Wanderlust: Travel Stories

For a game that markets itself as "a bridge between literature and gaming", Wanderlust Travel Stories unfortunately falls shorts on both fronts. The main problem I have with this game is that the stories and characters lack much depth or complexity. I only played two stories out of four: Martine in Thailand and Bangladesh, and Tomek in Europe. Martine's story was the first one I played. There were a few moments where I felt weird out or shocked by some of the options. Martine is a German fashion student who goes to Thailand to look for meaning in life. She seems to have a presumption that everything Western in Thailand is bad, which I would say is a common black-or-white mindset among Westerners. For example, if a local hotel decides to keep its original German design, according to Martine, it is bad. Another example, when playing Martine, I was often offered a choice to change my "Western" or "tourist" outfit to local outfit when I was just doing some daily outing. I found this extremely weird because many people in Thailand and other Asian countries wear Western fashion brands. You don't have to ditch your "western" or "tourist" outfit to get to know the local culture. And it would be more weird for a white person to dress in local traditional clothes wandering in the local streets, especially when they just arrive and don't even speak the local language. I get that as a fashion student, Martine may have a stronger interest in clothes, but a better way to show her interest may be writing more about how she studies the local fashion and takes inspiration from it. Though Martine claims that she wants to see the authentic side of Thailand, she never visits museums or hangs out with the locals much to dig deep into local history and culture. Many options in the game just took me to hang out with other tourists and common points of interest. The writing did not show much about Martine's reflection on her journey in Thailand and her identity. Oftentimes, she would just spend a few days going out, not knowing what to do or reflect on. I was extremely frustrated during the part in Pai, where I had to spend time learning circus tricks in a hostel with other foreigners. Is this the best thing one can do in Pai? Tomek's story is slightly better because it doesn't sell itself as a journey to discover the real local culture or meaning in life. But it was quite short (~1 hour) and ended abruptly. I did not bother to play the remaining stories as some players suggested they were even less enjoyable. The gameplay itself is okay. It has a system of stress and fatigue management but doesn't seem to have much impact. Same with the money system. When I played Tomek, I spent all my money midway on my journey, yet I was still able to sleep at a hotel that cost 160 and buy food!! Overall, Wanderlust Travel Stories doesn't feel like a game. It is more like okay written stories that are packaged as a game for you to click through.

I picked the Bangkok story as my first journey and it was exactly what I wanted and maybe more. But it didn't take long for my excitement to be shattered. All the features that make you feel like you're in control of the story, options for different routes, attires, spending choices become either completely written out, or so strictly scripted there's barely any room for choices that matter in future stories. the fact they picked the one that provides its players with the most freedom as a demo is not surprising. And the stories themselves, they also become very personal but at the same time the game doesn't let go of its travel theme explaining local culture and landmarks, and as a result the game falls into this weird zone where it's not entertaining and dramatic enough as a fiction and doesn't feel authentic and informative enough as a nonfiction travelogue. Wanderlust is certainly a unique attempt; the thought and the effort the development team made to share their travel experience with others in their unique way is commendable. But even with all that it still feels inferior to the traditional medias such as video documentaries and books. It tediously requires your input every step oftentimes with barely anything happening but uninteresting filler dialogues and banters, and the provided photos to depict the scenes are too focused on subjects like local population and wildlife, I had to search for photos of churches in africa that's similar to Notre Dame in Paris and Japanese plane wrecks in pacific islands to know about the place better when they were the major landmarks of the place I was currently visiting in game explained by texts. I also felt the chapters are too varied in length, while the longest ones can keep you occupied for 2-3 hours many of the latter ones are only ten something minutes long meaning there's barely any story to tell to begin with. Game goes as low as $2 on sale, but the time you'll eventually spend to slog through every boring story is not worth it. Pass.

Ничего скучнее в жизни не читала. Лучше книгу почитать или National Geographic посмотреть. Читать полтора-два часа про то, как какой-то неудачник ехал в поезде и смотрел в окно, или как кто-то в Антарктике покупает безглютеновый хлеб и срётся из-за каждого продукта, очень интересно и увлекательно (нет).

