Barbie™ Horse Adventures™: Wild Horse Rescue™ puts aspiring riders through a uniquely challenging adventure. After a strong storm, many of the horses from the Hepburn stables have escaped. With only one equine remaining, Barbie has to saddle up, find the frightened animals, and lead them back home safely.
The best of friends.
Looking Good Before you ever leave the stable, you’ll have to make sure both you and your horse are decked out as attractively as possible. Like the fashion plate she is, Barbie has access to lots of spiffy outfits. Mix and match her riding gear by selecting from a long list of coats, boots, tops, and so forth, until you think she’s dressed just right, and then it’s time to save some ponies. You have only a few essentials to start with, but you can unlock more of Barbie’s pants, hats, and other accessories by playing through the game.
Barbie would never leave the house in the wrong outfit, and now her horse doesn’t have to, either. You can select your horse’s facial markings, the size and shape of her eyes, and the length of both her tail and mane. You can also choose from several different saddle types and doll your equine pal up with colorful ribbons and saddle blankets.
Tally ho!
Trick Riding The handling of your steed is precise enough so that you can safely guide the horse through the narrowest trails. In motion, Barbie can switch from a canter to a gallop with one quick button press—you’ll need all the speed you can get for some of the higher jumps. But getting air isn’t the only saddle trick you’ll need to master. Some of the trails have low branches that you’ll need to avoid. The context-sensitive action button will allow you to jump over or limbo under whatever is in your way, but you need to time it just right, or you’ll be tossed out of the saddle.
During the game, there are also times when you’ll want to walk instead of ride. When you need to open a gate, retrieve a key, or collect a tricky coin, simply Dismount with the Y button and you’re free to move around on your own. It’s more fun (and more visually pleasing) to ride, but sometimes a girl needs to stand on her own two feet. Whether you fall or voluntarily dismount, you can always Whistle (another button press) to have your horse come back to you so that you can climb back on.
Giddy up!
Good Horsekeeping Treating your horse right is another essential step to a successful rescue. There’s a friendship meter that indicates how well you and your mount are getting along. If it’s full, you and your horse are the perfect team. Anything less than that can mean trouble. To keep your horse happy, avoid collisions, keep her clean and well fed, and make frequent use of the Pat and Praise.
Although it’s true that Barbie doesn’t have an enemy in the world, that doesn’t mean there aren’t obstacles in her rescue mission. You’ll find an assortment of small forest creatures who will delay you from saving the foals, though they aren’t necessarily hostile. The porcupine’s quills and the skunk’s spray will drain your friendship meter, so it’s best to avoid them entirely. If the area is too narrow to maneuver the horse, dismount and skirt around the troublesome rodents on foot.
Barbie Horse Adventures: Wild Horse Rescue is a unique, engaging adventure with a great sense of style. Its deep single-player quest, multiplayer contests, and exciting minigames combine to provide hours of entertainment.
