Little Red Lie

[b]LIFE SUCKS™[/b] the game. Don't bother unless you're a happy sunnavagun that don't mind a little rain on his daily parade.

Je n'attendais pas grand chose de Little Red Lie. Pourtant, cette histoire où le mensonge occupe une place importante est portée par une narration solide et soignée. Des thèmes délicats, durs, sombres y sont évoqués. Ce jeu est avant tout une aventure narrative, très linéaire, mais pas ennuyeuse pour autant grâce à ses textes bien écrits (en anglais). Le joueur passe ainsi la majeure partie de son temps à lire. Quelques illustrations accompagnent certains événements dans un style réussi. Comptez plus ou moins 7h de jeu au bout desquelles certaines questions peuvent rester sans réponse. Notre imagination et notre réflexion peuvent prendre le relais, et les discussions Steam sont l'occasion de découvrir des suppositions intéressantes. Mais c'est l'ensemble du jeu qui peut nous amener à réfléchir, on ne peut s'empêcher de penser régulièrement à notre propre société. [b]"Little Red Lie" plaira avant tout aux amateurs d'aventure narrative qui ne cherchent pas d'interaction à foison, le point fort du jeu étant clairement sa narration.[/b] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2455732337 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1868904190 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2455732353 [quote=] [h1][url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41126012/] Cliquez ici pour découvrir plus d'évaluations [/url][/h1] [b]N'hésitez pas à cliquer sur "suivre" si vous appréciez le contenu de ma page de curation. [/b][/quote]

