Summary
Among the new IPs debuted at 2024’s Summer Game Fest, one early standout was the premiere trailer forDeer and Boy.A cinematic action platformer that pulls on heartstrings with its titular bond between a boy and a deer,Deer and Boyevokes similarities in its moment-to-moment gameplay and overall tone that has many likening it to Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Usseries, despite some key differences.
Game reveal season is in full swing,kicked off by Summer Game Feston June 7, showcasing a plethora of premieres, teasers, and release dates slated for 2024 and 2025. Scattered among the heavy-hitting AAA titles were a few notable indie standouts that made waves during the event. At a time of tumult in the game industry, with mass layoffs sweeping through studios, Geoff Keighley cast a supportive spotlight on smaller teams, pushing the frontier of the medium forward through indie development. One such title wasDeer and Boy, the first entry from Lifeline Games, with its rustic wanderlust charm, and foreboding tinge of the supernatural.
Deer and Boy Walks in the Footsteps of Giant Fungal Zombies
The Last of Uscomparisonskick in early during the trailer forDeer and Boy, hitting hard on the motif of loss, showing mirrored shots of a boy grieving over a memorial to what is presumed to be his mother, along with a mewling fawn, nudging the inert body of their own mother. The two find each other, forging a bond through mutual grief, and for a reason the trailer leaves ambiguous, both set out on a great trek, answering the call to adventure. Over the subdued twang of acoustic guitar, evoking the instrument’s powerful resonance across both of Naughty Dog’sTLoUgames,Deer and Boy’s trailer lays bare a journey of growth and kinship, two wanderers who will have to rely on each other to overcome insurmountable odds.
Sense of Progression from Deer and Boy’s Trailer
The reveal trailer forDeer and Boyelapses from when the two first meet, through the deer’s progression from fawn, to yearling, to adult buck. This is quite an interesting parallel toThe Last of Us,given Ellie’s character arc inTLoU, which initially puts her in the role of cargo to Joel, more than anything else. Throughout the series, her abilities grow alongside the bonds that develop between her and Joel, until she becomes more of an asset to survival than he was.Deer and Boystarts with the frightened but still ever-curious fawn riding in the backpack of the boy, but by its last frame, the trailer shows a deer fully-grown, with an imposing and radiant rack of antlers.
Deer and Boy Might Veer Into Apocalyptic Terrain
The primary conflict inDeer and Boy, shown briefly in several segments of the trailer, hearkens to the rampant fungal infection which upends civilized society inThe Last of Us.A noxious purple goop which appears to take control of any wildlife that it comes into contact with, the parallels between it and the Cordyceps mutation are apparent.Deer and Boy’s journey alsoshares traits withThe Last of Us’traversal puzzles, showing the boy holding open gates for the deer to squeeze through, and the deer providing a boost for the boy to reach high places. It would not come as a shock to encounter a section of the game where the boy has to ford a river, guiding a buoyed pallet that the deer clings to.
The Highest Form of Flattery
Comparisons toThe Last of Usare glowing praise, given the franchise’s impact on gaming. Initial impressions ofDeer and Boyare incredibly encouraging, but without a concrete release date, until more is divulged, all fans have to go on is speculation. Despite thetonal reminiscence toThe Last of Us,Deer and Boywill undoubtedly look to leave its own mark on the medium, and many will wait with keen interest for information on how Lifeline Game Studio will achieve that with its debut title.
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
EXPERIENCE ELLIE AND ABBY’S EMOTIONAL JOURNEYS, REMASTERED FOR PS5 Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closure.
