The Magnificent Trufflepigs Review
Developed by Thunkd and published by AMC Games, The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a first-person story about two friends who reconnect with an old farm in search 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 has heard that the old farm is slated for demolition and wants to find a missing earring. The backdrop of The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a beautiful rolling English countryside. The game’s core mechanic sees players using a metal detector to tour various farm fields in pursuit of an earring. What’s interesting about the game’s design is that there isn’t really a moment where players can see what Adam and Beth look like. They’re voiced by Arthur Darvill and Luci Fish, and the game does a great job of making sure players don’t need 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, the game opts for wide sweeping shots around the car they’re sitting in.
Field digging can be a bit repetitive, as it’s the same process over and over again. Players pull out the metal detector, walk slowly until it beeps in exasperation, use the shovel to dig up the item, finish with a spoon to fish it out of the dirt, and then send a photo to Beth . However, it is quite relaxing to be in the Stanning hills and its bright surroundings. Players can’t walk very fast when using the metal detector, which makes sense but is a little disappointing. The slow pace was just frustrating because there seemed to be more to discover in each field than was possible in the daylight that day. Every day the player moves to a new field, so it leaves players with a feeling of wondering what was missed and if it was important. This criticism isn’t to say that the metal detector mechanic is annoying—in fact, it lives up to the game’s promise of being relaxing. Players walk up and down the fields until they find something and dig it up. Where The Magnificent Trufflepigs really shines, however, is its narration and storytelling. The combination of the two actors embodying their roles mixed with the mystery of what is actually going on in Beth’s life keeps players hooked. Beth and Adam often talk during the game, which helps drive the story and lets players understand the dynamic between the two of them and how things have changed. However, all of their talking can interfere with metal detecting, meaning players can be frustrated by how many metal objects go undetected. RELATED: 10 Indie Games You Should Look Forward To In 2021
The dialogue between Adam and Beth really paints how close they were back then and what happened in their relationship. That said, players don’t understand Adam’s life, as he acts as a moral compass about how Beth’s life is going. There’s nothing wrong with this setup, especially since Beth is the real focus of the game, but it would be interesting to know more about Adam. It was also nice to not only experience the conversation between Adam and Beth but also have the opportunity to choose certain responses and help steer Beth one way or another. It may be small, but it’s enough to get players to get more involved and invested in The Magnificent Trufflepigs. While it may not be immediately noticeable, there are several parts of the environment that players can take pictures of to send to Beth. Instead of texting back, he’ll start a walkie-talkie conversation and further immerse players in the relationship. A strange detail that seems so symbolic is how the seasons change throughout The Magnificent Trufflepigs. At first, it was sunny and beautiful, but as the days went by it got darker as the storm rolled in. It’s incredibly symbolic of how Beth opens up and lets Adam see the less-than-perfect parts of her life, and it’s over the top. to the players to help Beth navigate them. Overall, The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a memorable story and relaxing game that players can engage in without feeling anxious or rushed. From start to finish, it’s a delightful, engaging story about two friends who reconnect and try to make sense of the life one of them leads. Players will not regret checking out The Magnificent Trufflepigs. Magnificent Trufflepigs releases June 3rd on Steam. Today Technology was provided a PC code for this review. MORE: Indie Game Tender is Animal Crossing Meets Tinder