I like to think I’m a person interested in the well being of our planet. As such, seeing a game espousing the dangers of introducing foreign elements into the ecosystem intrigues me greatly. It also helps that said game is an adventure game in practically every sense of the word. At least, that’s what I got when The Herbologist graced my proverbial desk. And, I have to say that I like the idea behind the story.
In The Herbologist, GMO plants have infected natural flora and fauna. This has caused some pretty major problems and only one man’s research can help. Unfortunately, said person has gone missing. That doesn’t stop the organization of S.E.E.D. from trying to save the environment from the infestation. That’s more or less what we know about the plot, but it’s enough to capture my attention.
As far as gameplay goes, little is mentioned beyond it being an adventure where you solve puzzles with items in the environment and in your inventory. So, basically your standard point and click fare. Still, why reinvent the wheel when it’s pretty much worked for decades? That said, more information would be good but that’s what updates are for.
As much as I’d love to say otherwise, it’s becoming harder to get adventure games funded on Kickstarter these days. The asking price for The Herbologist is a respectable $10,000, and I do hope they make that much at least. Too many games are either fantasy settings or sci-fi epics, so seeing a game focusing on ecology and the effects of tampering with nature is a breath of proverbial fresh air.
