Paul Bird's Wild Animal Racing is a piece of political commentary which explores ill-fated societal constructs that are enforced upon citizens of the 21st century. The metaphors presented in every race raise new questions on what it means to try and survive in the modern world, one in which we have introduced novel technology to coincide with our long-lasting primitive roots. Wild Animal Racing ultimately pokes holes in this universe we have created for ourselves and highlights the absurdities presented in our species.

Wild Animal Racing's title presents one of the key themes of the piece. At the end of the day, what are we truly? Animals. But Paul Bird is not satisfied with that description on its own. At our heart, we are wild animals. Ones that can not be contained within walls or barriers. However this game demonstrates the irony that we choose to confine ourselves within machines that we create. Instead of embracing an uncertain freedom we trap ourselves in the comfort of the artificial. We are the makers of our own prison. As many users play this game, they instinctively follow the roads and tracks laid out for them. We follow rules made by others without questioning why they exist or what purpose they have, we simply follow. Perhaps a rebellious player will choose to reject this fallacy and drive freely, wherever they like. However Paul Bird has accounted for that misbehaviour, as eventually time will always run out, and we will be forced into a new race. Wild Animal Racing is saying that free will does not exist and can not be challenged by any individual.

Our relationships with each other are analyzed thoroughly with each race. The game allows the option to play online with friends in a similar way that modern media tempts us with the false possibilities of becoming popular and successful. In reality we must face the fact that convincing any of your friends to purchase this game to play with you is nearly impossible. You may of course, try to gift the game to anyone on your "friends" list, but that too is an analogy to the modern day stigma of trying to buy people's love. What difference is there between buying this game for an acquaintance, and purchasing a mail order bride from the Ukraine whom uses you for your money and abandons you as soon as they get their green card (or in this case steam trading cards)? Paul Bird suggests there is no difference, and in the end we spend most of our time in a rat race against strangers, aggressively competing against people whom we have never met, and take no consideration to what their dreams or aspirations could be.

There are many intricacies within the game, every subtle design choice contains a thousand questions with it. Why does the shield slow down your top speed? Perhaps Bird is alluding to our reckless modern lifestyles of drug use and unprotected sex by penalizing the symbolism of protection and security. Why are we able to see the mouse cursor of others as they select the circuit in the menu? The game is telling us that nothing is hidden anymore in a world dominated by social media. There is no possibility of privacy for an individual. What are the points for? While the game offers the reward of movies, the ability to actually accumulate enough points to purchase them is a fantasy. And what is this reward really? It is just an escape to separate ourselves from the harsh realities of life. And keep in mind that these movies are just an indulgent of the deadly sin, sloth. This game highlights the satanistic tendencies we have adopted into our lives.

This game is a masterpiece that bravely challenges themes that other game developers are too scared to explore. It is a must play and will be looked back upon as one of the pivotal artworks of our era. Also the music is ok.