[h1]Surrealist childhood[/h1]
Interesting game. I played it as I was travelling abroad so it might not have been the best conditions to play, specifically for music and sound, still I really enjoyed it.
In order to give vague, non spoilery informations but still give you a sense of my playthrough if you finished it: I reached ending A and that's pretty much it. There are some obvious side contents (items I never completed or used) that I know could bring me more but I think i'm happy with what I got and though I did finish the game, I'm not going to complete it... Unless writing this review makes me change my mind on that (foreshadowing)
This game is a point and click traversal/interaction system with a hub world where you need to figure out how to help out or hinder the progression of some characters in the world. There is some kind of spooky kid adventure vibe that I like a lot, with scary moments and disturbing imagery constracted by a 90's educational game whimsical adventure. It works really well and it has a consideration for details that other games usually lack even in the triple A scene (especially in the triple A scene I might say if I let my true feelings come across).
There are a lot of unique one time only moments making this game feel very polished. It is great at keeping you engaged as it will always provide something new around the corner. Even the simple mechanic of fighting introduced during the game's prologue gets some interesting twists depending on what enemy you're fighting.
Also, even though I don't truly know as I didn't 100% it, the game seems to have many secrets and hidden content underneath the surface. On my side, I specifically had the chance to stumble upon an optional fight and it was pleasantly surprising to have one, even though it didn't seem to carry much more meaning than extra content.
The game music also needs a praize. Some characters will sing and use that singing as a storytelling mechanism. It is honestly great lol. Every song is a banger and seems to carry themes of existentialism that worked very well with this specific game and its setting. Each song has its own unique animation and a moment that feels special because it can not be played or reached again unless you play the game again. I think its my favorite aspect of this game specifically.
Alright, we're getting in [b]MINOR SPOILER TERRITORY FROM NOW ON[/b], if this is something that could traumatize you, please, feel free to stop reading this review.
An incredible part of the game is also its structure, I think it works really well. The way it is layed out for you makes you learn the basic of the game, lose everything and need to get it back through an hub area where you get to see all the different biomes you could spend time in. Then you get to choose which area you want to tackle first. With the extra content theres some replayability where, if you understand the system, you could definitly put the game in a state where you can go everywhere right before you get rid of the place forever if you advanced it too far and fix the one place in question.
In game design, it works very well, because even though the game doesn't hold your hand, it teaches you everything and gives you a taste of it all, letting you decide ir you want to dig further in a very organic non intrusive way. Brilliant and very immersive.
About my favorite part in interactive media: narration.
I like how the game has kind of a theme of child abuse but going through it. I'm not sure if I did get it and I kind of blame myself for not playing in better conditions, but from my read of it, there truly is something about an isolated child (against his will obviously) learning more about the world around him and with that new found knowledge, find some kind of independance. I like all, the characters, all the character met on the way! I think the surrealist aspect of it makes the game open to interpreation in the best way. But I also am not sure why, it seems like it didn't completely click with me. I think because of the surrealist landscape, the spooky atmosphere, the coherence of it all and how it is not a finite story but one more open to interpretation, I was able to be still intrigued by it. Especially as it was carried by such meaningful unique moments all throughout. But I still felt very emotionally passive during the entire ordeal. Even in the end as you get to say your goodbyes and you don't know exactly what's going to happen, it felt a bit... flat. Like the game didn't prepare me to be emotionally vulnerable there. And I played many games, with many different stories, some more criptic than other... In narrative array between like... darkwood and yakuza 7, I know I can be emotionally invested in a way that is too cringe to lay out online. That's how hard good storytelling can get me and this game did not get me like that when I felt like it should have. Why didn't it work with this one for me?
Well, in the end, I think its important for me, so I'm gonna find it out. I now have a better setup to enjoy the game. Its pretty short and it feels like there are more to dsicover. WIth how the main content was, it might be worht it so I think im gonna at least try to do a second run. Its something I do... never! Unless its very much its own thing like undertale. But y its not something you'll see me usually do. If I ever finish it, I'll post a second review or edit this one in order to reflect how my opinion changed in the meantime.
As always, thank you for reading :)