必玩 1.互动 2.冒险 3.自选历程体验 4.治愈 这是一个发生在复活节岛上的当代“十日谈”。 大名鼎鼎的“漫游癖”游戏，拿奖拿到手软，通关后深以为实至名归、名不虚传！简直是久违罕见的完美沉浸式旅行体验！看完所有故事的时候，正是晚上8点半，我还在回味，突然导师打来电话临时布置她认为很紧急但我认为一点都不急的任务，要搁往常早就焦虑了，然而此刻的我八风不动，今天谁说话都不好使，我就要回味故事！ 这个游戏讲的是6个人在复活节岛旅行，大家轮流讲述自己的独特旅行故事，你就想啊，他们都能溜达到复活节岛这种地方了，那指定都是家里蹲不下的人，肯定都挺有节目。游戏总共有8+1个章节，每个章节都是一个故事，有仨长的，剩下的都比较短，最后那个额外的1是收官故事，也很短，大概都是身份认同感、猎奇、故乡、未来、殖民、治愈心理等内容，说深沉点就是灵魂三问：我是谁？我要去哪？那地方值不值得我去？整个游戏基本上是由图片和文字结合，但绝不是大家脑海里第一反应的幻灯片，游戏全程BGM爆赞，还有不同的音效，鸟鸣、车响、风声、雨声、潮汐声，各种各种，代入感不要太强！每隔个两行就是一个选项，不同的选择对应不同的内容，右上角有人物压力、疲劳、金钱等数值，要时刻注意人物的状态，别太低落了，也别太疲劳了，不然有些选项也选不了。游戏目前不支持中文，不过感觉过了英语四级基本上就能一路畅通了。 首先是我最喜欢的故事Sea Fever，这个故事致敬了桂冠诗人John Masefield的同名诗，整个故事的基调与诗歌一致。 I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. 故事讲的是南极洲航行，是双线，一条是Henry老头，另一条是他闺女Henriette，这厢Henry老头坐着邮轮听着古典音乐乐淘淘的看着风景，拍着小照片，还顺道不小心得罪得罪路人甲。那厢Henriette跟朋友一起苦咧咧的驾驶帆船反方向航行，一会风向变了，都不能睡觉，全得甲板上干活，船员一个个困的开始要玉玉；一会又差点撞冰山，还得修船，还得下水，好不容易见个性情温和的海豹能互动一下子，还差差没冻个半死。行船到后面Henriette的心情是真的不好了，在玉玉和焦虑的边缘反复横跳，还好咖啡能帮助临时缓解一下，我经常在甲板上傻坐着，喝小伙伴递来的咖啡，吃小伙伴给的糖果，看看三三两两的鲸鱼和海豹，风大了就避避风，到监狱那里看他们的对话，又想起了还在受苦的热心网友赵老师。最喜欢的是忙完手头的活之后坐在甲板上的柱子后面看暮色拢下来，群星闪耀。Henriette还说了一句话，大概意思是毗邻如此多不知道名字的星星，突然感觉自己像个陌生人。最有意思的是船员小伙伴看的书是传奇探险家阿蒙森传记，反正阿蒙森这个人最后是有去无回的失踪了，然后Henriette看的书是毒舌作家Paul Theroux写的Dark Star Safari，是讲非洲旅行的，很多人看完这本书都完全不想去非洲了哈哈哈，这俩人就看个书都搞事情。路途中Henry老头还有Henriette都有各自的奇遇，和不同的路人甲路人乙聊天，对人生以及家庭都有了新的感悟，最后Henriette和老爹在终点重逢，结尾的音乐让我感到热泪盈眶，看人家多诗意，想起我跟亲爹坐船旅游俩人夜里偷偷去砸金花就觉得自己很低俗。 其他故事印象深的有几个点： 1.欧洲旅行那里和一个一年前约好的女孩见面，“我”突然说旅行就是给脱离平淡生活找的借口，这一看就是社恐了，Midgard大大就这种人，他一社恐就非得整出一堆大道理。 2.在泰国遇到一个卖衣服的外国人，她说她之前在欧洲也不哪个国家上班，后来不乐意干了，到处旅游，最后发觉自己的命定之地就是泰国，于是在泰国定居下来，我就琢磨，她能看得上泰国，怎么也得信佛吧，然后还卖衣服，说明六根还是不清净啊。 3.在清迈，“我”选择在酒店住了整整三天，想起了基友，基友就是这么旅游的，她跟别人不一样，到了新的地方哪也不逛，就在酒店住着睡大觉，她认为这是最好的休息，我十分理解她的心情，只要她异地睡眠，绝不给她打电话。 4.一个当地妇女拦住“我”问：“你为什么不穿红衣服，为啥穿黑的？”。。我就纳闷了，问她为啥，她说：“你眼睛红了，说明刚刚哭过，你应该穿红的才对。”。。我地天啦，哲学家在民间啊！ 5.在村里，让我学个技术，我选了喷火，为啥呢，因为游戏就是要体验不同的人生，要搁现实情况，给我倒贴学费我也不能学喷火啊，反正学了喷火之后喷的还挺好，也没烧着自己。 6.某个故事里，“我”是一名心力交瘁的妇女，走路上状态很不好，一个女孩上来问：“您需要帮助吗，我是护士。”要搁平时我肯定得谢谢人家的好意，但在游戏里，我非常不礼貌的回答：“我不要护士！我要大夫！”哈哈哈哈觉得自己好过分啊。另一个故事里我没有选择替苦难的劳工说话，平时做多了热心人，游戏里就想体验一把冷冰冰的社会渣滓。 7.一个女游客跟女性好友出去旅游，看节目，看喷火，又看到不想看的场景，然后全交给女性好友，她自己躲清闲，回来夸了一顿好友，我就腹诽，你这朋友肯定下次不想跟你一起出去玩了。还有男游客和好友去非洲玩，明显遇到仙人跳，我寻思坚持坚持，后面还是实在没坚持下去，果断溜号了，有点丢人。 游戏的最后看到了7人团队以及制作背后的故事，三位小姐姐英姿飒爽，还致谢了图片拍摄者，提到了一些内容的幕后，很庆幸自己当时选择了这个游戏并且玩到了最后，真的非常治愈，游戏里提到的地方，有些将来也有机会去，期待未来也能坐在同一班次火车上听音乐看同样的夜景。

