Review: Raccoon Lagoon
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:There are three save slots available, and your progress is automatically saved as you play. To pause the game, bring up the VR headset's menu or view the map screen. Time needed per session:How long you need to play depends largely on what you're trying to do - though this is a game where you can lose track of time easily. I'd suggest preparing for thirty or so minutes per session, leaving open the option of longer sessions when playing with friends or working towards a goal.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | No - this is a great game for Christians The biggest issue with this game is the player's character being an "island spirit". This has no actual relevance to the gameplay, so it's easy to forget about and ignore. |
Screenshots
Game Overview
Raccoon Lagoon is a cozy VR game where the player spends their time gathering resources and using them to make the locals happy, though that's hardly a fair summary. There's a lot to do here, and there's always a reason to do it.
The story behind this game is rather simple: you are the spirit of the island, and an unfortunate group of little sailors have been shipwrecked on your shores. Though they aren't hurt, they need a lot of things, and you'll have to help provide them. In return, they'll give you some of their love (literally, as hearts you collect). You'll mainly use those hearts to restore the statues that decorate the doorways between each area. Once the statue is repaired, everybody can visit the new area and you'll gain access to new materials.
But despite being a magical spirit, you don't have any real powers. So, in order to progress, you'll need to find or purchase useful and better tools. These include an axe for chopping wood, a pick for mining or breaking up stones, and a variety of fishing poles.
Meanwhile, you'll need to keep an eye and an ear out for the raccoons. Unlike the Nyms (the sailors now living on your island) the raccoons are pests who periodically rush at you and try to steal your items. There's an audio cue when one (or more) are in pursuit, so be sure to listen for it. To get them to go away, take out your pick or your axe and bonk them a few times. Once dizzied, they'll hurry away and leave you alone.
It's a little awkward having to resort to smacks to fend the raccoons off, but otherwise, this is a very cute and relaxing game. If you're a fan of VR games, I'd recommend trying Raccoon Lagoon out.
And before you ask, yes, you can pet the Nyms and the other animals that inhabit your island.
The story behind this game is rather simple: you are the spirit of the island, and an unfortunate group of little sailors have been shipwrecked on your shores. Though they aren't hurt, they need a lot of things, and you'll have to help provide them. In return, they'll give you some of their love (literally, as hearts you collect). You'll mainly use those hearts to restore the statues that decorate the doorways between each area. Once the statue is repaired, everybody can visit the new area and you'll gain access to new materials.
But despite being a magical spirit, you don't have any real powers. So, in order to progress, you'll need to find or purchase useful and better tools. These include an axe for chopping wood, a pick for mining or breaking up stones, and a variety of fishing poles.
Meanwhile, you'll need to keep an eye and an ear out for the raccoons. Unlike the Nyms (the sailors now living on your island) the raccoons are pests who periodically rush at you and try to steal your items. There's an audio cue when one (or more) are in pursuit, so be sure to listen for it. To get them to go away, take out your pick or your axe and bonk them a few times. Once dizzied, they'll hurry away and leave you alone.
It's a little awkward having to resort to smacks to fend the raccoons off, but otherwise, this is a very cute and relaxing game. If you're a fan of VR games, I'd recommend trying Raccoon Lagoon out.
And before you ask, yes, you can pet the Nyms and the other animals that inhabit your island.
Points of Interest
Tons of things to do
Each of the Nyms has a fairly long questline for you to work through. This typically involves building them a house and helping them with their various interests, as well as a few short quests that feel like mini-tutorials when they unlock something new for you to try.
Fun secrets
Not everything in the game is there for practical purposes. There are some things, like the boomerang, that have just a few specific uses, and then there's the theremin, which has no practical use whatsoever.
Restaurant minigame
One of the Nyms is a chef. You don't build a home or regular shop for them: instead, you'll build a restaurant. Inside, you can cook up delicious meals for the hungry Nyms, making it an easy way to get more hearts once you've collected a lot of different ingredients.
Trading, not currency
In a bit of a twist, you don't buy goods with money. The local economy still functions on the good old barter system, so you'll need to gather basic resources and trade up to get the better stuff.
Concerns and Issues
Magic
The player is an "island spirit", though this seems to mean absolutely nothing in the game itself. There's also the phoenix egg, which unlocks a new NPC (a phoenix) for you to trade with. Overall, these magical elements are mostly technicalities.
Mild violence
As mentioned above, you'll need to deal with the raccoons by giving them the occasional thwack with your tools. It's more out of place in this otherwise peaceful game than it is violent, but it's still worth a mention.
Players can also strike the animals and Nyms. This makes them look frightened and poop. The catch is, there's no way to remove unwanted items and each poop takes an entire inventory slot. A violent player will quickly find their island and inventory filled with poop.
Players can also strike the animals and Nyms. This makes them look frightened and poop. The catch is, there's no way to remove unwanted items and each poop takes an entire inventory slot. A violent player will quickly find their island and inventory filled with poop.
Multiplayer has a bad reputation
Griefers are allegedly a problem in this game, as less reputable players have discovered that they could visit people's islands and cover them in poop. Thus, it's generally considered a good idea to set your islands to private.
Cartoon nudity
Sharp eyed players might have noticed that in promotional material, the Nyms are often wearing clothing despite not having any in the game. That's because they lost their clothing in the shipwreck. Everybody walks around in their birthday suits until you build the tailor's store, purchase the different outfits, and deliver them to the correct Nym.