Bee Simulator

Bees are some of the hardest workers in nature but are often misunderstood or viewed as pests. Bee Simulator looks to change that by giving players the opportunity to see the world through one newly hatched bee's five eyes. The game presents the world of bees in a way that's meant to be both educational and entertaining. This results in an offbeat mix of scientific knowledge and lots of creative license. Still, from a presentation and story standpoint, it's a good way to feed players, especially younger players, a dose of knowledge and to raise their interests to possibly learn more.

Bee Simulator isn't just a learning tool, though. It's a game, but some elements are hit and miss. It's a lot of fun to fly around the park on your own, exploring the environment at your own pace and zipping through picnics while popping colorful balloons. The flight controls feel natural, though it's easy to get turned around and disoriented during obstacle course missions. The game features two difficulty levels, Hard or Easy, which completely change the play dynamics. On Hard, the combat controls are an absolute mess, with players having to constantly try to match their opponents' direction of attack in order to block, while also attacking on their own from a different angle. It's frustratingly awkward and not very effective. On Easy, though, the fighting's almost too simple, with players simply pressing either attack or block when prompted by a sliding on-screen prompt, like a sort of combat karaoke. No matter which difficulty you choose, though, the game, much like a bee's life, exists in a routine cycle. There's a lot of repetition and it's easy to start just going through the motions. Still, Bee Simulator does offer a unique gaming perspective and leaves players with a whole new appreciation for and curiosity about these wonders of nature.