Review: Nintendo's 'Lil Guardsman' for Switch lets kids play border cop


Is it really Sprankles in this coffin or is this person pretending to be mourning their pet dog? In 'Lil Guardsman', you have to decide. — Photos: Nintendo/dpa

BERLIN: In the puzzle game Lil Guardsman, you are young Lil, a 12-year-old girl who takes on her father’s job as a guardian of the kingdom. In this role of fantasy world border cop, you get to decide who does and doesn’t get to enter the gates.

In a comic world full of strange creatures, you sit in the guardhouse and chose whether to let them enter, send them to prison or even blow them up.

Everyone who wants to enter the country has to be screened – including this candidate, who obviously has a lot on his record.Everyone who wants to enter the country has to be screened – including this candidate, who obviously has a lot on his record.

The over 100 characters who beg for Lil's favour include knights, trolls, werewolves, cats and old grandmas whose dark secrets need to be uncovered.

Of course, you don't just make arbitrary decisions, but interrogate each traveller carefully. All of them can be subjected to three measures – a metal detector, an X-ray machine or a truth serum.

Entry denied – and off to the slammer you go: this is the fate of some who wanted to enter the kingdom in 'Lil Guardsman'.Entry denied – and off to the slammer you go: this is the fate of some who wanted to enter the kingdom in 'Lil Guardsman'.

After your shift you can explore the living world within the city walls. For example, Lil helps find the right groom for the princess, recruits soldiers for a battle and visits her betting-addicted father at the goblin-ball game.

Since the decisions are linked in a funny way and the residents have some crazy stories to tell, the game has plenty of humour. Thanks to comic book-like graphics and well-voiced characters, "Lil Guardsman" not only impresses with its gameplay, but also with its charm.

Unlike real border police, Lil's special abilities include time travelling.Unlike real border police, Lil's special abilities include time travelling.

If you want to make big decisions as a little person, you have to take responsibility, but the game compensates for that with a lot of fun. "Lil Guardsman" is available for PCs and Macs as well as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox consoles for around €20/US$20 (RM40.99 in Malaysia). – dpa

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Sirius XM found liable in New York lawsuit over subscription cancellations
US Supreme Court tosses case involving securities fraud suit against Facebook
Amazon doubles down on AI startup Anthropic with $4 billion investment
Factbox-Who are bankrupt Northvolt's creditors?
UK should use new powers to probe Apple-Google mobile browser duopoly, report says
EU regulators scrap probe into Apple's e-book rules after complaint was withdrawn
Hyundai recalls over 145,000 electrified US vehicles on loss of drive power
'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
Northvolt CEO steps down, saying group needs up to $1.2 billion
Bitcoin at record highs, sets sights on $100,000

Others Also Read