Little Red Lie might very well be the best game I've ever played that I cannot recommend. Not because the game isn't good - I thought it was great, in fact - but because the game is simply too depressing. Nowadays people might hear or read that statement and think it's being hyperbolic or melodramatic, presumably because "depressing" games like Celeste and whatnot have become more popular lately. Well, they'd be wrong. Here is the problem: Celeste and similar acclaimed games, albeit a game that is about depression, isn't depressing. What do I mean when I say that? When you play that game you get sad, but only moderately. You feel a kind of melancholy that is just sad enough to keep you playing, just dark enough to allow you to see a little bit of the light at the end of the tunnel. Will O'Neill's games, both this and Actual Sunlight, are not palatable games about depression, they are *depressing* games about depression. They are not like Please Knock on My Door, The Cat Lady, Depression Quest, etc, because these games merely teach you about depression; Actual Sunlight and Little Red Lie will make you *feel* depression. These other games are more like Wikipedia or WebMD articles about depression - they can describe it and can summarize it and present it visually, but they will never make you *feel* depressed. That's what makes Will O'Neill's games so special, but it's also what makes them virtually impossible to recommend, because people only want to experience depression vicariously, not viscerally. His games don't care about getting "artsy" or "deep" about the subject matter at hand. They don't care about making you walk away with something profound you can use to enhance your life - and why would they? Depression, by definition, is not profound. It is not something you can use to enhance your life. That's what I love about his games, because they never overestimate the power or the value of art as some sort of scapegoat proxy to overestimate the value of the artist him or herself. His games implicitly understand that "artistic" depictions of depression are rarely all that depressing, and that ironically ends up sacrificing some of the emotional potency. It is merely a raw and unadulterating abyss, and playing Little Red Lie, bleak and tenebrous as can be, is like diving into an abyss. You do not walk away from this game as you would after watching Inside Out or Bojack Horseman, with a vague and slightly uncomfortable but ultimately welcoming sense of bitter-sweetness. You walk away from Little Red Lie wanting to kill yourself. That's what "games about depression" actually do, and it is for that reason that I cannot recommend it to 99.99% of people. But I still have to give Little Red Lie a thumbs up because at the end of the day it is by far one of the best written games I have ever played. The game and its story are so much more than about hammering you over the head with a bleak, pessimistic, modernist perspective on unyielding income inequality and how it is (currently) intersecting with mental health, eroding social values and trust, and the narcissism of small differences. It is a fantastic psychological dive into two people who, despite never meeting, share so much in common. Sarah, 38, and Arthur, 46, are seemingly two very different people - one a broke and unemployed anxious neurotic and the other a self-aggrandizing sociopath who literally believes that money is the meaning of life - to the point you would expect their interior monologues to be very different from each other in terms of both style and prose, but their soliloquies being near-identical serves an important purpose: showing that they are the same person. How so? That's easy: they're both pathological liars whose fates, personalities, desires, values, beliefs and prejudices have been almost solely determined by their income. In fact, the only meaningful difference between them is that one is poor and one is rich. Swap their financial statuses around and they would effectively have the same personality traits (which just so happens to be almost entirely character flaws). If I have one controversial takeaway from this game, let it be this: The only reason why Sarah is moderately likeable and sympathetic is because she is poor. Imagine someone like her, with all her unjustified idiosyncrasies and incessant catastrophizing, but rich - it's not a pretty picture. That's why she's juxtaposed with Arthur, it's to teach you that money does more than corrupt - money *discloses*. Money *belies*. Money merely *reveals* what was already there. There are things about human nature worse than suffering from over-intellectualized sophistry or undiagnosed panic attacks, and that's what Sarah and Arthur are there to teach you. The game also introduces some very out-of-left-field 4th wall-breaking shenanigans that are very reminiscent of Undertale or The Stanley Parable, but even this aspect is fresh and unique because unlike these two examples, Little Red Lie (for the most part) upholds an intense veneer of realism, which only makes the contrast between the two main characters and the mystery narrator from the realm of magical realism (?) even more fascinating. The great tragedy about Little Red Lie is that even though it is so hard to recommend, it must be recommended to as many people as possible. The subject matter is undeniably some of the most relevant and topical that any video game has ever tackled, and while it doesn't really dive into new territory (many books and movies about the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath already exist, as an easy example), the quality of the characters and the writing offers a fresh perspective on intergenerational strife and poverty that virtually anyone on the planet over the age of 15 would appreciate, if it weren't for the immoderately fatalistic outlook of the plot. I think back on games other people have called "very bleak" or "incredibly dark" and they usually end up being games that take place in some fantasy or unrealistic/futuristic setting like The Last Of Us 2, but what really makes Little Red Lie dark is that it is so realistic, in fact its biggest issue is that it is *too* realistic to handle, but that realism is precisely what needs to be handled if anyone wants a chance at enduring these kinds of problems should they ever happen. And, while this may be a sentiment many people won't see eye-to-eye with me on, I really respect the mere fact that Little Red Lie held back no punches. It was actually refreshing to see a story, particularly one in a video game of all places, examine the complex, interweaving and dynamic whirlwind of poverty, mental illness, familial stress, narcissism, suicide, rape, unbridled corporatism and financially-based maladaptive daydreaming and bring it all to its intense and extreme crescendo of a logical conclusion - a world in which everyone admits, even if only internally and privately, even if they have the typical powers that come with being a multi-millionaire, that few can wield the most dangerous thing among all: Truth.

There's definitely an audience for this type of narrative; it's brutally nihilistic and dismal. How would I summarise it best - oppressive hyper-realism? It reads like a drama novel, with appropriately long-winded scenes and fitting twists. It seemed a little "miserable for misery's sake" to me, but I'm sure that's exactly what fans of this genre are looking for. However, I would not recommend this to the majority of people looking for a narrative experience. Unless you're a part of the aforementioned audience, I can see this being a slog. Every new turn of the story brought more excruciating hopelessness. Seriously, the game's bursting at the seams with it! I appreciate what was trying to be done but was unable to really enjoy it and found a few scenes difficult to get through, unfortunately. That being said, I did enjoy the way the characters were written. They felt natural and right at home in their, well, depressing world.

This really is some of the best writing the medium of gaming has ever seen. I have not read a book, seen a movie, or watched a TV show that honed in on economic dread and all its existential implications so ruthlessly. And although some say it isn't really much of a game, I would disagree. The game format keeps you in a state of soul-numbing complicity with the narrative -- all you can do is spiral down the drain and lie about it, but it's you doing it, and no other medium could make the audience feel this dirty for that. This isn't even a minor masterpiece. It's just a masterpiece.

