Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Last updated
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
Octodad Logo.png
Developer(s) Young Horses
Publisher(s) Young Horses
Director(s) Kevin Zuhn
Producer(s) Kevin Geisler
Designer(s)
  • Majdi Badri
  • John Murphy
  • Seth Parker
  • Kevin Zuhn
Programmer(s)
  • Kevin Geisler
  • Devon Scott-Tunkin
Artist(s) Chris Stallman
Writer(s)
  • Kevin Zuhn
  • Majdi Badri
Composer(s)
  • Seth Parker
  • Ian McKinney
Engine Irrlicht Engine
Platform(s)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, OS X, Linux
  • WW: January 30, 2014
PlayStation 4
  • NA: April 22, 2014
  • PAL: April 23, 2014
PlayStation Vita
  • NA: May 26, 2015
  • PAL: May 28, 2015
Xbox One
  • WW: August 26, 2015
Wii U
  • NA: October 29, 2015
  • EU: October 30, 2015
  • AU: January 15, 2016
iOS
  • WW: October 29, 2015
Android
  • WW: November 4, 2015
Nintendo Switch
  • NA: November 9, 2017
  • PAL: November 9, 2017
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Octodad: Dadliest Catch is an independent adventure video game developed and published by Young Horses. It is a sequel to the 2010 freeware game Octodad . The game consists of controlling the protagonist Octodad in completing chores typical of the mundane suburban father, but complicated by the fact that he is an octopus in disguise.

Contents

Gameplay

In the 'Octodad' series, the player takes the role of an octopus attempting to mimic a human, with otherwise mundane tasks made difficult by attempting to maneuver the octopus' tentacles as limbs. Octodad Screenshot.png
In the 'Octodad' series, the player takes the role of an octopus attempting to mimic a human, with otherwise mundane tasks made difficult by attempting to maneuver the octopus' tentacles as limbs.

Octodad: Dadliest Catch requires the player to control the protagonist, Octodad, as he maneuvers his way through increasingly complex challenges all while attempting to hide the fact that he is a cephalopod in human clothing. The player can control one of two sets of tentacles, mimicking arms and legs, switching between the two with a single button. The player is able to pick up and throw loose items as well, through manipulation of these tentacles. To maintain Octodad's identity, the player must avoid causing too much chaos in moving the character around while in sight of certain non-player characters, like guards or scientists, as tracked by a gauge in the game; how quickly these characters catch on is set by the game's difficulty level. If the gauge becomes full, the player will be forced to restart at a recent checkpoint. The game is divided into several levels with various objectives to be completed to progress in a level. For example, in a supermarket, the player must collect several grocery items before being given their next task. A multiplayer co-op mode is also available where up to four players control four limbs.

Plot

Set after the events of the original game, Dadliest Catch features Octodad working around the house, going grocery shopping, and accompanying his family on a visit to the local aquarium at his wife Scarlet's request, much to his chagrin. As before, he must spend time with his wife and children while not arousing the suspicion of other humans, including the evil Chef Fujimoto, who knows Octodad's secret and seeks to expose and cook him.

A series of flashbacks also explains how Octodad originally took on a human identity, met Scarlet, and eventually married her. Eventually, Chef Fujimoto throws Octodad into the shark tank and kidnaps his family, trying to convince them that Octodad is an octopus. Octodad escapes and shows up without his disguise, revealing the truth to his family, though his daughter Stacy admits she knew the entire time. Fujimoto tries to kill Octodad, but is incapacitated by Octodad and his family. Octodad, however, forgives Fujimoto, and they make amends. The family comes together, with Tommy and Scarlet looking toward a hopeful future with their new knowledge of Octodad.

The credits play on a theatre screen, with the player having free rein over popcorn and the theatre seats; here, Fujimoto is heard saying "The book was better!" before going out of the cinema. Two bonus chapters were released under the name "Octodad Shorts". These include a flashback recounting Octodad and Scarlet's first date, and a story Tommy and Stacy are making up about Octodad working in a hospital as a nurse as a reference to Surgeon Simulator .

