The Magnificent Trufflepigs Review | Game Rant
Developed by Thunkd and published by AMC Games, The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a first-person story about two friends reconnecting at an old farm in pursuit of a lost treasure. Players take on the role of Adam as he returns to his childhood village of Stanning to help his friend Beth, who got word the old farm is set to be demolished and wants to find a missing earring.
The backdrop of The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a beautiful rolling English countryside. The main mechanic of the game sees players using a metal detector to scour the various fields of the farm in pursuit of the earring. What’s interesting about the game’s design is there’s not really a moment where players actually see what Adam and Beth look like. They’re voiced by Arthur Darvill and Luci Fish, and the game very cleverly makes sure players don’t have to see any character designs to connect with them. The first-person perspective doesn’t require players to know what Adam looks like, but even when the characters meet up, the game opts for wide scenic shots around the car they’re sitting in.
Digging in the field can get a bit repetitive, as it is the same process over and over again. Players pull out the metal detector, slowly walk around until it beeps in a frenzy, use the shovel to dig up the item, finish with a trowel to fish it out of the dirt, and then send a picture to Beth. However, it is quite relaxing to get to take in the hills of Stanning and its bright atmosphere. Players don’t get to walk very fast when using the metal detector, which makes sense but is also a bit frustrating. The slow walking is only frustrating because it seems like there may be more to discover in each field than is possible in the daylight of that day. Every day the player switches to a new field, so it leaves players with a sense of wondering what was missed and if it was anything important.
This critique isn’t to say the metal detector mechanic is annoying—in truth, it lives up to the game’s promise of being relaxing. Players just walk up and down the fields until they find something and dig it up. Where The Magnificent Trufflepigs really shines, though, is its narrative and storytelling. The combination of two actors who embody their roles mixed with the mystery of what’s actually happening in Beth’s life keeps players hooked. Beth and Adam talk a lot during the game, which helps drive the story along and lets players understand the dynamic between the two of them and how things have changed. However, all their talking can get in the way of metal detecting, meaning players may get frustrated with how many metal items are left unfound.
The dialogue between Adam and Beth really paints a picture of how close they used to be and what happened to their relationship. That being said, players don’t get a sense of Adam’s life, as he acts more like a moral compass in regards to how Beth’s life has been going. There’s nothing wrong with this setup, especially because Beth is the real focus of the game, but it would have been interesting to learn a bit more about Adam. It’s also nice to not only experience the dialogue between Adam and Beth but also have the opportunity to select certain responses and help steer Beth in one way or another. It might be small, but it’s enough to get players just that much more involved and invested in The Magnificent Trufflepigs.
While it may not be immediately noticeable, there are certain parts of the environment that players can take pictures of to send to Beth. Instead of texting back, she’ll start a conversation on the walkie-talkie and further immerse players into the relationship. A different detail that feels very symbolic is how the weather changes throughout The Magnificent Trufflepigs. At first, it’s sunny and beautiful, but as the days go by it becomes darker as a storm rolls in. This is incredibly symbolic of how Beth opens up and lets Adam see the less-than-perfect sides of her life, and it’s up to players to help Beth navigate them.
Overall, The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a memorable story and relaxing game that players can engage in without feeling overwhelmed or rushed. From start to finish, it’s an enjoyable, immersive story about two friends reconnecting and trying to make sense of the life one of them is leading. Players won’t regret checking out The Magnificent Trufflepigs.
The Magnificent Trufflepigs releases on June 3 on Steam. Game Rant was provided a PC code for this review.
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