have that kind of headache throughout the experience.

Animations

It seems when you are at a distance the animals move less authentically. I don’t know if this is on purpose to reduce the effort on the game’s scope so that only up-close interactivity remains top notch I’m not sure. But since you are not sniping your wildlife from a thousand yards it’s not that big of a deal.

Verdict

In the end, love it or hate it, Afrika is a photography/safari sim. If you expect more, you will be disappointed. But if you are anything like me, who misses and loves the non-violent games from time to time, the patience required and the learning curve which isn’t too hard to grasp, Afrika really can offer something for the gamer who wants to sit back, take in the gorgeous African landscape and maybe, just maybe, learn a thing or two about the creatures we co-exist with on this big spinning ball.

And watch out for the lions.

Written by Ben Kage