Viewing entries tagged
short
It's been a while since I've been able to write about a game and post a new post, so let's ease ourselves back into it with a tiny little game that managed to surprise and delight me in unexpected ways. Although I must stress that my thoughts on this game are genuine, and are by no means satirical, which is something I feel the need to point out after reading other interpretations that failed to find any value in the experience at all.
I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed by just how enlightening and informative good story-telling can be. After all, the whole reason I love stories so much is that it's one of the few ways we are able to empathise and learn about lives that are different to our own. In some ways, it's the closest we'll ever get to certain experiences, so when a story is able to inform as well as entertain, It really is a beautiful experience.
Sometimes it's hard to remember that video games have the potential to make a statement and be an actual piece of art, especially when faced with the latest big blockbuster that fits the marketable template. Much like all art, the different and unique work is often relegated to niche corners of obscurity without ever being given the attention they deserve. However, for those of us who like to seek out what's hiding in the shadows, there are many rewarding experiences waiting.
I often post about a game because I feel like I have something to say that actually has a point beyond whether or not I think it's good or not. I find myself enjoying just about every game I play for one reason or another, but not every game gives me something meaty enough to talk about. However, every now and then I find myself wanting to say something about a game that ultimately doesn't need to have much said about it at all.
This is something of a different post than usual, as I'll be talking about a collection of games instead of an individual release. From time to time I like to pick up a cheap little bundle of indie games that are nothing more than a showcase of the kind of creative and unique ideas that are out there. Sure it means I've bought a bunch of total stinkers in the past, but every now and then I get lucky and stumble upon a handful of excellent little hors d'oeuvres to wet my creative appetite.
In recent times, Bithell Games have been making a name for themselves as an indie developer to watch. Of course Mike Bithell is someone that's been on my radar since I first played the brilliant Thomas Was Alone, and I suspect I'm not the only one. However, what's really excited me about his company's recent work, is that they've released a series of "Bithell Shorts". These are short, but high quality games, that explore a unique mechanic or system and tell a succinct story. Needless to say, this is a winning combination for me, as I often prefer to play smaller games with nothing but quality content, as opposed to bloated hundred hour grinds that never truly satisfy.
I remember when I was first getting into visual novels in general. At first I didn't really understand the appeal, as most of the ones recommended to me consisted of little more than sexually suggestive anime. In fact, I didn't realise that visual novels as a genre could ever exist without some kind of horny element, which I later found out to be completely false. This, however, is not one those visual novels. This is one of those anime-looking, unnecessarily horny entries into the visual novel library.
Are all games art? Or are art games actually games? How much art makes a game art instead of a game? At what point does a game with great art become nothing like a game, leaving only the art? What if the art is split between visuals and music, while the game focuses on generic elements, overshadowed by the art? When does a game become art, or when does art become a game? After all, games are an artform, but they rarely contain beautiful art.
Up until now, I never thought I would be writing about visual novels unless I came across one that was particularly interesting. The reason being that there are only ever a few things going on in these games, most of which can only be appraised through a subjective analysis of taste. At the end of the day, a visual novel is only as good as its art and its writing, which can mean different things to different people. Perhaps there's something worth discussing though, so let's have a crack it for a change.
Whenever a particular series of games has a monopoly on a genre, I'm always eager to check out any competition that crops up. This is often the case with sports games as real life teams and branding get licensed to a single developer and nobody really wants to play as fictional teams instead of the ones they actually support IRL. Thankfully though, there's a bit more variety to be found in the racing genre.
If you've ever read any of my posts before, you've probably heard me talk about "narrative" games and how much I like them. Although, there really isn't any definition of what makes something a "narrative" game per se, and I feel like I often use it as a short-hand to say "this has a good story, but maybe not much gameplay". In fact, I prefer the term over the more divisive "walking simulator", so perhaps I'm trying to be nice when I refer to narratives over simplistic gameplay.
I know a lot of people out there like to tick a lot of boxes with their games. It's why we have games that shove in as many collectables and modes as possible, with no regard to their quality. On the other hand, it's why I've often heard people complain about games that focus too much on a single element, even if they pull it off superbly. Why then, does everyone love Gorogoa so much?
As time goes on, I find myself being repeatedly surprised at how much I enjoy shorter games that showcase a complete vision. It's happening so much that I really need to start expecting it as the norm, instead of the exception. Gone are the days when a huge open-world epic appeals to me more than a tightly polished experience that hits every nail on the head.
These days there seems to be a regular turnover of silly little games that end up doing the rounds on every YouTube and Twitch channel you can find. Most of the time they're just thoughtless meme games that allow whatever personality to act like a bit of an idiot for the entertainment of others, so I tend to avoid paying attention when these kind of games surface. I never felt compelled to play Goat Simulator, and I doubt I ever will. So why did a short little game about a goose catch my eye?
It never ceases to amaze me that mobile gaming is often more popular than any other platform these days. I guess I might just be behind the times, but using my phone for playing games always seemed a bit pointless. The combination between awful touch controls and exploitative micro-transaction models has kept me far from mobile games for a long time.
There has to be a point in life when you realise that interacting with art can be an experience without form, or end. When I studied philosophy, I quickly learned that a lot of people really hate wrestling with questions that have no immediate answer. It seemed that no matter how compelling the discourse was, some of us can't handle a lack of definition.
It feels a bit hypocritical to be writing this post after taking Laraan to task last time over its validity as a complete product. However, I'm going to try and justify why I think the tiny project Ophidia is a genuine and worthwhile purchase, despite its obvious limitations. This logic might get curly and take some getting used to.
Without a doubt, we are in the digital age where everything and anything will be distributed and sold online. The barriers to entry have fallen so low that just about anyone can make something and find a platform to sell it online to others. In a lot of ways this is awesome, as we get more variety and more contributors. Let's face it though, that's not always a good thing.
Here is a game that says it's "for adults" and will respect you time with a "mutation in text-based adventure". If it weren't for the integrity of Bithell Games' track record, this would all smell a bit fishy and invite hard-nosed scepticism. Thankfully, the lame marketing speech only goes as far as the sales pitch, leaving the actual game experience to be engaging and unique.
It never ceases to amaze me just how many terrible ports are made of mobile games onto other systems. There are so many aspects of mobile design that differ immensely from desktop or console requirements, which rarely get adapted along with a port. Every now and then though, a game keeps it simple and gets it right.
