What comes to mind when you hear the words ‘horse games’? Perhaps a sprawling estate in some European or North-American countryside, to be saved from bankruptcy by a wide-eyed young rider and her loyal steed. Or maybe, it’s up to you to build the equestrian empire of your dreams, starting from nothing but a derelict barn and a plot of land. In both cases, there may be a village or town nearby, whose eccentric inhabitants can provide you with everything you need, from horse feed to key plot reveals, to help you in your quest. Now leave the rolling hills of Kentucky behind, pour yourself a mate and get ready to take on the mantle of Guardian of the Pampas with Epopeia Games‘ newest title, Gaucho and the Grassland!
Let’s get something out of the way first: Gaucho is not a horse game. The riding mechanics are pretty basic, Pingo the horse doesn’t offer much in terms of care and overall characterization and the riding itself is mostly just a convenient way to traverse the map. However, I feel justified in talking about in on The Bridle Paths for two reasons: not only because it’s a genuinely cute and cozy adventure game, but also because it leans enthusiastically into its own cultural roots, reinventing some of the staples of the genre with a delightful mix of Native South-American mythology and distilled gaucho culture. So, don the traditional boina and saddle your Criollo— we’re headed to Brazil!
GAUCHO AND THE GRASSLAND: THE SPIRIT OF THE PAMPAS
The story of Gaucho starts off like many horse games do—with a forlorn return to the player’s ancestral home, now abandoned and left to rot. However, what begins as a visit to their late father’s grave takes an unexpected turn, because not even death will keep the old man from entrusting a vital mission to his descendant! We soon learn that the region has grown restless, as the spirits that guard the Coast, the Grassland and the Highlands have mysteriously gone missing. What’s worse, their absence has allowed the fire serpent Boitatá to roam undisturbed, wrecking havoc wherever he goes. As the new Guardian of the Grasslands, it will be your duty to find the spirits and rebuild trust within the local community, so you can restore the land to its former glory!
HOMECOMING & HOMESTEADING
Crafting is the core gameplay of Gaucho and the Grassland. The tutorial introduces us to the main resources available, like grass, stone and wood, and the tools necessary to harvest them. Progressing through the game unlocks recipes for quest-specific tools, as well as new furniture to decorate our homestead with. That’s right, folks! In true Animal Crossing fashion, not only you can build your house, but you can also customize it! And if the mood strikes, why not buy another plot to house your livestock? Chicken, cattle and sheep provide special resources, which you can exchange for more land or trade with other grassland dwellers. Raising your reputation with the locals is paramount, if you want to enter the mazes of Boitatá!
Fishing and rounding cattle with your lasso are just two ways to help your fellow neighbors on the Pampa.
Gaucho and the Grassland © Epopeia Games
Upon unlocking a new biome, you will learn that the spirits’ disappearance allowed this scaly scoundrel to take residence in their domains. The only way to drive him away is by restoring the light beacons, dissipating the labyrinth. This will allow a magical fig tree to sprout in its place, a passage between the material and spiritual worlds. However that is easier said than done. To enter the labyrinth, you will need benevolence—which you gain by helping the grassland folk. Your quests can range from doing farm chores, to rebuilding the land and settling disputes amongst the locals. The door will open upon helping enough people, and you must repair the beacons without the Boitatá catching you.
The material realm is not your only concern, though. Crossing over to the spirit realm, you will meet the magical beings protecting the land, who will need your help to return home. By delving into the myths and legends of the grasslands, you can bring these ancient wardens back to their seats and restore harmony on the Pampas!
The game features a day and night cycle, as well as a nice variety of sights.
Gaucho and the Grassland © Epopeia Games
A DOG AND PONY SHOW
Of course, as Old Father tells us, we need help to carry out this mission—and this is where our trusted companions come into play! Cisco the Dog and Pingo the Horse make their first appearance during the tutorial, serving a very specific need. Cisco can dig out items and resources from the ground, while Pingo serves as our personal mount. Their overall appearance can be customized in the character creation menu and changed anytime as the player unlocks new skins by completing quests. Unfortunately, there’s no option to change Pingo’s bridle and saddle, which are both locked on default options. Sadder still, however, is that we cannot pet him, although the option is available for Cisco.
Cisco’s moustache needs no introduction. Pingo’s pasterns, on the other hand…
Gaucho and the Grassland © Epopeia Games
Their moveset also offers a straightforward clue about their role. Cisco can wander around, alerting the player whenever he finds a place to dig. Alternatively, he can be recalled or sent to investigate a particular location using the “F” command. Trusty Pingo, on the other hand, remains stationary whenever the player dismounts, unless called upon with “R”. A neat feature, considering the map only shows the player’s location! Pingo also gets to shine in a couple of simple minigames, like lassoing cattle a or partaking in races. Both are functional and a nice change of pace, but offer very little in terms of overall challenge and difficulty.
