Xboxaddict.com Article
Mr. Prepper - Animal Farm DLC
by Adam DilevaI’ll admit, I somehow missed Mr. Prepper when it released back in 2021, as when the latest DLC for it came up for review, Animal Farm, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The core game idea is you trying to build yourself an underground bunker in your home so that you can survive and escape when a post-apocalyptic world was on the verge of happening. Having now played a fair chunk of the base game before stepping foot into the DLC, it was a very flawed and clunky experience, yet oddly kept wanting me to come back for more.
Now with the Animal Farm DLC, Mr. Prepper has been tasked with making Murricaville’s farm great again, one barn and animal at a time. Along the way you’re going to repair fences, barns, learn to fish, breed animals, craft new items, adopt a dog, and even deal with some aliens. It’s a decent sized addition, and while it may be a bit campy at times, it fits with the Mr. Prepper backdrop just fine.
Not only does Mr. Prepper need to manage your own bunker and survive, but you’ll effectively be helping the local farm be prosperous once again, for Merricaville and the President. Building upon the base game, the DLC integrates into the story naturally and expands a number of gameplay elements to help with your survival. There’s a tidbit of interesting story bits here and there when it comes to mysterious surveillance cameras and of course, dealing with aliens.
So you’ve already prepped and survived the apocalypse already, so what’s new in the Animal Farm DLC?
- A new storyline that starts out basic about repairing a farm, eventually going much more deeper, and weirder, dealing with a UFO, missing farm animals, surveillance and more.
- Farm animals to take care of, feed, and breed. Chickens will produce eggs, ship new textiles, all of which will be useful for being prepared.
- Fishing is now included, complete with basic minigame. The nearby lake can be fished when you equip a pole and bait, attaining fish for food and even rank up in your fishing skills for other rewards when you trade it to the farmer’s best chicken. Yes, you read that right.
- There’s a number of new areas to explore. The farm isn’t just the small house and barn in the front, but a lake and even a massive corn labyrinth. And of course, there’s a UFO you’ll get to know as well.
- New crafting items for your shelter. Mostly based around your new animal occupants, you can make fences, pallets, feeders and a few other items.
- Milk and grain ingredients can be used with new recipes, giving Mr. Prepper a better chance at survival.
- You can now have an aquarium for decoration, part of where your newly found love for fishing will come in.
You gain access to the DLC shortly after beginning with a letter in the mail inviting you to the local farm. Here is where you’ll meet the farm owner and get a quick debrief with a government agent before being set on your way. While you’ll be able to jump right in and start on the quests, you’re going to want to have a firm grasp on the gameplay mechanics and not be struggling to simply survive each day, as the later quests are quite involved.
Even though you can get into the DLC quite early, I’d highly suggest you have a solid base and plenty of materials so that you can focus on the quests without having to do a ton of backtracking and gathering. Being able to do animal husbandry made me care about my cute looking coop of chickens and having fresh eggs was always a bonus.
I spent more time fishing than I initially expected, and while the minigame is simplistic by tapping or holding the triggers at specific times, it was a nice relaxing change from constantly chasing quest, materials and having to ensure your house will pass government inspection. Having a pet dog was also a great touch and nice to come home to. For all the parts I enjoyed though, the crop maze was by far the worst and most frustrating part of the DLC. And yes, combat is still terrible and clunky.
If you were a fan of Mr. Prepper, then Animal Farm DLC is an easy recommendation for its $10.29 CAD price tag, as it does have a good amount of content to add to your survival, even if it’s a little out there. Those new to the game itself are going to find it clunky, frustrating, and unintuitive, but once you learn the nuances and how to play properly, it’s an entertaining journey with a barnyard of new adventures. Bless the President!
**Mr. Pepper - Animal Farm DLC was provided by the publisher and reviewed on an Xbox Series X**
Overall: 5/10
