Release Date: 19/02/2021
Played On: Win
Available On: Win
Time Played: 4h 13m
Progress: Completed
Developer: Not A Sailor Studios
Publisher: Not A Sailor Studios
It's been a hot minute since I wrote about any games on this blog, but that's not for a lack of choice, as I've been enjoying a whole heap of interesting titles along the way. It's just a matter of fact that life usually wins when prioritising how I spend my time, so as much as I enjoy these little rants about games, they can easily be pushed aside. Nevertheless, I thought it fitting to post about a game that I would usually avoid like the plague, but eventually hooked me in and never let go.
When compiling a list of genres that I try to avoid, "horror" and "retro" are two that near the top of the pile. What's more, there are some games that I'll never touch, thanks to the way they have been over-hyped and how so many others try to emulate their success. Such it was when viewing screenshots for Buddy Simulator 1984, as at first glance this looks like some kind of Undertale rip-off that's trying to cash in on that game's cult success by evoking its graphical style and mysterious characters.
Then again, if anything is going to convince me to play something I had no intention of touching, a recommendation from a friend, or a favourable discussion on a podcast might just tip the scales. Such was the case with this game, as I heard someone discussing it on a podcast and I was intrigued by the way they described it, which suddenly gave this game its own identity. Perhaps this is one of the big struggles that new indie games face when it comes to discoverability, but I'm pleased to say that I gave Buddy Simulator 1984 a try, and I loved every minute of it.
The premise is simple; the game starts with a command prompt interface, where you run an AI program with the titular name. At first it seems to respond to your inputs and offers some basic games to play, like hang-man or rock, paper, scissors. However, as you progress, the AI seeks to please you more and more, and begins developing more detailed and complex games for you to play, until you are thrust into a foreboding adventure that starts as text-only, and becomes increasingly more graphical and advanced as you progress.
I didn't care for the story all that much, as it's the usual nonsense that reminds me of Undertale and other similarly themed games where you're given a bizarre cast of characters with questionable motivations. That's not to say that the story is bad, but the moment-to-moment narrative of the adventure is overshadowed by the meta-game that exists where our AI buddy continually tried so very hard to please us.
Knowing that there was this entity pulling strings in the background is what made the otherwise forgettable adventure interesting. Not only are there parts that remain unfinished or haphazardly thrown together, but there's a lot you can discover about the AI's personality, by simply observing what they create as part of the tale. To this end, everything suddenly takes on a different persona, and it's less about what's happening on screen, and more about what's putting all the pieces together.
Although, I have to admit that the main section of the game did manage to outstay its welcome a few times for me. I simply don't enjoy that top-down, Zelda-like adventure, especially when combined with turn-based combat, no matter how unique it attempts to be.
The combat itself is you’re a-typical turn-based combat setup that exists in just about every JRPG out there. The only thing that sets it apart is that your "attacks" are actually compliments, and you "defeat" enemies by making them feel good about themselves, so they no longer have the desire to fight. It's a cute alteration, but it ultimately still boils down to attacking everything and defending when they fight back. Apparently a turn-based fighting system by any other name is still the same boring turn-based fighting system.
Hence why I almost burned out on Buddy Simulator 1984, as the combat combined with the average gameplay is far from the kinds of experiences I enjoy. However, that should stand as a compliment to the game that I continued playing at all and was eventually left satisfied with having seen it all the way through.
I suppose if you're going to have some generic elements in your game, you might need something novel and interesting to help it stand out, and Buddy Simulator 1984 does just that. The main gameplay loop ended up being nothing more than a necessary method of moving between moments when I'd encounter the AI behind the game directly. It's in those moments that I found myself glued to the screen, as the game suddenly went from hum-drum to exciting and unpredictable.
Now, as much as I like to try out new genres and games as much as possible, I'm also very aware of the kinds of games that I don't enjoy. If I'd never heard anyone talk about Buddy Simulator 1984 and refer to its interesting meta-narrative about an AI trying to make a fun game for its user, I don't think I ever would have been sold on the screenshots and game description alone. However, now that I have spent some time with the game and played it all the way through, I'm glad that I didn't miss out on what will no doubt be one of the more interesting releases of the year.
Thus, I did enjoy myself with Buddy Simulator 1984 and I think it's the kind of clever game that has done a fine job with potentially limited resources. Although, even with its short run-time, I feel like the middle section could have been halved in length and still had the same impact. There are simply too many boring fights to wade through, and a lot of dull exploration done in a way that I never find interesting.
What really makes this game enjoyable, is the clever idea behind the layered narrative and the unreliable AI "buddy" accompanying you throughout. With a little tightening and trimming in key areas, this could be an actual standout gem. In fact, if this looks like a game that you would love to play because you love other games that look like this one, then you probably should pick it up and play it as there's a nice additional surprise waiting for anyone who puts in the time.
If nothing else I have learned that a single interesting gimmick can be enough to carry an otherwise run-of-the-mill experience, while a personal recommendation will always beat a store-page when convincing me to take a chance. I mention this mostly to encourage others to listen to gaming discussions where they talk about hidden gems, and once you find someone whose opinion you can relate to one way or another, mine that resource for all the surprising titles you may have never thought about trying.
Being surprised and intrigued is one of the greatest pleasures of interacting with any art form, and video games are no different. To that end, I applaud this little game for hooking me into its delivery, and leaving me with the satisfaction that comes from a truly fresh and surprising narrative.