Impressions: Afrika

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 10th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Pokémon Snap fans, beware! Afrika is the Pokémon game you know and love, just all grown up ... and, ya know, without all those Pocket Monsters. Instead, you're chasing around lions and tigers and, erm, zebras with fancy Sony brand cameras, trying your best to capture shots and not get trampled.

Oh, wait, that's right! There is no "trample." In fact, there's no interaction with the animals of any kind. You don't even get the satisfaction of oddly petting them like in Endless Ocean. With Afrika, you get an African safari simulator and little else. Which really makes it hard for us to even classify Afrika as a "game" as opposed to edutainment. Sure, there are assignments and "challenges," should you so choose to engage them, but there is little (if any) real progression through the experience.

Better cameras do unlock as you complete assignments and a whole mess of National Geographic footage/stills/information also serve to reward various complete objectives, but none of this makes the "game" any more game-ey. Those of you looking for an interactive African safari simulation, Afrika is for you. For those of you whose first interest is seeing if you can run down a rhino, look elsewhere -- this "game" ain't for you.

Gallery: Afrika

Tags: afrika, e3-2009, impressions, national-geographic, natsume, safari, simulation

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

boots555 @ Jun 10th 2009 5:34PM

I'm interested, I hope its only a $9 game.

U U D D L R L R A B SELECT START @ Jun 10th 2009 6:12PM

Pftt! No way...I was about to drop 70 bucks to import this title before I found out it was getting a US release. From some of the reviews I've seen from the overseas edition it can be pretty addictive.

tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 10th 2009 5:34PM

Looks like one of those....."games" where the gamer in me looks at it and wonders how anyone could possibly enjoy it when you do next to nothing in it.

Guess I could always get it when it's cheap to help me fall asleep when I can't. That wasn't meant to be a snarky joke either, casual games really do make me fall asleep late at night.

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 10th 2009 5:56PM

I think this is for people who have a passion in photography and it was also probably originally intended as more of a tech demo the same way wii sports, wii play, wii fit and wii music are.

I actually saw one of my lenses in the little section before the game started my camera wasn't present. This is really cool because my fiance is a photographer and our daughter loves it so this would be a good way to have her experiment with the camera settings and lenses ... without having to handle the actual very expensive camera gear.

I can't wait for this game but I have to admit it's a very segmented game thats not made for the average hardcore gamer who simply wants to shoot things or tourcher animals in mind. If you want to do more stuff and kill animals go pick up Cabelas Big Game Hunter or whatever it's called. There are an infinite amount of hardcore games on the PS3 to where people shouldn't be complaining about one niche product like this.

I don't know that I would call this casual as much as I would call it what the article did - edutainment. It's certainly more of an educational tool and photography simulator than it is a game in the traditional sense. But, there are objectives and I'm sure it's got enough to offer so long as you know what you are getting yourself in for when you buy it in the first place.

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 10th 2009 7:15PM

i don't know, i love photography, so this could be a nice outlet after too much call of duty or infamous or killzone.

Ranelar @ Jun 10th 2009 7:36PM

As an amateur photographer, this video suddenly piqued my interest. I had no clue it was using cameras in the way it displayed. I just wish they had different brands available (I use Canon), but it obviously makes sense to pimp their own line. Maybe Canon will license a game...

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 10th 2009 8:00PM

In that case this game should be free in the purchase of real Sony Camera.

ShadowXOR @ Jun 10th 2009 5:37PM

This is what I pay the National Geographic folks to do for me.

sRc @ Jun 10th 2009 5:37PM

i thought it had gotten dropped after not seeng anything about it for a long time

alhogar @ Jun 10th 2009 5:40PM

Has this thing definitely been renamed back to Afrika for the US release from the idiotic previous name Hakuna Matata? Thats actually the difference for me as to whether I'm buying it or not, no kidding.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 10th 2009 5:42PM

Did they ever say why they chose to spell "Africa" wrong?

Onomah @ Jun 10th 2009 5:50PM

I think it is because you can't copyright non-made up words. So they misspelled it in order to get the rights to it.

Like the way they deliberately misspelled Rasputin in psychonauts.

