Move It Or Lose It

Moving Out

byKenneth Ang (GameAxis)

Crazy as that might be, it’s all par for the course in Moving Out. This hilariously lovable physics simulator puts you (and your pals) into the shoes of a Furniture And Relocation Technician, or as you should have realised by now, a F.A.R.T.

After everyone’s done sniggering at their new job designations, here’s what you actually do in Moving Out. Basically, you work for a movers’ company, helping clients pack their stuff and bring it to their new homes. Sounds simple enough, but it’s not really what you do that’s amusing, but how. As the training module will tell you, breaking one or two windows and pieces of furniture is perfectly okay if it means you get the job done faster.

That’s about it for the main concept, but where the game starts going off the rails is when you have to do all of that while avoiding various obstacles and slapping pesky ghosts, not to mention manoeuvre deftly through increasingly convoluted levels. This is where teamwork, or the absurd lack of it makes the game such a pleasure to play with friends. Plus, wrapping all that up are the amusingly crafted visuals, which are done in a style that blends elements from Animal Crossing and Overcooked!.

The game accommodates up to four players at a time, and it’s immensely entertaining to see all the daft antics going on in each mission. You might have one pair of players trying to shove a sofa through the door, while the other tosses flowerpots and TVs out the window.

I also enjoyed the slapstick, Looney Tunes-esque style of obstacles and animations. For example, stepping on the wide end of a garden rake flings the handle up towards your character’s face (a real classic, if you ask me), and you can actually see the plug of a refrigerator or TV being pulled out when you move it, complete with sound effects. Indeed, it’s all rather childish from a bystander’s point of view, but heck if it isn’t entertaining.

One other addition that caught my attention was “Assist Mode”. There are folks out there that aren’t really in it for the high scores and perfect timings, and just want to play the game for what it is. As such, perks such as extended timings and having loaded furniture disappear can be a big help in such situations - they make the game much less challenging and more relaxed.

For all of its merits, Moving Out is still rough around the edges and collision detection can become a problem. More often than not, you’ll be unable to get through a doorway hauling a queen size bed simply because the bed was ever so slightly tilted. Having to put the bed down and grab it again from the correct angle is rather infuriating, especially if you and your friends are trying for the gold medal timing.

Another rough spot is with regard to how Moving Out is meant to be played. The game just isn’t as enjoyable when you’re playing solo, and even though the incessantly daft humour does help to make the experience a little more lively, it just isn’t the same as bantering (and arguing) with another player beside you. On top of that, being a physics simulator at its core means that PC players might not really get the same “feel” and level of challenge as those who are playing on a console, given the higher precision of a mouse relative to that of a controller, although we admit this point is largely debatable depending on personal preferences.

Nevertheless, Moving Out is still plenty fun. Its potent combo of sarcastic humour, slapstick comedy, and fast-paced action already make it worth picking up for those who like such games, and there’s no harm keeping it around for when your friends and family come over too. Just make sure your hands aren’t greasy before playing it, okay?