Overview
Tarzan: Guardian Of Earth presents one of gaming's most unconventional premises - a tree-saving adventure where the legendary jungle hero extinguishes forest fires using his bodily fluids. This amateur-developed title, born from a game development competition, delivers a bizarre concept that sharply divides players. While some appreciate its quirky charm and novelty, others find the core mechanic fundamentally unappealing. The experience is further hampered by technical frustrations that undermine its potential as a lighthearted diversion.
A Concept That Tests Player Tolerance
The game's central mechanic - urinating on burning trees - dominates player impressions. This unconventional approach to firefighting creates immediate polarization. Some players embrace the absurdity, finding humor in the sheer ridiculousness of Tarzan's bladder-based conservation efforts. The amusement factor shines through for those willing to suspend disbelief, turning what could be mundane environmental puzzles into memorable, laugh-out-loud moments.
The game is bizarre but extremely fun, as you will save the day by performing heroic tasks such as putting out fires. Well, when I tell you that as Tarzan, you put out fires with your urine, then you'll see where I was coming from.
Rekall
However, many players struggle to find enjoyment in this core loop. Repeatedly aiming Tarzan's stream at flaming foliage quickly loses its novelty, becoming a tedious chore rather than an engaging mechanic. The limited interaction possibilities make the gameplay feel one-dimensional, with players wishing for more traditional vine-swinging or animal-companion mechanics to balance the eccentric central feature.
Technical Shortcomings in the Jungle
Beyond the divisive premise, players encounter tangible frustrations with the game's execution. Controlling Tarzan proves serviceable but unremarkable, lacking the fluid movement expected from a jungle hero. More problematic is the unstable camera system that frequently disorients players during critical moments. The perspective often pulls too far from the action, creating a detached feeling during firefighting sequences, then suddenly jerks unpredictably during traversal.
The camera is annoying; it keeps bouncing all over the place and in general is too far away from Tarzan. Controlling Tarzan not difficult but its not great either.
Acidic
These technical issues compound the gameplay limitations, making an already repetitive experience feel more frustrating. While the visual presentation receives some praise for its colorful environments, the camera problems and basic controls prevent players from fully immersing themselves in the jungle setting.
A Curious Experiment With Limited Appeal
Originating from a game development competition, Tarzan: Guardian Of Earth carries the hallmarks of a constrained creative exercise. The short development timeline explains both its inventive risk-taking and its technical roughness. Players who approach it as a novelty item - a brief, humorous diversion rather than a full-fledged adventure - tend to appreciate it most. Its charm lies in the sheer audacity of its concept rather than depth of content or polish.
For all its eccentricity, the game fails to convert its bold premise into consistently engaging gameplay. The lack of mechanical variety and progression systems leaves players with limited motivation beyond seeing the bizarre concept through to completion. While the absurdity provides momentary amusement, it ultimately can't sustain interest through what becomes a repetitive series of urinary challenges.
Verdict
Bizarre urine mechanic overshadows flawed jungle adventure