MystileArmor @ Jun 10th 2009 7:03PM

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure "Afrika" is the South-African way of spelling it.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 10th 2009 5:40PM

Do casual gamers even own a PS3 or access PSN?

Sly [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 10th 2009 7:17PM

yeah, i know a lot of people who bought it as a blu-ray player and just bought some casual games to play every once in a while.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 10th 2009 5:42PM

Lions and tigers? There are no tigers in Africa.

There are a lot of zebras.

ShadowXOR @ Jun 10th 2009 5:52PM

Only in Kenya.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 10th 2009 5:57PM

Never been to Kenya, saw plenty of zebras in Botswana. Sure, more impala, kudu and red lechwe, but still plenty of zebras.

Aex @ Jun 10th 2009 6:36PM

ShadowXOR: It's ok, I got the reference ;)

CGamble20 @ Jun 11th 2009 1:41AM

Wow that really made my day! Freaking hilarious!!!

jumpshot @ Jun 10th 2009 5:46PM

Does a better camera mean I'll see more pixelation? A high quality camera taking a picture of a low quality texture up close like the trampled grass in the vid? Meh.

marty 18-31 @ Jun 10th 2009 5:50PM

This game has been out in Japan for some time now and the only person who showed any interest in it that I know of is my girlfriend, but she's into photography. I just can see this holding anyone's attention for long. I would rent it just to check it out though.

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 10th 2009 6:00PM

Similar situation as myself. My fiance is a photographer (paid) and our daughter loves it as well. This is a good title for her to mess around with the different settings and experiment so when we go out aq shoot on the weekends she will have certain ideas as to what all the functions are on the camera. Another great thing is we have a Sony Alpha camera so it's going to be an easy transition from the game to the real thing.

Robert Maynard @ Jun 10th 2009 5:49PM

That's a lot of work put into lion animations for such a gigantic waste of time.

Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ Jun 10th 2009 5:50PM

Joystiq yew r sooo funnie, yer comedic skills are unmatched.

Do you think that just maybe this might be good for a child or adult who wants to educate him/herself about the different kinds of wildlife that exist on the African plains? Just maybe this "game" will make learning a bit less boring and tedious to said child.

Yet again, Sony and the Playstation brand has something for EVERYONE.

I will get this game for my 7 year old, and you know what? He will expand his knowledge of the varied and magnificent creatures that inhabit this 3rd rock from the Sun with us and he just might have FUN doing it.

ShadowXOR @ Jun 10th 2009 5:53PM

I sincerely hope you do not have an actual child. God help them...

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 10th 2009 6:00PM

Killjebus yew r sooo funnie, yer comedic skills are unmatched.

Do you think that just maybe you can admit that this is nothing more then an edutainment game? Just maybe this "game" will be something we can all agree is really not that fun, even though you're a PS3 fanboy?

Yet again, Killjebus sounds crazy in front of EVERYONE.

I will never get this "game", and you know what? I will put that money towards other games that inhabit this 3rd rock from the Sun with us and they just might actually be FUN.

darthweder @ Jun 10th 2009 6:03PM

You know, maybe you should actually try teaching your seven year old things yourself rather than sitting him in front of a tv and letting a video game do it. Did you also use Baby Einstein when he was a toddler?

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 10th 2009 6:03PM

@CTC

The problem is that you couldn't get the game if you wanted to because you no longer have a PS3. Why you would even comment in the thread is beyond me.

Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ Jun 10th 2009 6:12PM

Right, thats all I do...sit my kid in front of a TV.

My children experience life....camping, fishing, videogames, movies, walking, swimming, sports, reading, learning, thinking for THEMSELVES, making their own decisions as much as possible. Learning how to figure identify and solve problems on their own. Taking responsibility for their actions.

Above all my children are growing up in a positive, loving and challenging environment. FREE to make up their own minds about religion, politics, and what they like or don't like.

Even though I don't know any of you...I know that I am raising my children to be productive, independent, and FREE thinking individuals with empathy, humanity, and tolerance of other cultures and individuals.

Hmmm, imagine that, the EVEIL Atheist allowing his children to believe or NOT beLIEve in whatever or whoever they want.

