Thank you Crashable Studios for sending us a review code!

Wildwood Down is the third game released on Steam by Crashable Studios.  What makes this point and click adventure game unique from every other game I have played is that the protagonist has down syndrome and is a childhood friend of the developers.  

The game begins with Daniel reminiscing of an adventure that took place twenty years ago while celebrating his sister Becca’s senior year of high school.  All the cool kids knew to hang out at a beach resort called Wildwood Down.  Little did they know that they would get involved in a murder mystery!
     
Once you have control of the mouse, you’ll see Daniel riding in the back of his sister’s car alongside their friend Dakota.  Riding shotgun is Becca’s boyfriend, Josh, who is a bit of a jerk to Dan.  In the car, Dan can interact with everyone and give his sister her birthday present.  Dan can also admire Dakota’s pizza tattoo on his arm.  The game will progress after Dan takes Josh’s hat and throws it outside of his window.  You’ll then be introduced to Daniel’s conscience who has a cool accent.     

Once everyone arrives at the beach, Daniel is tasked with getting donuts for everyone as Becca leaves to pay for parking.  While getting donuts sounds easy, it gets complicated when a seagull swipes Dan’s mother’s credit card from his hand.  Several puzzles and explosions later, Daniel will come back with donuts only to find that his sister hasn’t returned.  To make matters worse, while looking for his sister on the beach, a partially covered dead body with a pizza tattoo on it’s arm is found!  Daniel must now find Becca before she too is murdered!

Wildwood Down is a point and click adventure game that pays homage to the pixelated classics from the 90s.  Back then I loved playing King’s Quest and Leisure Suit Larry titles.  While I appreciate the nostalgia, the puzzles in this game are a bit out there, and I was really grateful for the built in Hint System that dispenses soft or blunt hints as you need them.  There are also YouTube playthroughs available to watch if the hint system isn’t detailed enough.  I relied on both to complete this game in eight hours.

If you want an example of an unusual puzzle, try this one on for size:  You’ll need to throw a glowing octopus retrieved from a claw machine into a cauldron to inspire a wrestling move called Arcane Stiff Arm.  Daniel will also need to learn the wrestling move Christ Air which shows him on a cross as he falls down to crush his enemy.  

Blasphemy aside, Wildwood Down has other appropriateness issues that make it hard to recommend this game for younger audiences.  There are references to drinking with the beverage of choice being an alcoholic tea. Dan is a big fan of the Twisted tea mascot and he becomes his friend.  Dan will also have to win a game of beer pong against Josh.  

There’s a lot of language from multiple characters, but Josh has the worst potty mouth in the bunch.  Speaking of potty, Daniel will have to feed a seagull a hotdog with a lot of mustard to get it to poop on some people in order to retrieve a ukulele with a map on it.  Violence and cold-blooded murder is a common theme.  Daniel needs to work with law enforcement to get the Boardwalk Butcher murderer behind bars.  Lasty, some sexual references are made, and Daniel’s conscience has to momentarily leave Dan as he gets to know a woman more intimately.  

The music is decent in this game, and if you like it, the soundtrack is available on Steam for $6.99.  It’s cool that Dan both inspired and voiced the main character.  Unfortunately, subtitles are required as I found him a bit hard to understand at times.  The other voice actors were easier to comprehend.

Wildwood Down had a pixel art style reminiscent of the 90s.  Honestly, I’m not a fan of it, but I can still appreciate the effort put into it.  I like the variety of scenery which ranges from beaches, aquariums, mirror mazes, and a light house.  

The asking price is $19.99, but I have seen this game on sale for $14.99.  If you enjoy point and click adventures it’s worth considering,  There’s a demo available if you’re on the fence.