When Konami announced the return of Survival Kids at the Switch 2 direct back in April, many were surprised to see the series come back. It had seen a series of DS games as the Lost in Blue games, but a launch game revival for Switch 2 seemed like an odd choice. It was especially interesting that the game would be developed for the system by Unity, best known for its game engine software rather than making games itself. That may have worked out for the best though with Survival Kids on Switch 2 techwise.
Survival Kids is a family-friendly co-op puzzle game that tones down the harsher survival mechanisms in favor of gameplay that may call to mind Overcooked in some ways.This is not to say this is a bad thing, but in many ways Survival Kids does play things a bit too safe. This is especially true when playing the game alone, as it gets repetitive and a bit dull, losing its luster after only a few hours.
However, when you play the game in co-op mode, the experience is completely different. This is a game that aside from its emphasis on crafting elements, is all about cooperative gameplay and when played with others, is a much better experience. Another thing to keep in mind as well, is that Survival Kids is targeting a much younger audience that may be new to the genre, and when testing it out with a young relative, I came to understand what Konami and Unity were going for and came to appreciate it.
Survival Kids is about a group of kids who discover an old treasure map and then seek out on an adventure to find the treasure. On their journey though, a storm leaves them stranded on a series of islands situated on the backs of giant turtles and they must work together to survive and make it back. It is an easy enough premise to understand and works for what the game has.
You will start by customizing your character and then exploring the first island, which acts as a tutorial for mechanics like chopping wood, light crafting, cooking, and the easier puzzles. From there, the difficulty increases but never gets out of hand, and the platforming and resource gathering and handled extremely well. You will need to keep the stamina meter in mind, as it drains quickly when you carry or climb anything, and food is needed to raise your energy level, so you must cook more food.
Survival Kids can get very repetitive and does tend to have a bit of hand holding and pushing you in the right direction, but again, this is an introduction game to the genre for younger players so that makes sense.If it annoys you, there is an option to turn it off, but some may find frustration in how the gameplay grind is laid out. As time goes on, you will find new crafting recipes and learn the mechanics that are found in games of the genre, and for newcomers, which the game is aimed out, this will be a fantastic way to learn the ropes of these kinds of games.
Survival Kids can be played solo, but as mentioned above, the real meat is in the co-op mode. Some mechanics work differently in co-op mode to encourage players to work together more, and so trees and rocks take longer to remove on your own in this mode to facilitate this. Survival Kids is not just a great game for newcomers to the genre, as it is a great family game as well. This is a great game for parents who love survival crafting games, to play with the children and share their video game interests with them.
Unity did a fantastic job tech wise, as while Survival Kids is not the best all around game on Switch 2 that I have played so far, it is the best performing techwise that is not made by Nintendo itself. The game makes excellent use of Switch 2’s GameShare and GameChat feature as well, while also providing excellent local co-op options for those wanting that experience. Two-player co-op on a single Switch 2 gives you a screen that is split vertically, and you can have another two people join the game online using a lobby code, with a seamless performance.
Survival Kids may not be the most exciting game on the Switch 2 for older players, but for younger gamers and those veteran games with young kids, it is a wonderful gateway experience to a wider genre and a way to safely experience Survival Crafting together while monitoring the online. Survival Kids has been receiving mixed feedback, but that could be because many miss the point of who the game is made for and targeted to. Those who understand that this is less of a Survival game for hardcore fans and more of a family oriented game, will surely appreciate everything there is to offer here, and in that regard Survival Kids is excellent.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
