Enviro-Bear 2010 Operation: Hibernation

Everybody is aware that bears hibernate during the winter, which is possible because they eat a lot of food the rest of the year in order to build up layers of fat to last them through the cold. However, you may not have been aware that they do this by driving around the forest with one hand on the steering wheel and the other out the window, catching all sorts of insects and fruit on the go.

Enviro-Bear 2010 Operation: Hibernation is not your typical video game, regardless of how you choose to look at it. It is also a bit difficult to tell what it’s all about, because it’s not a racing game, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously either. One might even classify it as a simulator, but it is pretty hard to pinpoint what exactly does the game simulate. In essence, you can just play it and not think too much about the why of it.

The gameplay mechanics are not very intuitive, but it’s quite simple to manage the car once you figure out what to do. As such, you have to use only one claw to man the wheel, the pedals, the gear switch and everything else that might need attention during the joyride. Obviously, it is difficult and pointless to try and manage everything at once, so you can have a laugh at the situation instead.

After a few minutes of driving, your car might get a bit messy and crowded, because the forest is populated by all kinds of critters. Bees might think it’s a good idea to take shelter on your windshield, weeds and branches make their way through the sunroof, while badgers try their best to wreck everything in your car and get you in trouble. Thankfully, you can grab everything and just throw it out the window with one fluid move.

It is also possible to roar, although it doesn’t help too much. On a related note, the visual quality is atrocious, and it looks like something drawn in MS Paint with the pencil tool. However, the silly graphics somehow make the atmosphere that much more funny and inviting. Not only that, but the sound effects are brilliant as well, and they should make you giggle on more than one occasion.

All things considered, Enviro-Bear 2010 Operation: Hibernation is hilarious, and it should put a smile on your face regardless of your mood. However, as funny as it may be, the game gets repetitive after a few minutes, so it’s definitely not something you can enjoy over long periods of time.