Development

The original Octodad was developed by a team of DePaul University game design students as an extracurricular activity. Following their graduation in 2011, eight of the original team of eighteen decided to pursue a sequel as a commercial project, and together with a new external member, formed the company Young Horses. Members of the original student team who did not join Young Horses signed over the rights to Octodad in return for company stock and a share of the sequel's royalties. [1]

Young Horses launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to finance a sequel, originally titled Octodad 2. Their campaign was successful and they raised US$24,320 in August 2011. Six of the team lived and worked together in a shared apartment; this made collaboration more effective than in a virtual team, but frustrations over space constraints led to the team moving into two neighbouring apartments instead. [1] Though the original Kickstarter campaign aimed to have the game released in 2012, the game did not release until January 2014, under the name Octodad: Dadliest Catch. The development time for the game was 2 years and 7 months. [2] [3] Additional free downloadable content, titled "Octodad Shorts", were released on October 14, 2014. [2]

A PlayStation Vita port of the game was released on May 26, 2015, completed chiefly by Sickhead Games. [4] A port of the game for the Wii U was released in October 2015, with Panic Button helping with the port. [5] Ports for iOS and Android with brand new touch-based controls were released in October and November 2015 respectively. [6] A port for the Nintendo Switch was released on November 9, 2017. [7]

Reception

Octodad: Dadliest Catch received mixed reviews from critics. Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating in the 0–100 range, calculated an average score of 69 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average reviews", based on 31 reviews for the PlayStation 4 version [10] and 44 reviews for the PC version. [11]

GameSpot's Carolyn Petit scored the game a 6/10. She liked the way the controls made the game humorous and provided a good challenge, but thought that over the course of the game, the gameplay became a less enjoyable experience and developed into a chore. She also disliked the game's short length, as she thought it made the game feel like an incomplete demo or teaser, rather than a full game. Petit praised the game's visual design and concept, however, as she enjoyed the way the "absurd" protagonist was placed in ordinary, everyday situations. [15]

Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead wrote: "Octodad is frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious, thanks both to the random mayhem and the deft script. It's also a surprisingly sweet game with a genuine depth to its main character. We've all felt awkward and out of place at some point, or have some aspect of ourselves we keep hidden away for fear those we love will reject us. To its credit, and for all its cartoon silliness, Octodad doesn't treat that concept lightly. It's a shame Octodad leans so heavily on traditional gameplay tropes like boss fights and stealth sections in its second half, especially when the opening sections suggest something quirkier and more inventive - but taken as a whole, it's still a minor triumph." Whitehead scored the game a 7/10. [13]

VideoGamer.com's Dan Douglas scored the game an 8/10 and stated: "Octodad is an engaging, unique game which crashes the everyday and the uncanny head-on with aplomb, and one particularly enjoyable to onlookers. Simple tasks inevitably degenerate into Buster Keaton-evoking farces – with soundtrack nods to silent film accompanists to boot – and my only gripes with Dadliest Catch are an occasionally wayward camera and a few cruel difficulty spikes necessitating repetition of short sections ad nauseam. Otherwise, it’s a blast." [21]

Hollander Cooper of GamesRadar gave the game a positive review, with a score of 3.5 out of 5. He praised the game's concept, humour, music, controls, protagonist, and unique gameplay, but criticized the short length and the stealth sections. Cooper summed up the review by saying: "It might be brief, but Octodad is definitely worth checking out for anyone interested in a charming, hilarious experience." [16]

Matt Miller from Game Informer scored the game a 5.75 out of 10. He said the "cartoonish characters and bright colors are simple and inviting", enjoyed the "humorous" voice work and "chipper" music, and considered the game mildly amusing. Miller disliked the "awful" controls because he felt he was always at odds with the movement of the protagonist. He also thought the "clever" humour eventually wore thin when the tougher objectives set in. Miller stated "It pains me to level a harsh judgment against a game that’s trying something new and innovative, but Octodad doesn’t balance the frustration with the funny." [14]

