Poacher

In ‘Poacher’, players step into the boots of Derek Badger, a Yorkshire poacher who ventures into underground caves to rescue his rival Gamekeeper Archie. Joined by a spirit named Rebecca, Derek gains supernatural abilities like enhanced jumps and underwater traversal in this 2D Metroidvania platformer. Armed with a shotgun and upgradable grenades, players explore interconnected environments, battle enemies and bosses, and backtrack with new powers to uncover secrets while unraveling a conflict involving the Dark Ones breaking an ancient treaty. The game blends action, exploration, and dry British humor across a fantasy-tinged rural setting.

Poacher: A Yorkshireman’s Descent Into Eldritch Madness

Introduction

In the shadowy corners of indie gaming history, few developers blend biting wit and genre experimentation as boldly as Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw. Released in 2012, Poacher stands as his first foray into the Metroidvania genre, marking a departure from his Adventure Game Studio roots. Casting players as Derek Badger, a shotgun-toting Yorkshire poaster thrust into a Lovecraftian underworld, the game merges Yahtzee’s trademark humor with punishing platforming and eldritch horror. This review argues that Poacher is a flawed gem—a game that marries sardonic storytelling with retro-inspired design, even as it stumbles under the weight of its own ambition.

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Development History & Context

From Wordplay to Gameplay: Yahtzee’s Evolution

Best known for his Zero Punctuation reviews, Croshaw had already cemented his reputation as a provocateur-critic by the time he developed Poacher. Previous titles like The Chzo Mythos series showcased his knack for horror and dialogue, but Poacher marked his shift to GameMaker Studio and action-oriented design.

A Crowded Indie Landscape

Released during the indie boom of the early 2010s, Poacher joined contemporaries like Cave Story and Spelunky in reviving the Metroidvania template. Yet it stood apart with its distinctly British voice and refusal to compromise on difficulty—a rarity in an era leaning toward accessibility.

Technical Constraints and Triumphs

As Croshaw’s first GameMaker project, Poacher betrays occasional clunkiness. Keyboard-centric controls drew criticism for imprecision, while sparse checkpointing tested patience. Yet the game’s modular design—built on respawning enemies, unlockable abilities, and sprawling zones—proved the engine’s versatility.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot: A Pub Crawl Through Hell

Derek Badger’s quest begins farcically: accused of poaching by his nemesis Gamey, he tumbles into an underworld teeming with vampiric rabbits, spirit monarchs, and the apocalyptic “Dark Ones.” Partnered with Rebecca, a naively powerful spirit, Derek navigates a narrative steeped in cosmic horror and Yorkshire pragmatism.

Characters: Wit and Woe

• Derek Badger: A quintessential Yahtzee protagonist—unflappable, sarcastic, and morally ambiguous. His deadpan reactions to eldritch absurdity (“I’ve just cacked me pants”) anchor the tone.
• The Judge: A godlike entity voiced by Croshaw himself, blending Dark Souls grandeur with Monty Python irreverence. His role as narrator-turned-final boss subverts player expectations brilliantly.
• Rebecca: A naive foil whose ignorance of her Compact’s consequences drives the plot’s tragic undertones.

Themes: Morality Without Hand-Holding

Poacher hides its depth behind cheeky dialogue. The “Golden Ending” demands pacifist choices (e.g., sparing white rabbits), critiquing violence through gameplay, not exposition. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s arc explores the cost of unchecked power—a subtle jab at hero narratives.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Loop: Shotguns and Backtracking

• Combat: A satisfying shotgun (+ later grenades) dominates combat, though limited aiming angles frustrate. Enemy respawns incentivize grinding for coins, which fund upgrades like wall jumps and underwater breathing.
• Progression: Abilities unlock new zones à la Super Metroid, but slow pacing (e.g., repeated treks through the Oil Rig) tests patience.
• Bosses: From the Barghest (a 10-foot rabbit) to The Judge (a three-phase deity), battles demand pattern memorization—sometimes to a fault.

Flaws and Fixes

• Control Issues: Version 1.1 added rebindable keys, addressing complaints about misinputs.
• Save System: Save points heal the player but are often poorly placed (e.g., pre-unskippable cutscenes).

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Design: Pixelated Yorkshire

Croshaw’s MS Paint-style art charms with its simplicity. Derek’s flat-cap silhouette and the Crystal Tombs’ oppressive darkness evoke a Sierra-esque aesthetic, while locales like the Lidenbrock Sea nod to Jules Verne.

Soundscapes of Dread

Simon Loveridge’s soundtrack oscillates between jaunty folk tunes (for the Blemineg villages) and dissonant choirs (during Judge encounters). FreeSound.org samples—like the Dead Men’s screams—intensify the horror.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical Divide

Poacher earned a 79% average on MobyGames (via outlets like Curly’s World of Freeware). Praise focused on its writing and challenge, while detractors lamented its “Kaizo Trap” design (e.g., bosses attacking during death animations).

Cult Following and Influence

Though overshadowed by Croshaw’s later Consuming Shadow, Poacher remains a cult favorite. Its unapologetic difficulty and moral nuance inspired indie devs to marry narrative and mechanics more boldly.

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Conclusion

Poacher is a testament to Yahtzee’s audacity. It’s messy, maddening, and brilliant—a game that dares to ask, “What if Metroid starred a tea-drinking cynic?” While its flaws (clunky controls, draconian checkpoints) may deter casual players, its wit, world-building, and thematic ambition cement its place in indie canon. For those willing to brave its rabbit holes, Poacher offers a shotgun blast of originality—a Yorkshire pudding stuffed with eldritch horrors and hard-earned triumph.

Final Verdict: A rough-edged masterpiece for masochists and Yahtzee devotees. 7/10.