Spigot
02-22-2009, 10:14 AM
After spending some time with The Maw over the past few weeks (best XBLA title of 2009 so far!), Turning The Spigot takes a fond look back at one of the games that Twisted Pixel's opus evoked memories of.
It's time to bust out your Little Bo Peep outfit and go back to shepherd school.
Herdy Gerdy
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3300690168_832c74c001.jpg?v=0
Year: 2002
Platform: PS2
Rating: Leader Of The Pack
# of Players: 1
Herdy Gerdy is best described as a shepherd simulator or flock control emulator. In this whimsical game for the PS2, you play as Gerdy, a young boy who sets out to free his father from the evil wizard's curse not with swords and spells but with a simple shepherd's stick and flute.
The world of Herdy Gerdy is broken into several large areas. These range from the forests and rolling plains to dark caves and even a pirate ship. In each area, there are a given amount of creatures that need to be herded into their pens in order to unlock more levels and progress through the story. Unfortunately for you, there are hazards, both environmental and predatory, that tend to impede your simple task of guiding your flock.
The aesthetics of Herdy Gerdy were, at the time of the game's release, very impressive. The world of the game is present in a very Don Bluth style of animation and all of the animals tend to have a very cartoony look to them. There is also a dark tone running through the game, which is why I likened the art style more to Don Bluth than Disney. As bright and cheery as the game can be, there's always a hint of danger lurking around every corner.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3300690326_0a6be109e8.jpg?v=0
The animals you encounter have a variety of whimsical names like Doops, Gronks and Honklings. Don't let these cute names fool you though. Gronks are essentially giant bears that will eat you and your flock if you aren't careful. There's even a meter on your HUD that indicates the number of dead animals on the map. You really don't want that indicator to go up...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3299859631_9ab82d5b79.jpg?v=0
There is somewhat of a learning curve when it comes to the controls in Herdy Gerdy. You aren't playing a space marine or armour clad hero. You are a young boy who wields a stick and, occasionally, a musical instrument or two. That's about it. The game is all about using your brain (and reflexes) to overcome the obstacles the environment puts in your path. Getting your flock from point A to point B usually requires a lot of lateral thinking and isn't for the faint of brain.
The game isn't perfect by any means, with the camera being the biggest annoyance. It's not game-breaking, but it has its moments... I tried to find some online gameplay video but the pickings are slim. It should be mentioned that Herdy Gerdy was developed by none other than Core Design, a tiny little developer who haven't really done anything else of note. Oh, except those Tomb Raider games...
Herdy Gerdy can be found in most discount bins and used game piles at your local game store for a pittance ($5-10) or online at Amazon for prices ranging from $2-$40!
It's time to bust out your Little Bo Peep outfit and go back to shepherd school.
Herdy Gerdy
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3300690168_832c74c001.jpg?v=0
Year: 2002
Platform: PS2
Rating: Leader Of The Pack
# of Players: 1
Herdy Gerdy is best described as a shepherd simulator or flock control emulator. In this whimsical game for the PS2, you play as Gerdy, a young boy who sets out to free his father from the evil wizard's curse not with swords and spells but with a simple shepherd's stick and flute.
The world of Herdy Gerdy is broken into several large areas. These range from the forests and rolling plains to dark caves and even a pirate ship. In each area, there are a given amount of creatures that need to be herded into their pens in order to unlock more levels and progress through the story. Unfortunately for you, there are hazards, both environmental and predatory, that tend to impede your simple task of guiding your flock.
The aesthetics of Herdy Gerdy were, at the time of the game's release, very impressive. The world of the game is present in a very Don Bluth style of animation and all of the animals tend to have a very cartoony look to them. There is also a dark tone running through the game, which is why I likened the art style more to Don Bluth than Disney. As bright and cheery as the game can be, there's always a hint of danger lurking around every corner.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3300690326_0a6be109e8.jpg?v=0
The animals you encounter have a variety of whimsical names like Doops, Gronks and Honklings. Don't let these cute names fool you though. Gronks are essentially giant bears that will eat you and your flock if you aren't careful. There's even a meter on your HUD that indicates the number of dead animals on the map. You really don't want that indicator to go up...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3299859631_9ab82d5b79.jpg?v=0
There is somewhat of a learning curve when it comes to the controls in Herdy Gerdy. You aren't playing a space marine or armour clad hero. You are a young boy who wields a stick and, occasionally, a musical instrument or two. That's about it. The game is all about using your brain (and reflexes) to overcome the obstacles the environment puts in your path. Getting your flock from point A to point B usually requires a lot of lateral thinking and isn't for the faint of brain.
The game isn't perfect by any means, with the camera being the biggest annoyance. It's not game-breaking, but it has its moments... I tried to find some online gameplay video but the pickings are slim. It should be mentioned that Herdy Gerdy was developed by none other than Core Design, a tiny little developer who haven't really done anything else of note. Oh, except those Tomb Raider games...
Herdy Gerdy can be found in most discount bins and used game piles at your local game store for a pittance ($5-10) or online at Amazon for prices ranging from $2-$40!