Release Date: 25/04/2017
Played On: Win
Available On: PS4 / Win / XBO
Time Played: 2h 45m
Progress: 100% Complete
Developer: Giant Sparrow
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Sometimes I wish I didn't love narrative heavy games as much as I do, because they're super difficult to talk about without spoiling anything. Even though I try, there's always that feeling that you're not doing it justice, because you couldn't reveal something amazing. Although, I really feel like this genre is one of the most interesting and innovated genres in gaming right now, so let's have a little think about why.
All of the really good narrative games I've played, have approached the genre with a little twist on story telling. It's why I love these games so much, as they are prime examples of the unique ways that the video game medium can tell stories.
Funny then that these games are often so divisive among gamers who often deride them as "walking simulators" that aren't "real" games. Personally I've always thought that to be a small-minded perspective, as gaming is such a wide form of entertainment that there has to be room for a diverse range of experiences. What confuses me even more is when those same people try and advocate for gaming to be taken seriously, even though they are critical of anyone trying to take the medium further.
Of course, not every narrative game is a winner, and there are plenty of examples that could be considered lazy, or simply boring. However, the ones that stand out are the ones that tried to tell a story in a different way. Often, in a way that could only be told be a video game, thanks to the cross section of interactivity and storytelling.
Now I'm not arguing that video games are able to tell stories any better than other mediums, as I'm a big fan of stories and entertainment in any medium available to me. A book offers the unique experience of interpretation and imagination, while a movie offers pure escapism and deft craftsmanship. Music is universal and infinitely diverse, while fine art offers an open conversation for discussion and interpretation to thrive on. Each medium we know has had time to define itself and come into its own doing what it does best, which is why I find narrative games so exciting, as I feel like we're finally getting to what gaming does best.
Without going too far down the rabbit hole, there's something to be said for the purely mechanical side of video games as well. That side of gaming is probably best compared with card games, or board games, which offer a functional medium for social interaction and competition. However, that doesn't mean that storytelling and narrative can't exist in the same space. In fact, I'd say that the more one side of gaming influences the other, the better each will become.
So let's get to the point of all this, because I often feel the need to clarify why I love narrative games before talking about one. It's a bit of a chore, but I've had the conversation before where someone resists the genre because they don't understand why it exists. Thankfully though, as each game iterates and improves, it becomes an easier sell.
Such is the case with What Remains Of Edith Finch, which is a mouthful to say, but an experience just about everyone interested in gaming should experience. I'm sure that there will be another game in the future that takes the genre even further and surpasses Edith Finch, but for now this is the pinnacle of narrative story telling in the video game medium.
Maybe that sounds hyperbolic, but I also think it's one hundred percent accurate at this moment in time.
To start with broad strokes; the game is much like Gone Home, as you play a woman returning to her family home after an absence. You're tasked with exploring the house, which in turn reveals more rooms and areas, all the while uncovering narrative elements that tell the game's story.
The house in What Remains Of Edith Finch is a foreboding character, as it twists and turns in unconventional ways. You quickly learn that the last resident had all the bedroom doors sealed and locked, so each has been preserved intact for years, even decades. The gameplay loop is simple, as you follow a linear path through the house that takes you through each room. The eclectic tale of your ancestors is told as you progress and figure out what has happened to the house and the family that lived here.
I'm skirting around details, but be warned that I'll spoil a little bit about one of the earliest stories here. What makes Edith Finch different than other narrative games, is that each story you discover, takes you to a unique and creative gameplay segment. One of the first rooms you enter belonged to a little girl, so as you read her diary, you start playing out the events she has written about. Of course, things take a fantastical turn and before you know it you've transformed into an animal and are running through trees and fields in search of prey. Eventually you find yourself back in the original room, but only after being taken on a surreal journey through the imagination of a child.
The same can be said for every room you enter and each story you uncover. Each presents its own gameplay section that enhances the story and pulls you further into the world you are exploring. Without being too specific, one story has you playing through a comic book, another takes place entirely in a bath tub, while one of my favourites is a beautiful combination of reality and fantasy that will blow your mind conceptually and narratively.
I realise that a lot of that won't make sense if you don't know what I'm referring to, but I suppose that's the difficulty in recommending truly surprising experiences. The further you venture into the house, the more you discover about the story, and the more surreal each experience becomes.
Perhaps that what this game ends up being; a series of experiences that are diverse, unique, and creative. Another of my favourite sequences is when a character's story is told completely through the lens of a camera as you take photographs. It's such a simple method, but such a creative idea that shows off the capabilities of video game story telling.
Sure there are parts of the game that feel similar to a film, and there are parts that are closer to a book, but the overall combination is what makes this game great. What's more, the vast majority of vignettes employ some form of gameplay and narrative that could only be achieved in a video game. This is a true testament to the versatility and creative possibilities of the medium.
Although, don't let all of that get too weighty, as What Remains Of Edith Finch is an enjoyable game on any level. I originally played the game for fun, so I had little to no expectations going in, but I was quickly surprised again and again.
I'm not the kind of person to visibly emote during movies, or while playing games. There has to be something special going on to get an audible laugh out of me, or make me cry. Hence, when I say that on multiple occasions I laughed and exclaimed my shock and surprise, I hope you realise that it's not because that's what I always do.
Even if you're not interested in narrative games pushing the envelope in the video games medium, there's a lot of other reasons to play What Remains Of Edith Finch. The story is unexpected, the gameplay is creative and original, the design and soundtrack are beautiful, while the entire experience is rewarding and complete.
This is one game that needs to be played, even just to see what's possible. I can't wait to see what turns the genre will take next, but I'm sure I'll be there to find out.
Despite the fact that I probably enjoy most games I play, there are few that I would consider to be essential for gamers to experience. What Remains Of Edith Finch is without a doubt one of those unmissable gems that everyone needs to play.