Befriending dinosaurs and caring for them is a big part ofPaleo Pines, a farm sim game with dinosaurs by studio Italic Pig. Players can discover and befriend all kinds of dinosaurs across the game’s biomes with faithful steed and dinosaur companion Lucky by their side, a dinosaur players have known since birth. Yet, among activities like farming and ranching,Paleo Pinesis also about befriending its NPC townsfolk.
In a recent interview with Game Rant, Italic Pig creative director Nina Roussakoff spoke about the role of Lucky in the game, the significance of her story, and how to befriend dinosaurs in the game. She also talked about some of the NPC community and what some of the townsfolk are like, plus revealed more about the game’s sense of humor elements and approach.
RELATED:Haunted Chocolatier Could Have A Bigger Connection To Stardew Valley Than Previously Thought
Paleo Pines Companion Lucky And Befriending Dinosaurs
Dinosaur companion Lucky seems intrinsic to thedinosaur video gamestory as a steed that players can mount to explore the world. Lucky is a Parasaurolophus, or Parasaur for short, who Roussakoff explained “has been with the player character from when she hatched out of an egg.” Roussakoff added there are no other Parasaurs around, another possible reason behind the possible special bond with Lucky.
Part of Lucky’s journey and the player’s journey is about discovering where the Parasaurolophus have gone because nobody has seen them for a very long time. And in a way, it’s about finding your family. It’s also about belonging, different types of belonging, and different types of family.
While players can explorePaleo Pineswith other dinosaurs, Lucky has several handy abilities that make her anideal video game companion. As Roussakoff said,
Lucky’s unique abilities are sort of clearing debris. She can sort of dig and she’s also a sprinter, so it’s really handy to explore the world with Lucky.
However, players must work a bit harder to befriend dinosaurs they discover in the wild. She described befriending dinosaurs as a “multistage approach” where players play a Bubble Flute to pique their interest, figure out and replicate their Friend Call, and perform certain actions like giving them treats, such as a dinosaur Poppin cupcake.
The NPC Townsfolk And Humor Of Paleo Pines
When asking about the townsfolk ofPaleo Pines,Roussakoff described them as “very quirky” with a focus on “skill exchange” as NPCs help players via different skills and services. Fans of thecozy farming game genreare likely somewhat familiar with roles performed by Marlo, the carpenter and woodsman. However, others seem quite different in their approach and consider the overall vibe of the community. Some other NPC examples Roussakoff gave include the scientists Mari and Owen, Pippin who runs a dinosaur Poppins cupcake stall, a stonemason called Freya, and more. Roussakoff also described the townsfolk as “very diverse” in connection to the game’s pre-modern setting, around the “birth of science” where things are handcrafted. It’s also worth noting that NPCs are quest-givers with their own stories.
NPCs also look to be where a lot of the game’s perhaps unexpected humor could possibly shine through as adinosaur game for kidsand adults. Roussakoff added there are fun moments with NPCs, such as Granny’s song and even Easter Eggs to look out for, detailing the sense of humor isn’t rude but contains a layer of humor that should appeal to adults, like in Disney movies. Overall, Paleo Pines' townsfolk and dinosaurs could offer players of all ages something special with potentially lots of fun and surprises to discover.
Paleo Pinesreleases for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 26.