In his positive review for IGN, Cam Shea scored the game a 7.8/10. His highest praise was given to the game's unique brand of comedy, which he saw as the game's defining feature. He also praised the story; he called it "touching" and praised the game's ability to tell an emotional tale, despite being filled with absurdities. Shea thought the overall gameplay offered variety, and kept the player from being bored, despite it lacking a challenge and featuring certain unpleasant levels. [19]

As of February 2015, the game has sold 460,000 units and made US$4.9 million of revenue. [2]

Legacy

Octodad appears as a hidden playable character in the racing game SpeedRunners . He is also a playable character in the indie fighting games Indie Pogo and Fraymakers . [22] [23] Octodad was also included as a DLC costume in LittleBigPlanet 3 [24] Octodad has a cameo in Astro Bot as one of the VIP bots to be rescued. [25]

Related Research Articles

Fujimoto is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:

<i>Spelunky</i> 2008 video game

Spelunky is a 2008 source-available 2D platform game created by independent developer Derek Yu and released as freeware for Microsoft Windows. It was remade for the Xbox 360 in 2012, with ports of the new version following for various platforms, including back to Microsoft Windows. The player controls a spelunker who explores a series of caves while collecting treasure, saving damsels, fighting enemies, and dodging traps. The caves are procedurally generated, making each run-through of the game unique.

<i>Gravity Bone</i> 2008 adventure video game

Gravity Bone is a 2008 freeware adventure game developed and published by Blendo Games. The game employs a modified version of id Software's Quake II engine and incorporates music from films by director Wong Kar-wai, which were originally performed by Xavier Cugat. Four incarnations of the game were produced during its one-year development; the first featured more common first-person shooter elements than the released version. Subsequent versions shifted in a new direction, with the inclusion of more spy-oriented gameplay. The game was released for Microsoft Windows in August 2008.

<i>Wasteland 2</i> 2014 video game

Wasteland 2 is a post-apocalyptic role-playing video game developed by inXile Entertainment and published by Deep Silver. It is the sequel to 1988's Wasteland, and was successfully crowdfunded through Kickstarter. After the postponement of the original release date from October 2013, it was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux in September 2014. An enhanced version of the game, named Wasteland 2: Director's Cut, was released in October 2015, including versions for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

<i>The Banner Saga</i> Tactical role-playing video game

The Banner Saga is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Stoic and published by Versus Evil. It was released for personal computers and mobile phones in 2014, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016 and for Nintendo Switch in 2018.

<i>Octodad</i> 2010 video game

Octodad is a freeware independent video game developed by a group of students at DePaul University, many of whom would go on to form Young Horses, Inc., the developers of its sequel Octodad: Dadliest Catch. The game was developed for the Student Showcase of the 2011 Independent Games Festival, and would go on to be one of 8 winners in the Student Showcase award of that year. The game features a humorous plot revolving around the central character, an octopus who is undercover as an average human with a family. The plot revolves around the player, controlling Octodad, attempting to complete various household chores and tasks while maintaining his secret. The gameplay consists of primarily ragdoll physics, turning mundane tasks into significant challenges. Dadliest Catch was released on January 30, 2014, and was one of the first titles to be given the Steam Greenlight.

<i>Thirty Flights of Loving</i> 2012 adventure video game

Thirty Flights of Loving is a first-person adventure video game developed by Brendon Chung under the name Blendo Games. It was published in August 2012 for Microsoft Windows, in November 2012 for OS X, and in December 2021 for Linux. The game is an indirect sequel to Gravity Bone (2008), with the same unnamed spy as the main character. It follows three people as they prepare for an alcohol heist and the aftermath of the operation.

