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Covert Critter is basically Metal Gear Solid with lizards

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Sneaking out at some point, Covert Critter is an upcoming stealth action game that will have Native Linux support. It's also pretty much Metal Gear Solid with animals. No really, it looks exactly like the classic and is obviously something of a homage to it and a demo is available.

"You are special reptile operative Koss. With a unique array of gadgets and stealth-based abilities at your disposal, you must infiltrate the compromised GEKO Facility to disarm a slew of tyrannical terrorists known only as the Red Hawks.

Covert Critter is a top-down sneaking game and retro throwback to stealth titles of the mid to late 90's. As Koss, your goal is to navigate through each of the 10 unique stages, all while remaining silent and out of the enemy's sight. The Red Hawks are vigilant creatures, armed to the beak, and around every corner of the facility."

  • An engaging story of heroism, espionage, and animals. Deriving inspiration from action and spy flicks of a bygone era, Covert Critter will host short but memorable cutscenes to carry a narrative along as you complete each scenario.
  • An impressive arsenal of bitchin' gadgets. Deployable boomboxes, mystery gift boxes, recon drones, and more are scattered throughout the stages. Each one you find is an invaluable asset for any situation while in the field.
  • Put your best stealth and evasion skills to the test. Your application of speed, luck, and wits are all graded for a combined rank. Circumvent traps, remain swift, avoid enemy contact, and you may just be rewarded something for future scenarios.

For the full version of the game they plan to add in controller support, an expanded story, accessibility options and more. The full game release is planned for next year, with an updated demo appearing at some point.

Just couldn't resist giving this one a quick go. Note that the Linux demo worked fine on my desktop, but on Steam Deck the UI did not render correctly. Could be a problem in Unity or a bug in the AMD GPU driver on Steam Deck so there you have to use the Windows version with Proton. Here's some footage from the demo:

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You can follow it on Steam and try an older demo on itch.io.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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10 comments

fabertawe Aug 18, 2022
It's certainly got a PS1 vibe, interesting graphics. I'll keep an eye on this one.
Pengling Aug 18, 2022
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Ee! I loved the first Metal Gear Solid and I strongly lean towards games with cute aesthetics, so this looks right up my alley.

They've really nailed the look, too, even down to the dithering, and the character-designs work really well within the chosen constraints.


Last edited by Pengling on 18 August 2022 at 5:48 pm UTC
Eike Aug 18, 2022
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Quoting: PenglingEe! I loved the first Metal Gear Solid and I strongly lean towards games with cute aesthetics, so this looks right up my alley.

I can recommend the original MSX-2 Metal Gear from 1987.
sarmad Aug 18, 2022
How could this be developed in 12 days (as the trailer suggests)? Is there already some open source MGS engine that they used?
Pengling Aug 18, 2022
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Quoting: EikeI can recommend the original MSX-2 Metal Gear from 1987.
Thanks for the recommendation! I must admit, that's right up my alley too and it's actually been on my to-do list for a while - ever since I watched a rather fun YouTube series by video game historian Jeremy Parish, where he mapped out the (unfortunately altered) NES version of Metal Gear, and some other games, by hand whilst playing through it and providing various bits of commentary. I really need to get to it sometime soon! It'll probably be the next thing (after Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy) that I put into the rotation alongside my ongoing Bomberman marathon to keep things fresh.

Quoting: GuestHow long before they have to change visuals due to cease and desist?
Other games have used and/or parodied the visuals of Metal Gear Solid before, and as far as I know nothing happened in those cases, so hopefully this one will be fine too.

Quoting: GuestAlso what lizard species will be used to have the same "ring" or tongue roll as "SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!"? I mean off the top of my head Salamander is close...but not.
Apparently, this lizard chap is called Koss. I'm not sure if it has the same ring to it, though.

Quoting: sarmadHow could this be developed in 12 days (as the trailer suggests)? Is there already some open source MGS engine that they used?
Going by the linked Itch.io page for the demo, it seems that that version was made for a game jam.


Last edited by Pengling on 18 August 2022 at 6:49 pm UTC
xavi Aug 18, 2022
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: PenglingEe! I loved the first Metal Gear Solid and I strongly lean towards games with cute aesthetics, so this looks right up my alley.

I can recommend the original MSX-2 Metal Gear from 1987.

I still have the cartridge (and the MSX2+)

I played a lot! I am not sure that in the stealth genre is there something like the original Metal Gear!
StoneColdSpider Aug 19, 2022
Looks like someone took "Solid Snake" a little to literally
Nezchan Aug 19, 2022
Quoting: GuestHow long before they have to change visuals due to cease and desist? Also what lizard species will be used to have the same "ring" or tongue roll as "SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!"? I mean off the top of my head Salamander is close...but not.

SKIIIIIIIINK!!
Eike Aug 19, 2022
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Quoting: xavi
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: PenglingEe! I loved the first Metal Gear Solid and I strongly lean towards games with cute aesthetics, so this looks right up my alley.

I can recommend the original MSX-2 Metal Gear from 1987.

I still have the cartridge (and the MSX2+)

I played a lot! I am not sure that in the stealth genre is there something like the original Metal Gear!

I also have MSX-1, MSX-2 and the Metal Gear cartridge somewhere. I'd need some video adapter to run them again though, I fear. :)
... and it was a game I enjoyed decades later again, which not many games do for me.

Not sure if this will work out, but you might be interested to read:
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-japanese-pc-that-ran-the-original-metal-gear-is-coming-back-after-30-years-of-extinction/
xavi Aug 19, 2022
Quoting: EikeNot sure if this will work out, but you might be interested to read:
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-japanese-pc-that-ran-the-original-metal-gear-is-coming-back-after-30-years-of-extinction/


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