A brutally honest game, where you play from the perspective of two characters, both lying their way through life, hiding their true selves from their peers to avoid hurt and discomfort of others or of themselves. However, reality eventually catches up. The best feature of this game lies (no pun intended) in its writing. The game manages to get some emotions and relationship issues across that are very hard to put into precise words. Yet, it does so with surgical precision. Its topics include debt, shame, class, sex, emotional and physical abuse, gambling, ageing, death, depression, insecure attachment, and narcissism. But above all, the game tells a story about a deeply flawed society, where the need to meet expectations of society exceeds individual needs, at an astronomical price. The game is very linear with little opportunity to steer the direction, and the choices appear to matter little, so I would classify it as a visual novel, extremely well put together. The artwork is sparing but gorgeous. The game's simple mechanics are very effective at conveying a sense of lack of control, and conveying the dark disparity between the internal and external dialogues. The story really pulled me in, although I had wished for a slightly more well rounded ending for the female character. Given all this, especially if you enjoy a good story, care about mental health, and aren't afraid to do a lot of reading of an extremely well put together narrative whilst playing, I can only highly recommend this game!

reality check

Honestly not worth it, kind of boring because of the lenghty writing and SO edgy, not the cool way, the depressed teenager edgy.

wait for sale 5 years finally [i] wow [/i] cards expensive cards drop card cost drop da game is trash cant refund reality checked or not idk didnt finish [quote=beatrice] When I speak the truth, I will use red Everything I speak in red is the truth [/quote] ⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣻⢋⣬⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢾⣯⣫⢿⣿⣿⣮⣪⢻⣿⣭⣻⣿⣷⣤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⢰⣯⣊⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⣌⢻⣦⣨⢫⢻⣿⣮⢪⢻⣫⣾⣛⠻⢿⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⣯⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣿⣯⣧⢻⣆⠪⢻⣮⣨⢪⢫⣿⣌⢙⣪⢪⣮⢻⣿⣦⠀⠀ ⠀⣮⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣽⣿⣿⣻⣿⣿⣺⢸⣿⣧⣎⢻⣆⢣⢹⣪⢸⢪⢪⣢⢪⢊⢪⣌⢪⢪⢪⣻⣡⣊⢂⠀ ⣴⢡⢣⡏⣿⣃⣣⣏⣏⣿⣯⢸⣺⣿⣺⣇⣿⣿⣹⣷⣻⣄⢪⢪⣢⣸⣸⣸⢪⣸⣪⣼⣮⣺⣫⢫⣨⠎⢷⡀ ⠀⠊⣿⢂⣿⢹⣺⣺⣿⢿⣻⣸⣧⣿⢇⣇⣪⣿⣧⣺⣧⣧⢰⢢⢪⢸⢊⢢⢊⢊⢪⣨⣬⢲⢪⣪⢜⣨⢪⢀ ⠀⠀⢻⡸⣛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢛⣭⡾⠿⢛⢛⢛⢿⣿⣿⣰⣢⢘⡂⣢⣤⣸⢪⢪⣸⢪⠪⢪⣸⣪⢿⣆⠀ ⠀⠀⠈⠈⠁⢙⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣾⣸⣄⢼⣺⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⣦⢺⢫⣿⣿⡄⣈⣢⣪⣪⢪⢪⡊⠪⠈⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣡⣩⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⣸⣸⣸⣊⢪⣪⣸⡀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣳⣼⣿⣿⣿⢟⣘⢪⣪⢢⣸⣪⠑⠈⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢫⣿⣿⣟⣿⢉⢪⢪⣪⢢⢱⠚⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣡⢪⣸⢪⠊⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⣾⠁⠀⠀⠙⣿⣷⣟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⢪⣿⣿⡆⠋⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⢤⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣟⣿⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡾⠀⠀⠀⠙⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣧⣾⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣷⣏⣿⣺⣯⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⢻⠯⠯⠿⠿⠿⠛⢛⢛⢋⢹⢡⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣪⣪⣪⣪⣪⣢⢐⢐⢐⢐⢈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⡸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡘⢐⡀⠀⠀

This game is very dark and pessimistic but so well-written and insightful that I felt compelled to keep playing. It presents you with bleak ideas about how the world works, and dares you to say "That's not true." It doesn't put me in a good mood to play it, but it's a special game that I'm glad I found. An example: one of the characters has an internal monologue about people buying "How to become successful" books even though it's pointless because the real key to becoming successful was being born in a family with money and connections. I recommend the game, it oddly feels therapeutic to see such a raw presentation of the human struggle.