Tell me that a child of Xtian or other religions has that SAME FREEDOM.

MariusElijah (Only on PlayStation 3) @ Jun 10th 2009 6:14PM

what does religion have to do with this?

ShadowXOR @ Jun 10th 2009 6:18PM

I'm an Athiest too. That has NOTHING to do with why I think you're crazy.

Knight Marquise @ Jun 10th 2009 6:22PM

"The problem is that you couldn't get the game if you wanted to because you no longer have a PS3. Why you would even comment in the thread is beyond me. "

Good question mcpoop. Why do you still comment in 360 threads?

Chad Vanderbilt (Moptimus in Disguise) @ Jun 10th 2009 6:35PM

1. Love the irony of how you'll let your kid believe whatever he wants and how open minded and accepting of others differences you are, yet you'll bash people who believe in a higher being quicker than you can say "Delicious Ironing"

2. No one brought up religion. Which either means your an idiot, or you're just using atheism as a cry for attention

3."I know that I am raising my children to be productive, independent, and FREE thinking individuals with empathy, humanity, and tolerance of other cultures and individuals."

so basically you're raising your child to be opposite of yourself?

4. I seem to recall on multiple occasions making fun of Nintendo for making educational "games", yet you seem willing to fight to the death to defend this "games" honor. Double standard (which wouldn't surprise me in the least coming from you) or just more open to different experiences (which is only because you're an atheist, since people who believe in a higher being would never be open to new ideas like this amirite?)

Gun Barrier @ Jun 10th 2009 6:43PM

Chad +1
Jebus -1

the Sawyer family @ Jun 10th 2009 6:50PM

@ killjeebus ,satanism is freedom

Slaziman @ Jun 11th 2009 3:51AM

They didn't say it wouldn't be fun, they even mentioned that if you're into photography or you want edutainment, this is for you.

Also, why can't you be a normal atheist, you impose your beliefs on us even harder than the other religions. And in a place where it's completely irrelevant. It's just awkward, even for your fellow atheists.

Robert Maynard @ Jun 12th 2009 4:35AM

It's just camera porn. Did you see all those aperture and shutter speed options? All it'll teach your kids is how to operate an insane $1000 Sony camera. :P

Now I know how regular Christians feel about compared to the Westboro Baptists. "BeLIEve"? Seriously? Yeesh.

Onomah @ Jun 10th 2009 5:52PM

Now on the one hand I know that intellectually a game where you take pictures of animals and nothing more is lame.

But on the other hand my secret dream of being a wildlife photographer is clouding my judgement. The child in me is reacting very strongly to this.

uncle jesse @ Jun 10th 2009 5:54PM

This looks like a boar

godlovesugly @ Jun 10th 2009 6:04PM

I think you're lion about that.

Geddit...lion...lyin' haw haw

Ben Forbes @ Jun 11th 2009 5:56AM

Are you guys kidding? This game looks elephantastic!

... please, vote me down

Brendan H @ Jun 10th 2009 5:55PM

How is it that this was not posted by Ludwig? Though I suppose if he posted an article called "Impressions: Africa" it would just be about what he sees outside his window (I mean, the hole in the wall of his grass hut).

dabamf @ Jun 10th 2009 6:04PM

Zing!

Shmil @ Jun 10th 2009 6:41PM

He's in the game I think. They drive by his shack and you get to see all of his lions paws.

Lambrick @ Jun 10th 2009 5:56PM

this game is actually pretty intriguing if you have any photography knowledge. from just watching this video i could tell that whoever was playing would be better off with a point-and-shoot than an SLR. then again, most of you reading probably don't even know what those things mean.

dabamf @ Jun 10th 2009 6:05PM

Agreed...there is definitely a niche market for this game, but that doesn't mean that it's a bad game. Not every game is for everybody.

MaliceMajorE15 @ Jun 10th 2009 6:02PM

whose idea was this? what the should do is take all the stuff you can do in this game and add in a storyline that sees you have to fight off poachers who steal a little lion cub to take to a circus or somthing. but maybe without combat. mabye you have a tranq gun and a flare gun. maybe heavy rain in the savanna. just somthing that will keep me awake. that video looked more fun to watch that to play.