SWAY AND BEND
I would also like to talk a little about Pingo’s model and animations. Gaucho and the Grassland steers far away from realism, instead opting for a cozy, ‘toony’ vibe, fit for a family-friendly game. However, this reflects quite heavily on his overall design. Anatomy wise, he has a noticeable dip in his spine (known as swayback) made worse by the saddle being ‘glued’ to him, and is sickle-hocked. This is a conformation fault where the horse’s legs bend inwards, with the hocks lining up with the croup. This causes uneven hoof wear and can lead to long-term issues like lameness. A forgiveable flaw for a non-horse centric game, but one that stands out as soon as we get moving.
The infamous Horse Animset Pro ‘rears’ its ugly head… (So sorry, everyone!)
Gaucho and the Grassland © Epopeia Games
Even then, there’s not much variety to speak of. You can canter with “W, A, S, D” and sprint with “Shift”, with little difference in animations. Pingo is also unable to jump or walk backwards, although the world design thankfully accounts for this. The controls are responsive and, although the game camera tends to stick behind us, it’s nowhere near as unforgiving as some other games. If anything, the greatest issue is the inability to pick up smaller loot while on horseback, forcing you to mount and dismount several times. The absence of inventory management needs tempers this issue, but can be annoying regardless in the long run.
A (PIXEL) HORSE IS FOREVER
Like I’ve mentioned before, Gaucho and the Grassland is not a horse game. While he’s important for the adventure, Pingo’s design leaves little room for emotional investment owing to the lack of caring or bonding mechanics. Unlike games like Stardew Valley, there’s no Mood or Friendship bar, nor special items that can be applied to get better stats. Now, there’s nothing wrong in making priorities to stay within your budget—far from it! In fact, Gaucho‘s artistic and technical state is commendable, and more than deserving of praise. However, for a game so deeply rooted in its native folklore, it feels like a missed opportunity. Or… does it?
You see, although they garnered an infamous reputation for their girl-centric target, horses are no strangers to gaming. From the fearless Agro and Epona, all the way to the silly antics of Roach, man’s other best friend entered the screens (and the hearts) of players everywhere. Red Dead Redemption 2 further proved that making people fall in love with their digital steeds is not impossible. A simple brushing animation can turn an outlaw into a dedicated horse owner, even if you have never met one before in your life. What these games teach us is that it’s not enough to make them needed—you also need to make them real. While a comprehensive guide on what makes a believable digital horse goes beyond the scope of this review, I want to focus on is something we often overlook in these games.
And that something, is culture.
Who said that appeasing the spirits was an easy job?
Gaucho and the Grassland © Epopeia Games
GREENER PASTURES
You see, while I have played many horse games, very few dared to cross the boundaries of Anglo-European equestrian tradition. I joked earlier about Kentucky, but think about it! Before Legend of Khiimori came along, how many titles can you remember taking place literally anywhere else in the world? Some did feature events in other countries, but their scope remained limited to that of a thousand other stories just like theirs.
Horse Life 2 takes the player to the States and continental Greece for some high-level competitions.
Horse Life 2 © Deep Silver
Now take a look at Gaucho and the Grassland. Everything, from the language, the clothes and the mythical creatures, is firmly rooted in its cultural makeup. Even mate, the traditional South American drink, features prominently as a way to make friends and bring the community together. The game doesn’t suffer for it—on the contrary, it becomes a mark of distinction. Legend of Khiimori proved that there is a market for stories set in other times and places, only waiting for a capable dev team to take the reins. And with the indie scene swiftly toppling the AAA industry in both quality and innovation, that time doesn’t seem that far away…
CONCLUSIONS
Gaucho and the Grassland is a title with lots to offer. Simple in its premises but refined in its execution, Epopeia Games gets the job done, and done well. The cozy community will likely appreciate its quirky art style and house decorating mechanics, while younger players can try their hands at a Zelda-esque adventure rooted in Brasilian mythos. Horse lovers, on the other hand, may end up disappointed by the lack of depth in our equine companion. However, for anyone willing to travel off the beaten path and spend some chill hours herding cattle and ancient spirits, Gaucho and the Grassland might just surprise you—in the best way!
Gaucho and the Grassland will become available tomorrow, the 16th of July, on Steam. The Bridle Paths was provided with a review key.
