Sheep is a strategy puzzle video game released for PlayStation, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. In 2001 it was released for Mac OS X by Feral Interactive. The Game Boy Advance version was released in March 2002 in the EU, while the intended North American release was cancelled for unknown reasons.[2]

Sheep
Developer(s)Mind's Eye Productions
Additional work by:
Publisher(s)Empire Interactive
Platform(s)PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, Mac OS X
ReleasePlayStation & Windows
  • NA: 7 November 2000 (PS)[1]
  • EU: 17 November 2000
  • NA: 29 November 2000 (PC)
  • EU: 14 August 2008 (PSN)
Mac OS X
July 2001
Game Boy Advance
  • EU: 15 March 2002
Genre(s)Strategy, puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

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Sheep bears some similarity to the video game Lemmings. The player can choose between 4 herders, the people Adam Halfpint and Bo Peep, and the dogs Motley and Shep.

The player must then guide sheep of 4 types (Factorial, Longwool, NeoGenetic, and Pastoral), actually aliens from the planet Ovis Aries, through a series of obstacles to the finish line in the level.

There are a series of different worlds, starting with Polygon Farm and on to others, such as Village Fete and Lost in Space. If the players collect all the golden sheep trophies in a world, they will unlock a bonus game, where they are riding a sheep, and have to collect the trapped sheep in bubbles.

There are several obstacles that vary from world to world, including tractors, knights, archers and demonic chefs. Eventually, the players must thwart the schemes of the mad scientist Mr. Pear and his hench-cows.

Reception

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Sheep received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4][5] AllGame gave the PC version four stars out of five, praising the graphics, soundtrack, controls and its "addictive" gameplay, but noted the occasional difficulty in herding the sheep in some instances, and that the concept of controlling the sheep becomes more challenging at more difficult levels.[25] Dave Markell of Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the same PC version four stars out of five, saying, "While Sheep isn't a good choice for the die-hard fragger on your shopping list, puzzle fans, Monty Python lovers, bad punsters, and anyone with fond memories of Lemmings will find hours of challenging fun within this appealingly ridiculous game."[26] GameZone's reviewer gave it seven out of ten, saying, "the awkwardness of the gameplay aspects greatly diminish[es] an otherwise fine product in my eyes."[27] Reviewing the same PC version, Daniel Erickson of NextGen was positive to graphics and gameplay, and considered the game to be similar to Lemmings.[21] In Japan, where the PlayStation version was ported and published by Syscom on 14 June 2001, followed by the Game Boy Advance version by Capcom under the name Hitsuji no Kimochi (ひつじのキモチ。, lit. "Sheep's Kimochi") on 19 April 2002, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40 for the latter version,[11] and 24 out of 40 for the former.[12] Nintendo Power gave the GBA version a favorable review a few months before its supposed release date, before it was canceled for unknown reasons.[22] Star Dingo of GamePro called it a "sleeper puzzle game".[28][a]

Computer Games Strategy Plus nominated the PC version for their 2000 "Classic Game of the Year" award, whose winner remains unknown.[29]

Notes

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  1. ^ GamePro gave the Game Boy Advance version's European import two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor. Although the game's status says "Available now", the magazine was unaware that the game's release in North America was actually canceled.

References

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  1. ^ "Sheep". GameZone. Archived from the original on July 13, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Harris, Craig (27 February 2002). "Sheep (GBA; Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Sheep (2002)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Sheep critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Sheep critic reviews (PS)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  6. ^ "PlayStation Reviews (S)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 10 February 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  7. ^ Johnston, Chris (February 2001). "Sheep (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 139. Ziff Davis. p. 141. Archived from the original on 11 February 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  8. ^ Grant, Jules (23 April 2001). "Sheep (PC)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 June 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  9. ^ Grant, Jules (17 April 2001). "Sheep (PSX)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 June 2003. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  10. ^ Bye, John "Gestalt" (11 January 2001). "Sheep (PC)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 28 January 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b "ひつじのキモチ。 [GBA]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "シープ [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Sheep (PC)". Game Informer. No. 94. FuncoLand. February 2001.
  14. ^ Liu, Johnny (December 2000). "Sheep Review (PC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. ^ Walker, Trey (7 December 2000). "Sheep Review (PC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 24 January 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  16. ^ Villoria, Gerald (30 November 2000). "Sheep Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 12 February 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  17. ^ Chambers, Chadd (10 July 2003). "Sheep (GBA)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  18. ^ Kim, Steve (10 November 2000). "Sheep (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  19. ^ Nix, Marc (8 December 2000). "Sheep (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  20. ^ Cohen, Peter (30 April 2002). "The Gameroom: Myth, Magic, and Mutton". Macworld. IDG Communications. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  21. ^ a b Erickson, Daniel (March 2001). "Sheep (PC)". Next Generation. No. 75. Imagine Media. p. 94. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Sheep [EU Import]". Nintendo Power. Vol. 153. Nintendo of America. February 2002. p. 154.
  23. ^ Steinman, Gary (February 2001). "Sheep". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 41. Ziff Davis. p. 100. Archived from the original on 20 February 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  24. ^ Steinberg, Scott (February 2001). "Sheep". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 2. Imagine Media. p. 54. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006.
  25. ^ Carey, James. "Sheep (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  26. ^ Markell, Dave (18 December 2000). "Sheep". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005.
  27. ^ Suzi Sez (18 December 2000). "Sheep - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  28. ^ Star Dingo (April 2002). "Sheep (GBA) [EU Import]" (PDF). GamePro. No. 163. IDG. p. 65. Archived from the original on 13 December 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  29. ^ CGSP staff (8 February 2001). "Computer Games Magazine announces nominees for annual best in computer gaming awards". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 9 February 2005.
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