Barbie Horse Trails Reviews (PS5)
Summary: Barbie Horse Trails creates a fun game for younger fans with no unnecessary filler or awkward controls.
4
No filler
If you have a younger gamer in your family who adores the world of Barbie, then look no further because Outright Games (in collaboration with Mattel) have just launched “the open world” Barbie Horse Trails, which brings this franchise into the world of gaming with no gaming “filler”. Consider it a virtual open-world toy box with friendship taking center stage as it encourages exploration and offers various quests with mini-games such as horse races, wildlife photography and treasure hunts woven in… oh and obviously horse care.
The light-hearted narrative (just be warned, there’s lots of talking) revolves around Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts as they become Junior Rangers at Canterbury Trails Park which focuses on the environment, friendship plus kindness. It is here where they care for their horse Lucky (you get to create its appearance), explore forests, meadows, lakes and take on tasks like cleaning up the park, planting flowers, and helping wildlife while uncovering the mystery of a legendary horse said to roam the area. Of course, it would not be a Barbie game without customisation and this game adds this as a nice distraction.
Navigating the world is done on foot or on horseback as you can walk, trot, or gallop with Lucky through Canterbury Trails Park. The controls are simple so that children can quickly learn to ride, steer and interact with the environment without frustration. Further, the pacing is relaxed, which makes the game feel more like a journey of discovery than a race against time. The mini-games are also woven naturally into the story so they feel like part of the adventure rather than distractions, which also reinforces the main themes of the game. You also receive a DSLR camera from Mr Roberts to help you take some amazing shots of the park and wildlife – I also like how they mention that DSLR cameras take way better shots than phones. All in all, Outright Games have created a living breathing world of Barbie and Friends with decent controls, smooth interaction with the environment and gameplay that targets younger gamers opposed to a cash grab.
Graphically, Barbie Horse Trails mirrors the animated TV series and movies with its bright and colorful palettes that successfully recreate an open-world, cartoon-like environment that mirrors the other media well and, of course, the toys themselves. Canterbury Trails Park is also filled with vibrant wildflowers, sparkling lakes and cozy cabins that really immerse the player. The character models for the Barbies and Lucky are polished with smooth animations that make riding feel fluid and interacting with the Park very flawless.
Equally, sound and audio go hand-in-hand with the graphics and gameplay, including its lighthearted soundtrack. The sound effects are well implemented as well, which helps bring Canterbury Trails Park to life with its animals that call this place home. Lastly, the voice acting adds to the narrative and for the most part, the voice actors succeed at giving their gaming avatars a sense of personality. Again it mirrors the cartoon series and films.
Final Thoughts?
Barbie Horse Trails is a game for kids and unlike some games for this demographic, the developers have succeeded in creating an open-world game based on one of the most popular toy franchises, Barbie. Although the gameplay doesn’t challenge too much, it did make my daughter want to return to Canterbury Trails Park and explore this world filled with friends and secrets to find, not to mention some fun mini-games and friends to find along the way plus the outfits for both Barbie and Lucky.
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