The stories are well-written, but they get a little preachy sometimes. (All the time actually) You can't really make amoral choices (shark-fin soup aside, and even that was used as a moral lesson), and there's a strong focus on all the problems in other countries and less focus on how nice it is to visit and enjoy. There is also the fact that, despite traveling, somehow the main characters always talk to other tourists instead of locals. It makes no sense to me. Is this how normal people travel? I can't remember the last time I talked to a tourist instead a local when I traveled. (Admittedly I tend to spend a year or so in each country, so I don't stay much at hostels.) I get the feeling this game is less about travels and more about preaching morals and ethics.

Great idea, but oh my the realisation... While I can imagine certain parts being even a bit worse, as a whole I doubt it really could have been more boring, less playable and generally just absolutely uninteresting.

It was great concept indie game but I'm sorry it isnt for me very chill game that I wasnt attracted to any of the characters Great stories, but I dont really pay attetion to the details from all the stories, I found Antartic and Africa's story a little bit amusing. the other is like whatever. and yeah thanks for showing me the great photos from the other side of the world

⣿⣿⡻⠿⣳⠸⢿⡇⢇⣿⡧⢹⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⡐⣯⠁ ⠄⠄ ⠟⣛⣽⡳⠼⠄⠈⣷⡾⣥⣱⠃⠣⣿⣿⣿⣯⣭⠽⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⢢⠏⠄ ⠄ ⢠⡿⠶⣮⣝⣿⠄⠄⠈⡥⢭⣥⠅⢌⣽⣿⣻⢶⣭⡿⠿⠜⢿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠄⠄ ⠄⣼⣧⠤⢌⣭⡇⠄⠄⠄⠭⠭⠭⠯⠴⣚⣉⣛⡢⠭⠵⢶⣾⣦⡍⠁⠄⠄⠄⠄ ⠄⣿⣷⣯⣭⡷⠄⠄⢀⣀⠩⠍⢉⣛⣛⠫⢏⣈⣭⣥⣶⣶⣦⣭⣛⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄ ⢀⣿⣿⣿⡿⠃⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣎⢩⠌⣡⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠄⠄⠄ ⢸⡿⢟⣽⠎⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⠄⠄ ⣰⠯⣾⢅⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠄ ⢰⣄⡉⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠄ ⢯⣌⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄ ⢸⣇⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄ ⢸⣟⣧⡻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄ ⠈⢹⡧⣿⣸⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠗⣈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠄ ⠄⠘⢷⡳⣾⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⢀⣶⣶⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠄ ⠄⠄⠈⣵⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄⠄ ⠄⠄⠄⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠄⠄

This series is incredibly well written and very immersive. I found myself immediately pulled into these stories. I also found it really interesting the diversity in ways you can engage with choices. Sometimes its not an important choice and other times its about morality and safety. I love that there are photographs, maps and sound effects that accompany the written narrative making it all the more engaging. The game also explores a wide variety of travels and stories from around the world. From simple and joyful adventure, to the mortal dilemmas and conflicts of the world. Content Warning for some of these stories as they relate to abuse, war, and other intense political and civil violence and conflict. My only hesitation is that all of the stories are by folks in the West (Europe and North America) travelling to other parts of the world and despite the game being somewhat self-aware of the privileges and ways in which travellers from these spaces behave in other parts of the world; there were some moments that i was annoyed by the story tellers for their ignorance and behaviour. So take some of these narratives with a grain of salt. I would say overall if you want to jump into some beautiful stories that make you think and ponder you'll definitely enjoy this game!

很迅速地翻阅了一遍葡萄牙老奶奶那个故事，看开头很有吸引力，但是从她开始她的非洲之旅那一刻起就读不进了。 开头是真的写得不错，开篇就上葬礼，可以看出死去的这个人对女主角很重要，那么我们肯定是期待接下来会倒叙把她俩的故事娓娓道来对吧？回忆也写得很带感：命运般的初次见面，女主登机前把心爱的书借给了一个第一次见面的人，说下次回来取（而她甚至不确定自己还会不会回来）。非洲姑娘问她：“你什么时候回来呀？”——这句台词真的非常好，因为是双关，既是当下问你什么时候回来，还贴合了未来女主一去不复返，非洲姑娘一定不止一次心想“你什么时候回来”。 因为这个开头把爱情的感觉写出来了，所以我关心的也是这个故事开篇女主说的“我为什么会把心爱的书给一个才第一次见面的人？我甚至都不清楚我还会不会回来，为什么告诉她我很快就会回来？可能这就是命运”，也就是说我对这个故事的期待是：老奶奶回忆她年轻时候的爱情故事。 但是剧本并没有按照我期待的那样发展，并没有写她年轻的时候和非洲姑娘有什么故事，而是写60岁的女主在真爱去世之后在非洲旅行自我治愈……开始非洲之旅后第一站是一个和服装相关的话题，我是真对服装没兴趣，读了一会儿之后疲劳感直线上升。 因为不耐烦看什么服装，所以在这之后都是很粗略地快速翻看，选项都是随便点的。但是这个游戏和看一本书还不一样，随便点会让你漏掉剧情，我第一遍读有认真共情女主，好好做选择题，于是在开始非洲之旅的一刻会出现富有感染力的文本：“我对非洲的眷恋之心，这颗心上有着一个女人形状的空洞”——删档后重新再来，选项和原先选的不一样（因为我想看看选别的会出现什么样的文本），这句话直接不出现了，估计是好感度不够。 因为我没有认真做选择题所以我也不知漏了多少剧情。后面大致就是讲女主到了这个地方，到了那个地方，见这个人，见那个人，在旅途中大病一场，梦见非洲姑娘化身为狮子咬她，她则是变成猴子逃之夭夭——虽说这是个类比，狮子代表她的恐惧，猴子逃亡是她真实的做法，但非洲姑娘一直都没什么戏份，好不容易出场一次还是这形象，我怎么可能还相信爱情？ 剧情进展到90%以上女主和女儿才有好好谈那个非洲姑娘，女儿是真的好女儿。 怎么说，哎，就是觉得爱情这条线笔墨不够，就只是开头写一下“她爱这个人”，结尾写一下“她对不起这个人”，中间全是非洲游记，那我是感受不到爱的。