The Last Show of Mr. Chardish

The game tells the story of Ella. A distinguished actress who, after many years, returns to the run-down theater which she once ran with her close friend. It's a sentimental journey of sorts, reminiscing about their former friendship and the events that led to its demise. While the game is a rather interesting narrative and artistic experiment, in my opinion, it's also unfortunately a triumph of style over substance. From a promising story, it became just another tale of rage-induced decisions and their far-reaching consequences. Personally, I would have pushed the story more towards transience and how, even though we grow out of our roots, they still exist within us. Gameplay wise, the game itself is a combination of a first-person walking simulator and a third-person puzzle-platformer. On plus side, while story is at best mid, gameplay certainly delivers, each play introduces us to a different world with different rules. This provides a certain breath of freshness and prevents the game from getting boring in the long run. For that price, you might want to consider it if you like games with unique art styles or those that try to mix genres to create something new. Still, I strongly suggest buying it on sale or as part of the bundle. ✅[list] [*] Graphics is decent. Enough to convey the story and keep the game requirements at a reasonable level. Also game has a unique art-style which is a definite standout, when compared to other games in this genre. [*] Each “play” uses different setting and mechanics. This prevents the gameplay from becoming monotonous + is quite an interesting theatrical solution. [*] The soundtrack is quite good. Each act has its own main theme that fits quite well with the overall character of the given chapter. It was composed by Agnieszka Wlazły. [*] Theater lore makes the setting more believable. [*] Collectibles and interactive objects crucial to the game are "highlighted." They're hard to miss, unless you want to. [*] In-game hints were provided in form that does not break the narrative. [/list] 😐 Camera at times feels too closely tied to the player. ❌[list] [*] Achievements are broken. If you want to get 100% use SAM or specific instruction available on forum. [*] The plot is mediocre at best, and you know what's worst? It really had potential. They could have stretched it across several decades, mentioned how people who once went to the theater now work in it, how others became famous actors and truly spread their wings… And still, somewhere in the background, they could have shown the bitterness of a man who paved the way for others to greatness but lost himself in jealousy and ambition. [*] Some of the collectibles are typical fillers... The developers didn't put much effort into creating them, which hurts even more, because others provide us with an opportunity to look behind the scenes of the theater - where the magic happens. [*] Mechanics seems to break their own rules for “gameplay”. These minor inaccuracies are more striking, than they might seem. [*] Some sequences were artificially and (in my opinion) unnecessarily extended. [*] Game is very linear. [*] Short (basic game without collecting anything will take around 2 hours) [/list]

This is a short walking sim (2 hours) that tells a story of a provincial theater director who... well, I won't spoil anything but let me just say it's a very good story that really engaged me from start to finish and left me in a very different mood than I started with. Highly recommended. The only problem for me was a strange bug: the items you interact with and interface elements didn't disappear when I put the item away, so after reading each note I had to bring up the menu -- that would remove the note from screen but the menu would stay until the next item.

This is a pretty easy recommendation for those who enjoyed narrative games like Gone Home or What Remains of Edith Finch. The framing of the game is you, playing the actress Ella as she wanders through a dilapidated theater, reading notes, listening to audio logs and soaking up the atmosphere as you learn about the titular playwright. This is interrupted by third person adventure segments representing Chardish's plays. None of it is complicated, but the use of video game mechanics effectively communicates the themes and moods of the game, and it all comes together very well at the end. This is not a game about the story, the beats are pretty clear within the first few minutes, rather it is an exploration of the complicated emotional connection between two creative people, how they converged and how they came apart, and how even after parting that connection lingers.

I can seriously recommend this indie game for everyone, who loves to see a wholesome beautiful piece of art! As you make your way through the theatric pieces of the game, you encounter different settings, with slightly different designs and mechanics. Each of them looking beautiful and interesting, the graphic design well done, the story well written, the music very fitting and soothing and everything overall just very captivating. I really enjoyed the characters and their voice acting as well. Experienced no bugs, just a bit of clipping here and there. Overall I was def blown away by the creative process that went into this. Well done! Ps.: Loved the lotr easter egg.

I'm giving it a thumbs up only cause i guess a lot of effort went to this game, and also can't give it neutral. I was expecting more, it's cute yes and the story is interesting, but i was expecting much more out of it. the ending doesn't give much either. I can't even say that if you like puzzle it's the game for you, because only one chapter offers it, that one kept me awake , the other ones are just going from a to b. I'm glad i got it on sale, maybe i'll go through it again to 100% the achievements , maybe ...

This game reminded me of one I played a long time ago, and since then I’ve been looking for something similar. I stumbled upon this by chance, and it turned out to be really fun. The stories are engaging, and I loved that each one had its own unique idea without any annoying repetition. I only wish it was a bit longer, but overall, it’s a fun and beautiful game . ⣿⡇⠀⣿⣿⠀⢠⣿⣿⡆⠀⢻⣷⠀⣿⡏⢸⣿⠿⠇⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⡿⠿⣿⣿⠀⣼⣏⣸⣷⠀⠘⣿⣴⡿⠀⢸⣿⠿⠇⠀⠀⢀⣿⣇⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠿⠇⠀⣿⣿⠰⠿⠋⠉⠿⠆⠀⠹⠿⠃⠀⠸⠿⠿⠗⠀⠀⠸⠿⠉⠙⠿⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣷⡀⢸⣿⠀⣿⡇⢀⣶⡿⠿⠆⢸⣿⠿⠇⠀⠀⢸⣿⠿⣷⣦⠀⠀⣾⣿⣆⠀⠸⣿⣄⣾⠇ ⣿⡟⢿⣾⣿⠀⣿⡇⢸⣿⡀⠀⠀ ⢸⣿⠿⠇⠀⠀⢸⣿⠀⢸⣿⠀⣸⣿⣸⣿⡀⠀⢻⣿⠏⠀ ⠿⠇⠈⠻⠿⠀⠿⠇⠈⠻⠿⠿⠇⠸⠿⠶⠆⠀⠀⠸⠿⠿⠿⠋⠀⠿⠏⠉⠿⠇⠀⠸⠿

很有意思的小游戏，但是这个会晕3d，尤其是在剧院里，剧目里还能好点。但是玩一会还得缓缓，正如我现在。 愤怒和白日梦不好玩。其他还行。

Die Rahmenhandlung von The Last Show of Mr. Chardish ist das Erkunden eines verfallenen Theaters. Von hier aus springt man in weitere Abschnitte, die alle auf unterschiedliche Art und Weise die Geschichte weitererzählen. Am Ende eines jeden Spielabschnitts geht es wieder im Theater weiter. Die Umsetzung finde ich äußerst kreativ. In den einzelnen Abschnitten gibt es seichte Ansätze von Action-Gameplay und Rätseln. Leider waren sowohl die Erzählung als auch das Gameplay meistens an der Grenze zu langweilig. Einige Abschnitte waren mir daher zu langatmig und ich sehnte gelegentlich das Ende herbei. The Last Show of Mr. Chardish hätte trotz seiner kurzen Spieldauer ein etwas strafferes Pacing gutgetan. So ist es mehr gemächlich als gemütlich. Für die erkennbare Liebe, die in die Präsentation gesteckt wurde, geht der Daumen noch knapp nach oben.