70
Hot damn, are those cartoon dinos adorable. [July 2016, p.91]
75
Ironically, the only thing holding this game back is a lack of evolution.
60
Fails to create something original and entertaining. Birthdays the beginning gets boring really fast and there are really few mechanics that can bring some fun. Dinosaurs otherwise are cute and well designed, but unfortunately this is just one the the few good things in the game.
5
I’ll give Birthdays this: I like the concept. Building a world from the very start sounds like it could be a lot of fun. The big problem comes with how little interactivity and control you have over the world. The most you can do is raise and lower the terrain to change the temperature. Everything else is done for you, making it really hard to get invested in. I think if this was an iPad game you checked up on once every few hours instead of a PS4 game where you need to set aside time to play it would’ve been more successful.
8
Yes, it's simplistic. But it's also intensely complicated. To even play it, you have to really, actually play attention to the training. When is the last time that happened? Oh- and there is so much they DON'T spell out. So that air of mystery survives. Did I mention educational? Inspirational? (takes a moment to cry about the environment and the current state of affairs.)
6
The game is really cute, there are some interesting things to do until you finish it, like trying to make humans and dinosaurs exist at the same time, but it gets old after a while. it doesn't last long either. If this was priced at 15, it would be an ok game, but priced at where it is... I can't really recommend it unless you're really into this types of games or have some cash to "burn". Get it when it's at discount if you want a chill simulation game sorta like simearth back in the days.
Birthdays the Beginning
Released On:
May 9, 2017
Metascore
Mixed or Average
65
User score
Mixed or Average
6.9
My Score
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
36% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
60% Mixed
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
May 5, 2017
100
Properly articulating what Birthdays means to me is difficult. It is the embodiment of the pure joy of gaming, where I can sit down and simply immerse myself within this space without feeling pressure or tension. There’s nothing to “win,” but everything to enjoy while, at the same time, the game is pointing out, in its very innocent and heartfelt way, a very simple but so important environmental message. To Yasuhiro Wada, the environment itself has always been the real protagonist of his games, and Birthdays The Beginning is the ultimate realisation of that philosophy.
May 5, 2017
80
Even though certain design elements aren't as streamlined, fleshed-out, or user-friendly as they could have been, part of me is just thankful Birthdays even got greenlit. Niche as it might be, I've wanted something like this for years, and despite my admittedly high expectations, I still came away impressed. I hope the game is able to find an audience, because it so clearly deserves one.
User score
Mixed or Average
65% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
18% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
18% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
May 15, 2017
8
Yes, it's simplistic. But it's also intensely complicated. To even play it, you have to really, actually play attention to the training. When is the last time that happened? Oh- and there is so much they DON'T spell out. So that air of mystery survives. Did I mention educational? Inspirational? (takes a moment to cry about the environment and the current state of affairs.)
May 10, 2017
6
The game is really cute, there are some interesting things to do until you finish it, like trying to make humans and dinosaurs exist at the same time, but it gets old after a while. it doesn't last long either. If this was priced at 15, it would be an ok game, but priced at where it is... I can't really recommend it unless you're really into this types of games or have some cash to "burn". Get it when it's at discount if you want a chill simulation game sorta like simearth back in the days.
May 5, 2017
75
As a simulation, Birthdays the Beginning is a fairly unique approach to the open-world sandbox simulator. It does a fantastic job of demonstrating how important it’s to maintain balance within an ecosystem, in order for life to thrive. It also helps to drive home how even the smallest of organisms can make a gigantic impact on the world around them. The main issue is that the campaign is so focused on introducing new mechanics that it seems to lose sight of this unspoken thesis. In turn, this leads the player on a mission to track down answers that should instead be provided to them at a glance. Due to this, it’s hard to shake the feeling of being thrown into the deep end of an algae coated swamp, without a life raft.
May 17, 2017
65
Birthdays: The Beginning is a nice simulation game with really cute art direction, which fans of the genre and people who seek a relaxing gaming experience will probably enjoy. Unfortunately it has its flaws, like poorly detailed graphics, slight frame rate drops and clunky controls, that we hope will disappear in the next titles of the series.
May 10, 2017
60
It often feels more like a thing to do rather than a game to play. While I loved the cute aesthetic and simplicity of its mechanics, the game gave way to tediousness and dullness far too often for such grand subject matter. It felt nice slipping into grade school nostalgia for a few hours, but I’m not in fourth grade anymore. A thing to do isn’t enough anymore.
May 16, 2017
50
Birthdays the Beginnings is more of a passive experience than a game and some people will love it for it. Others, like me, may find the vague instructions and the lack of interaction a bit tedious and a put off. It’s certainly an interesting curio but will absolutely not be to everyone’s tastes.
May 22, 2017
45
While I absolutely love the concept of Birthdays: The Beginning, the execution leaves much to be desired. It’s too passive and too finicky, and doesn’t do enough with the core concept of life appearing and evolving over time. There’s not much here for seasoned players or curious kids, and as someone who’s been playing games for a while, I can say that this formula was done far, far better on the SNES back in 1993 with EVO: Search For Eden. Look it up!
Jul 28, 2017
5
I’ll give Birthdays this: I like the concept. Building a world from the very start sounds like it could be a lot of fun. The big problem comes with how little interactivity and control you have over the world. The most you can do is raise and lower the terrain to change the temperature. Everything else is done for you, making it really hard to get invested in. I think if this was an iPad game you checked up on once every few hours instead of a PS4 game where you need to set aside time to play it would’ve been more successful.
SummaryA garden game in which players create cube-shaped worlds that give rise to diverse and unique lifeforms. Shape the geography and alter the temperature of each world to create the conditions for life and witness the birth of an entire ecosystem.
Rated Efor Everyone
Platforms:
- PlayStation 4
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date:May 9, 2017
Developer:
Publisher:
