Rue Valley

Я очень хотел, чтобы игра мне понравилась, но под конец я все-таки решил, что оцениваю ее лишь на 5/10. Бесподобный визуал, приятный саундтрек и достаточно серьезные темы, которые игра затрагивает, тонут в наскучивающем геймплее и обилии совершенно непримечательной сюжетной информации. Не все механики в игре работают как надо, сюжет зачастую стопорится на тягомотных квестах, диалоги озвучены лишь частично, а важные сюжетные линии второстепенных персонажей обрываются на полуслове. К сожалению, создалось впечатление нереализованного потенциала, не знаю по какой причине, недостаток времени, финансов или трудовых ресурсов, но чувствуется любовь, которая была вложена в проект. Игру могу посоветовать тем, кто может не спать до рассвета, занимаясь думскроллингом, но если вы ищите динамику, стремительное развитие событий или затягивающий комплексный геймплей, то эта игра не для вас.

An interesting Disco-like time loop game with good writing and an interesting premise. Slightly drags towards the end, and could have been tightened up by an hour or two, but a worthwhile experience in any case.

Лучше потратить 9 часов на идиотскую доту 2. Затянутый нарратив с элементами мыльной оперы, где временная петля служит лишь фоном для бесконечного выяснения семейных связей и взаимных обид. Основная интрига тонет в многочасовых диалогах, и чтобы докопаться до сути, нужно обладать поистине железным терпением. Большинство выборов ни на что не влияют, а ключевые сцены (вроде той самой поездки) нельзя пропустить, что превращает игру в испытание на прочность. Начало интригует, но к финалу остается лишь желание поскорее стереть её с диска.

This game is bad. it is boring with a interesting premise and wastes it after two hours on a melancholic unsatisfying ending that explains little to nothing.

Game draws you in very easily, quite like the aesthetic and the initial plot points. I like very much the time loop trope that rules the whole narrative. Halfway through the game the amount of possibilities that comes up to ones mind are limitless but it feels like for some reason, the developers either ran out of time or cornered themselves narratively which forced the story to solve super fast almost out of nowhere. Its a pity because as I said, the possibilities that come to one's mind are limitless and it seems like a lot of little details and story lines are never picked up or just droped halfway. I also feel like in the last act where the area with three characters is unlocked, there is barely any story lines or objectives or things that the player can influence beyond the main story line. I really enjoyed the visual style of the game, as well as the music and the voice actors that helps the player immerse into the story. I loved the little details that at the beggining that rewarded the player for paying attention and also the whole aspect of going through the time loops and interacting with other characters to learn their past and mistakes and use that as a form of therapy for the main character. Good game and mechanics, mid ending.

I believe the same thing will happen with this game as happened with Cyberpunk 2077; at first there is a lot of negative feedback, but overtime the game finds its audience and place. As far as I know, the expectations were really high with Rue Valley due to the legacy that Disco Elysium left behind. Like others have said, this is not Disco Elysium 2, it is visually similar and gameplay-wise has similar elements, but at least in my mind they fulfill different roles and serve different purposes. That being said the themes are similar, both incorporating themes of mental health, loneliness, loss and hopelessness. I personally enjoyed Disco Elysium more, but again, that sets the standard incredibly high. Rue Valley has an interesting story, enjoyable music, likeable artstyle and overall good gameplay loop. I think it suffers from pacing, sometimes feeling like there is so much to do while other times I found myself going in circles. I think it would greatly benefit from having the thoughts narrated by a voice actor. The story was good, but left me feeling a bit empty, I think there could have been something just a little bit more and it would have been just right for my liking. I also wish the character-building would have had a bit more effect on the overall story and gameplay, right now it felt more like pinch of seasoning on top instead of a fully integrated game mechanic. I look forward to playing more games from the same developers! All in all: it's a great game with very reasonable price and if you enjoy this type of games I suggest giving it a chance and seeing how you like it.

Несмотря на смазанный финал и огромный болт, положенный на тех, кто ждал объяснения возникновения петли, кроме абстрактной метафоры про депрессию, адвенчура в целом не заслуживает, чтобы ставить ей плохую рекомендацию. Считаю, что смешанной и ниже общей оценки игра не заслуживает. Да, далеко от Диско Илизиум, но плохой ее это не делает.

Good game that was quite close to being a great game. I got it on sale for $10 and I think that was a great price for the game.