Video games are primarily intended to entertain. They rarely deal with critical issues. In the puzzle game by a German development studio, a naked mole rat is plagued by self-doubt and depression. A difficult balancing act that succeeds.
The big game titles in particular fascinate visitors to Gamescom. It is definitely worth taking a look away from the triple-A games. At the trade fair in Cologne, the Indie Booth Arena offers its own platform for smaller developers and their gems of games that might otherwise remain under the radar. A very special puzzle platformer comes from Germany. “Duru: A Game about Mole Rats
The three developers of Twisted Ramble explain in an interview with ntv.de that the game should above all be easily accessible and still draw attention to the topic of depression. That seems like a difficult balancing act. After playing the demo version, however, one can say that “Duru” succeeds with its charming comic look.
The player slips into the fur of the mule Tuli. You have to solve puzzles creatively, explore cave systems and collect turnips. Objects such as stones and boulders can be painted with a brush – within a limited framework – with which one can overcome obstacles or flip switches. All pretty harmonious, one would think, were it not for the self-doubt and fears that plague Tuli. These manifest themselves in Bel, a jet-black mull, who from then on appears as a constant companion. Bel becomes ballast that Tuli has to carry with her.
If Tuli moves too far from his oppressive companion, the screen goes dark and Bel starts to cry – it is no longer possible to go on. If the player places a stone on a door-opening button, Bel immediately pushes it off again. It quickly becomes clear: You can’t just shake off, hide or ignore your constant companion, you have to learn to deal with it. Just like with depression and anxiety.
However, because this association is particularly noticeable to adult players, “Duru” remains wonderfully child-friendly. The puzzles range from the obvious to the rather tricky, and there’s no real pressure to succeed: collecting turnips is good, but not essential to progressing through the game. The developers deliberately avoided dialogue, pictorial thought and speech bubbles guide you through the story. This also makes access easier for younger players.
The idea came to the three founders of Twisted Ramble in 2017 after their game design studies, and thanks to the Kickstarter campaign and state funding, development is now heading towards the home straight. Minor bugs should be fixed before “Duru: A Game about Mole Rats
In the best-case scenario, the young developers hope, the game will end up on the Nintendo Switch later. The German export would certainly be an enrichment for the colorful Mario universe of the Japanese console manufacturer, because the message in “Duru” is strong but not intrusive: fears are part of life – you have to learn to deal with them and not suppress them .
