Initial release date: August 29, 2024
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Android, Microsoft Windows
Developer: Dee Dee Creations
Genres: Shooter game, Platform game, Indie game, Adventure game, Simulation video game, Adventure
License: proprietary license
Publishers: Maximum Entertainment, Quatre
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Okay, everyone, come on. We all assume we understand what this is. It must be lame, meme rubbish, right? Absolutely not. This has been one of the most enjoyable platformers I’ve played this year. What’s here feels a little janky and cheap at times. There’s definitely one joke in the title. You play as a photorealistic squirrel, using a gun to defeat adversaries and perform goals. However, it is not level to level fare. What you get is a combination between Banjo-Kazooie’s trinkets, Untitled Goose Game’s checklist and hijinks, and possibly some Goat Simulator silliness. Squirrel With A Gun has been a wonderful experience that deserves your attention if you’re looking for something smaller this busy autumn season.
Squirrel With A Gun starts you off sarcastically, gunless, by locking you in a bunker and teaching you to flick switches to get Golden Acorns. These are your Jiggies or Power Star equivalents, and you’ll need a set number to activate item spawn places and events. When you defeat a boss, the next level opens up, revealing new objectives to collect additional Golden Acorns for the next area. You’ll be crossing a minefield, walking into a house and playing an actual game where the floor is lava, and the first boss begins with a Mario Kart course and concludes with you fighting a tank while “made in mom’s garage” metal music plays. This game is always full of cute puzzles and new ideas, yet it never feels bloated.
The gunplay, I believe, contributes to the overall cohesiveness. Your weapon options include a handgun, submachine gun, shotgun, grenade launcher, and, while I was unable to unlock it, a rocket launcher if you acquire enough Golden Acorns. Each comes with a variable clip size, and you can reload by stepping on specific ammo pads or by pressing the Circle button and using one of your Ammo Wedges, a collectible that allows you to replenish ammo on the spot. You can use the cannons to perform many jumps, hover, and even boost yourself while riding in the unlockable RC car. Traveling across the planet is quick thanks to the ability to summon the automobile from any route using the pause menu, though I believe a button would be more useful.
I like how this game approaches level design. Similar to Yooka-Laylee or Untitled Goose Game, the world gradually emerges. However, one difficulty with Yooka-Laylee in particular is that the worlds became too large as they developed. Squirrel With A Gun has a simple structure in which areas are labeled with icons to indicate what you need to perform at a glance. Having a UI that shows how many Acorns, Wedges, and even clothes are in the surrounding area is quite useful for getting a sense of what you’re looking for. That being said, if you need hints, simply go to neighboring flagpoles, which will give you a basic indication of where the goals are as well as a name to help you figure out what you need to do. The names can also be retrieved via the pause menu, which is useful.
I’m promoting this game about a stupid squirrel a lot, but it has several flaws. I’m using a 3080 Ti with 32GB of RAM. Despite having a decent enough setup to produce some nice images, this game is really resource intensive. I’m not DigitalFoundry, so I can’t be as detailed in my analysis. Looking at the game and listening with my own ears, it appears that this game requires a lot of resources to run, and it is unclear why. This isn’t a graphically rich game, and the character models and animations that aren’t the squirrel are cheap-looking. There are several graphic options on PC, including Lumen, which was good to see, but running the game at higher settings caused my rig to howl under the burden. Most well-optimized games don’t do that on my system, so I believe there is some work to be done there, including Steam Deck support. There are no graphic options on Steam Deck, and it appears a little choppy, with some strange afterimages on the squirrel.
Squirrel With A Gun has been a ton of fun. I discuss the technological challenges and the somewhat cheap-looking visuals, but the main game is solid and I believe it is worth your time. If you want a decent, small-scale collectathon that will make you laugh, Squirrel With A Gun may be for you. This isn’t my favorite game of the year, but I believe it speaks something that this strange premise produced for a fairly enjoyable experience. It’s not violent since there’s no blood, and it’s not just one joke; it’s attempting to be a simple and enjoyable game with some genuinely solid game design choices. This was a solid game with some flaws, and I believe it’s worth the time. Or maybe you just saw the deez nuts joke in the headline and assumed it would establish the tone for the review. If you want to witness the tank boss in action, we’ve published it to our YouTube page, so check it out.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 82%
Controls – 80%
Aesthetics – 85%
Content – 78%
Accessibility – 83%
Value – 80%
Overall Rating – 81%
VERY GOOD!
Summary: “Squirrel With A Gun: Deez nuts aren’t just for jokes” is a quirky and entertaining experience that blends humor with surprisingly solid gameplay. The concept of a gun-wielding squirrel may sound absurd, but it’s executed with charm and creativity. The gameplay is fun, offering a mix of action and puzzle elements, though it can feel a bit repetitive at times. The controls are responsive, making it easy to navigate the game’s zany world. Visually, the game is appealing, with its cartoonish aesthetics fitting perfectly with the tone. While the content is somewhat limited, it’s a fun ride that doesn’t overstay its welcome. For those looking for a unique and amusing diversion, this game is worth checking out.