Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition

1.

This story is a stage play pretending to be a computer game. It hits hard and although it has its moments of humor, it is a well written drama that asks you to step into the shoes of an estranged family. The distance you travel in the game suggests we consider the concept of how quickly we can grow apart from those we love. The extended edition acts as a second and final act, and I would highly recommend you get both. There are small choices you can make throughout the game, but it truly is about the journey and less about the menial choices that drive us forward.

Three Fourths Home is the story of Kelly and coming back home when you really didn't want to. Somewhat estranged from your family (for ambiguous reasons that can become as complicated as you want them to), Kelly tries to beat a storm home while untangling some of the mess that her family has become. While I enjoyed the main story (clocking in around 40 minutes or so), the epilogue and some of the extras (such as Kelly's photo project) are nice little extras that really strengthen the narrative. The game has wonderful, minimalist graphics that I quite enjoyed and felt fit the melancholy story line. I enjoyed my time with Three Fourths Home so much that I ended up going through a few times to find the different story threads and conversation outcomes. Not bad for a few dollars.

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Il non riuscire a trovare una via, non vedere il futuro, rinnegare il passato e i problemi, e sentirsi sempre in colpa per ciò che ci sfugge, che ci scappa. Questo è quello che ci racconta Three Fourths Home. Una visual novel toccante che con la Extended Edition, grazie all'epilogo, alle storie, alle foto di Kelly e alla radio (che sto ascoltando proprio mentre scrivo questa recensione), inquadra ancora meglio il tormento e lo spaesamento che la affliggono, che possono affliggere non solo Kelly.

First things first: this game is mostly a visual novel you read while holding a button and making the occasional choice, and you should be aware of that going in. It's also very different from a lot of other games in that it does a lot with very little. It hit me way harder than I expected it to! It's short and doesn't have much replayability, so get it on sale, but definitely get it! It might seem boring at first glance, but it's an emotionally deep artistic portrayal of family conflict, mental health struggles, and self-doubt. Graphics are simple, but that works for a game like this (down to earth, realistic, and open). It's not meant to be spectacular, it's meant to be minimalistic so the story can shine. Another reviewer mentioned that the ending is both predictable and completely unexpected, and I have to agree. There's something so uniquely vulnerable and human about this game, and I'm glad I picked it up.