Going to the Bluey: The Videogame Launch Event

[Ad- gifted experience] One of the most loved and endearing characters on UK children’s TV for the last few years has been Bluey, the Australian-developed show about the adventures of the titular Blue Heeler. It’s been nothing short of a phenomenon, and now it has a game, in Bluey: The Videogame.

Robin and I went along to the BBQ HQ at White City to go hands-on with Outright Games’ Bluey: The Video Game just last week. The publisher had a dozen Nintendo Switches set up, each running the game as a one- or two-player experience for the attendees to playthrough. As media, this was a relatively standard demoing affair, however, the focus was entirely on the children getting to play the game early so they could share their thoughts.

Robin, as it turns out, had an amazing time. Bluey: The Video Game is clearly designed by a team who understand the series well, with an interesting episode structure laid out over five different locations that, after the first episode, you can move between. Each location – including Bluey’s house, the park and the beach – is open-planned, with you able to scoot around each area, interacting with various objects to slide down bannisters, go on swings and the like. In addition to that, there are toy chests and dress-up points which allow you to pull out items you’ve found, or change character hats. Robin is one that loves dressing up, so these little features bring a lot of joy!

All of this is there while the episode (through really clean signposting) directs the players where to head next through icons. Each episode moves you around at least one of the settings, with mini-games, fetch-quests and chasing things littered throughout. The whole thing is fully voiced, which is amazing, and because of the perspective/camera-viewpoint it feels authentic and similar to watching the show. What’s great though is that, while it’s 1-4 player, each of the players can activate the story or, even, fade into the background (not interact with the controller) because the four family members are all on screen, active, regardless of whether somebody is controlling them.

I mentioned the objects in the toy chest earlier. This was one of Robin’s favourite elements of the game. There are just over a dozen toy stickers, almost as many of trees and plants, as well as collectables like digeredoos, cake and newspapers. They’re all littered around each of the levels, and while not mandatory she found them really fun to find, and finding them also – as in Outright Games’ recent Paw Patrol World game – unlocks new character hats, which are also fun to mess around with.

Robin had an amazing time exploring Bluey’s world, and can’t wait for the game to launch on November 17th.

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