There are times when I have a game, and immediately know how to write a post about it. Then there’s Finding Polka. For a game about tracking down a dog, you’d think I’d have a lot to talk about. There isn’t a lot here to talk about. This is a game that’s light on gameplay. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out. This game has a fantastic art style, and the places you go along the way are worth checking out.
Polka goes on an adventure
The core concept behind the game is that your dog, Polka, has gotten loose and you need to track it down. Now, that’s easier said than done because your dog is special. For the game’s two-hour duration, you’ll wander through different environments. When you think you’ve caught up to it, it finds a way to get away.
Along the way, you’ll need to solve puzzles to progress. These are very easy. In most cases, you only need to find an item or interact with an object in the environment. The puzzles are secondary to the game’s incredible art style. The game doesn’t rely on telling you what to do. They want you to explore and discover, but at no point does it feel difficult.
That might annoy some people. This turns this into what could be a puzzle-focused game into a walking simulator. In every area, you will come across people looking for things. In most instances, you can skip them, as they don’t impact the story. But there are a few you need to complete to progress. The only other necessary element is collecting pictures of Polka. Its importance isn’t revealed until the end of the game. So, I recommend finding them all if you want to get the game’s true ending.
The art does the heavy lifting
What stands out the most with Finding Polka is its art style. This uses a hand-drawn style that, even with its limited color usage, is a delight on the eyes. I loved exploring every area because the artists put a lot of detail into each environment. Since you’ll be going to some wild locations, they do a great job of blending environments. There are some great ways that they blend one area to the next.
Early on, you can tell that the scope is large. But it’s late in the game when you see how much effort went into the environments. You will do some slight backtracking and see sections you visited before. I did appreciate visiting a new location only to realize I saw it in passing earlier in the game.
With easy puzzles, most will be able to blow through the game in about two hours. The only time I got stuck was grasping what areas are accessible by your character. Because everything is monotone, it can be hard to tell if you can interact with something. The game also doesn’t explain things other than tracking down Polka. Luckily, they are easy to spot and will leave markings to help you follow it.
A Short experience that’s worth checking out
I quite enjoyed the adventure I went on in Finding Polka. The puzzle aspect is secondary to the adventure and the incredible art style. Definitely check this out if you’re a dog lover. Especially if you’ve ever had to chase one down.