<i>Torment: Tides of Numenera</i> Role-playing video game

Torment: Tides of Numenera is a role-playing video game developed by inXile Entertainment and published by Techland Publishing for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is a spiritual successor to 1999's Planescape: Torment.

<i>Deus Ex: The Fall</i> 2013 video game

Deus Ex: The Fall is an action role-playing video game developed by N-Fusion Interactive under the supervision of Eidos-Montréal. A spin-off of the Deus Ex series, the game was published by Square Enix's European branch for iOS in 2013. Android and Windows versions released in 2014. The gameplay—combining first-person shooter, stealth and role-playing elements—features exploration and combat in Panama City and quests which grant experience and allow customization of the main character's abilities.

<i>Dex</i> (video game) 2015 video game

Dex is a side-scrolling action role-playing game developed and published by Dreadlocks Ltd. The game was crowdfunded on Kickstarter, and was released in 2015.

<i>Nidhogg</i> (video game) 2014 video game

Nidhogg is a side-scrolling two-player fighting video game developed and published by Messhof. Players duel with swords in a pixelated environment. The game was commissioned for the New York University Game Center's annual multiplayer show, and was revised and demoed at private events over the next four years before its final release. It won Indiecade 2013's Game Design award and the 2011 Independent Games Festival's Nuovo Award. It was released for Microsoft Windows on January 13, 2014, and later ported to OS X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. Critics praised the feel of the gameplay and its balance, but considered its single-player mode unsatisfying. Messhof released a sequel in 2017 with a higher resolution art style and additional weapons and arenas.

<i>Lifeless Planet</i> 2014 video game

Lifeless Planet is a 2014 puzzle adventure developed by independent American company Stage 2 Studios and published by Serenity Forge. The game was released on June 6, 2014 for Microsoft Windows and on June 23, 2014 for OS X, and has been ported to the Xbox One on May 13, 2015, Linux on March 25, 2016 and to the PlayStation 4 on July 19, 2016. A version for Nintendo Switch released on September 6, 2018. Lifeless Planet was in development since 2011 and is primarily the product of the one developer, David Board.

<i>Blade Symphony</i> 2014 video game

Blade Symphony is a multiplayer action video game developed by American indie studio Puny Human for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux. The game focuses on sword-based duelling, it is reminiscent of and inspired by Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. Following a Steam Early Access release in April 2013, the game was officially released in May 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sickhead Games</span> American video game company

Sickhead Games, LLC is an American independent game development studio founded in 2002. It is best known for its multiplatform turn-based strategy game ARMED!, its involvement with the MonoGame framework and Torque series of game engines, and the development of several PlayStation 4/5, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch ports of indie games including TowerFall Ascension, Stardew Valley, Darkest Dungeon, Octodad: Dadliest Catch, Slay the Spire, and Axiom Verge. The studio has updated classic console and PC games from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including ExZeus, Enclave, and Grandia, to run on modern gaming systems.

<i>The Escapists</i> Strategy video game

The Escapists is a strategy game developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and following a Steam Early Access release in 2014, was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It was released on iOS and Android in 2017. A Nintendo Switch version of the game containing all downloadable content was released in 2018. The game was launched on the Epic Games Store on 23 September 2021, with the weekly free game campaign of Epic Games. Players assume the role of an inmate and must escape from prisons of increasing difficulty.

<i>Yooka-Laylee</i> 2017 video game

Yooka-Laylee is a 2017 platform game developed by Playtonic Games and published by Team17. It was released for Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in April 2017, Nintendo Switch in December 2017 and Amazon Luna in October 2020. Developed by a group of former key personnel from Rare, Yooka-Laylee is a spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series. After years of planning to develop a new game, Playtonic Games initiated a Kickstarter campaign that attracted significant media coverage and raised a record-breaking sum of over £2 million. The game follows chameleon Yooka and bat Laylee on their quest to retrieve a magical book from an evil corporation.

<i>Unravel</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Unravel is a puzzle-platform game developed by the Swedish company Coldwood Interactive and published by Electronic Arts. It was announced on 15 June 2015 and released in February 2016 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game centers on Yarny, a small anthropomorphic creature made of yarn the player navigates through the environment, utilizing the unraveling yarn which makes up Yarny to solve puzzles, avoid dangerous creatures, and traverse obstacles.

Young Horses, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Chicago. The studio is best known for its games Octodad, Octodad: Dadliest Catch, and Bugsnax.

<i>Spark the Electric Jester</i> 2017 video game

Spark the Electric Jester is a 2017 platform game created by Brazilian indie developer Felipe Daneluz. The player controls Spark on his journey to stop a mobilizing army of robots from taking over the world. Gameplay involves a mix of fast-paced platforming and melee combat over a series of differently themed levels. A variety of power-ups are distributed throughout, each characterized by a unique set of abilities for use in battle and traversal.

<i>Bugsnax</i> 2020 video game

Bugsnax is an adventure video game developed by independent Chicago-based developer Young Horses. In the game, players explore a mysterious island and attempt to find and capture the eponymous insectoid food creatures. The game was unveiled in June 2020 during Sony's PlayStation 5 live-streamed reveal event. British indie pop band Kero Kero Bonito performed the game's theme song, which was featured in the announcement trailer. The game was released in November 2020 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, as well as macOS and Windows via the Epic Games Store. Versions of the game for Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S released in April 2022, followed by a port for iOS in July 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Andrew Hayward (2012-10-12). "Coding and coexisting in the corral: How Octodad's team manages living and working together". Joystiq . Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  2. 1 2 3 Kuchera, Ben (2 February 2015). "Octodad shares the reality of an indie hit: $4.9M in revenue for 2.7 years of work". Polygon . Vox Media . Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Octodad (2011-07-11). "Octodad 2". Kickstarter . Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  4. ↑ Tibitoski, Phil (2015-05-20). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch Wriggles Onto PS Vita May 26th". PlayStation.com. Sony Computer Entertainment.
  5. ↑ G.Macy, Seth (March 4, 2015). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch is Coming to Wii U". IGN . Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ Brown, Mark (October 20, 2015). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch gets iOS and Android release dates - and it's coming to Apple TV". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Octodad: Dadliest Catch Arrives on November 9th for Nintendo Switch". 2 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "Octodad: Dadliest Catch for PlayStation 4". GameRankings . Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Octodad: Dadliest Catch for PC". GameRankings . Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Octodad: Dadliest Catch for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Octodad: Dadliest Catch for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ Nakamura, Darren (January 30, 2014). "Review: Octodad: Dadliest Catch". Destructoid . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Whitehead, Dan (February 4, 2014). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch review". Eurogamer . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Miller, Matt (January 31, 2014). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch". Game Informer. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Petit, Carolyn (February 3, 2014). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch". GameSpot . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Cooper, Hollander (January 30, 2014). "OCTODAD: DADLIEST CATCH REVIEW". GamesRadar . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  17. ↑ Bloodworth, Daniel (February 3, 2014). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch Review". GameTrailers . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ Navarro, Alex (January 30, 2014). "Quick Look: Octodad: Dadliest Catch". Giant Bomb . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  19. 1 2 Shea, Cam (January 30, 2014). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch PC Review". IGN . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  20. ↑ Mitchell, Richard (January 30, 2014). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch review: Eight arms, all thumbs". Joystiq . Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  21. 1 2 Douglas, Dan (January 30, 2014). "Octodad: Dadliest Catch Review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Smash-Like Brawler Indie Pogo is Coming to Switch with All DLC Included". 24 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "Fraymakers is a Super Smash Bros-inspired platform fighter starring iconic indie characters". 16 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "LittleBigPlanet 3 adds Thomas Was Alone, Octodad costumes and more". Polygon . 15 May 2015.
  25. ↑ @YoungHorses (September 9, 2024). "It's such an honor to have our humble dad included alongside so many video game icons" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.