Storm the Swan - And the Power of FRIENDSHIP and IMAGINATION

I wanted to like this but I found it disappointing. What I did I like was the retro feel (grew up in the original Gameboy era) and the concept of a game within a game. Also, the idea of the character using "make believe" as a way to cope with\escape "real life" is interesting, since you yourself are removing yourself from real life while playing the game (whether it's done in a health way or not.) The idea of characters taking up residency in one's imagination as a form of companionship and protection is also interesting. Here's what I didn't like. It just felt like there was so much potential to explore and expand upon the things I mentioned liking, but it remained at a very surface level. With so few choices, it didn't feel like a game that I had any control over. If you are into "games" where you're basically watching a story unfold with little meaningful interaction, then you might be fine with it. You basically have dialog choices which don't seem to effect the outcome at all along with some strange dialog option to date everyone you talk to???? I didn't explore that option but I didn't get the feeling that it really would add to the experience. There is a tiny bit of wandering around in the woods but it's very limited as well. And you can change a few things in your room. As far as I know, there is no way to change the outcome. Maybe that's one of the achievements, but I really didn't enjoy it enough to go back and find out. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the only way of "beating the game" is by finishing it and collecting all of the achievements. As far as content goes, the game gets VERY dark. I'm alright with "dark\heavy" content when it's done well. In fact I crave depth in whatever entertainment I choose. But this felt more like it was just a cheap way to create a "horror" story by exploiting the subject of domestic violence, which is VERY real and VERY horrifying for so many people. It didn't feel like it was used in a respectful or educational way, but more as a party trick to "shock and awe" the player. For Parents: (This contains some spoilers but not the specifics, although conclusions can be drawn. More specific details are contained in the spoilers section.) This game looks deceptively kid friendly but, IMO, it absolutely is not! The game gets VERY dark. It also contains some abusive "adult language" which is directed at you (the child.) There is violence. Though not exactly shown directly, it is obvious what is happening and has happened. There are scenes with what is obviously blood. There are images of a weapon, a dead body, and sounds to indicate what you don't see happening. How dark it gets is described more clearly after the "spoilers" alert. ****THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS**** This game is about a child playing a hand held game which they use as a way to "escape" their home life. This game contains acts of domestic violence which leads to the murder of the mother (by gun.) You are forced to come to breakfast with your dead mother sat at the table, wrapped in a blanket and bloody. Your father then drives you and your dead mother to the lake in order to murder you and take his own life.