We Are The Caretakers

We Are The Caretakers is a turn-based strategy game that also has a pretty strong message about looking after the environment. The fact that the game also has a sci-fi setting really did make me stand up and take notice of this and it is probably one of the more interesting strategy games to be released this year.

Defenders Of The World

The plot of the game is about these beings that are called Caretakers. They are here to protect the wildlife and the planet, but when an invading force comes calling to take all the resources and leave the planet in ruins in their path. It is up to them to stand up and fight them off so that the world can be left unharmed.

I know that the plot of We Are The Caretakers may cause some people to roll their eyes, but I like that there is actually a message here. It is quite clever the way that they have it all wrapped up in a sci-fi story. The visuals have a rather unique, almost old-school kind of thing going on which I cannot decide if I love or not. The sound in the game is great and there is some good voice-over work here.

Strangely Familiar

It was the comparison to the more recent X-Com games that made me decide this was a game that I needed to take an interest in. You need to build a squad of these Caretakers, each one having different abilities, stats, and so on. You are able to build up to 9 jobs and you can really get in-depth with the way the squads turn out. There are many different jobs/classes and you can improve the characters as you move forward.

Meanwhile, Back At HQ

Most of what you will be doing is the turn-based combat sections against the enemy, but there is also a very robust base-building section to We Are The Caretakers too. Here you have to deal with other leaders, make deals, work on technologies, get new people to fight for your cause, and so on. It is a very delicate balancing act as you try to keep people happy, some people will love the Caretakers, others will not be so impressed and some even scared!

Captain Planet

I already mentioned how there is a save the planet message to this game and that is something I think is cool. The game has a diverse wildlife system and the narrative is very much geared towards making you think. I do think that some people may see this as being a bit on the preachy side, but I get what they were going for. Plus, the Raun which is the species of animal that is at the forefront of this game are awesome.

Pros:

• The message of the game is solid
• The idea of the Caretakers is cool
• There is a great deal of depth to the gameplay
• The decisions you make as you play, feel like they matter

Cons:

• It can sometimes feel like no matter what you do, someone will be mad at you!
• Message may be a bit on the preachy side for some