Release Date: 04/02/2020
Played On: Win
Available On: Lin / Mac / NS / Win
Time Played: 56m
Progress: Completed
Developer: Turnfollow
Publisher: Tender Claws
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.
Most of my posts end up being about the same word length, with a few exceptions where I've prattled on a lot longer because I've had a lot on my mind. I don't really do shorter form posts though, which I aim to change in the future, as I've been playing a lot of short games that aren't in need of long posts dissecting them. Suffice to say that any regular readers of this blog should be prepared for some shorter posts in the future, mixed in with the usual ranting and raving.
With that in mind, let's talk about Wide Ocean Big Jacket for a hot minute. This was one of the games that I picked up in the enormous itch.io Black Lives Matter bundle, which included a staggering amount of games (something like 1,500 different projects). I trawled through details about every game in that bundle and picked out a heap that looked interesting enough to try, and this was one of them.
These days, itch.io has become something of a modern day Newgrounds.org, as it provides a friendly platform for any kind of game to be sold and distributed. Hence why there are loads of little indie projects on there of varying quality, as well as early prototypes for games that eventually had a larger release on bigger platforms. The plus for someone like me is that itch.io has become a treasure trove full of potential diamonds in the rough, as I love to find interesting little games that are creative and unique.
Wide Ocean Big Jacket is a story driven slice of life game about a family who go on a camping trip in the woods. The main focus is on teenagers Mord and Ben, who have recently started dating, with Mord's aunt and uncle rounding out the family experience. It's an unconventional mix that later on allows for some interesting dialogue options, but to anyone who's gone camping with family, this will be all too familiar.
I remember when I was about thirteen and some friends and I decided to hike through a national park not far from home, but it took us all day and seemed to go on forever. We loaded up backpacks with drinks and snacks, and the five of us set out early in the morning to explore and take on the day that grew in front of us. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my youth, as we were free to progress however we liked and there was no one around to impose their own will on us.
That same feeling cropped up when I took the teenagers in Wide Ocean Big Jacket for a walk to the beach, where they would be left to their own devices. The story does a good job of focusing on these scenarios where our characters are challenged with a small bit of independence and are given the autonomy to make decisions and navigate their relationship alone. While Mord and Ben are you typical teenagers, with their childish wants and expectations, the game creates a well-shaped set of sequences that allow them to grow and develop as we play.
Meanwhile, good old aunt Cloanne and uncle Brad are young adults who are struggling with their own relationship, both with each other and with the children in their care. There are some beautiful scenes where we're able to turn to any of the four characters and have them interact with each other, that illustrate those moments perfectly. We've all been in that situation where there are a couple of kids who think they're too cool to talk to adults, and a couple of adults who are trying their best to relate to the kids. The sparse dialogue options and clever direction, really enhances that awkward feeling that comes with a family camping trip.
By the time everyone had packed up and was ready to head back home the next day, I couldn't help feeling like I'd been a witness to a small insight into common family dynamics. Of course I couldn't relate to everything literally, but the overall tone of searching for something in the open air of the environment rang true for me, and reminded me of oh so many camping trips with my family when I was young.
Needless to say then that Wide Ocean Big Jacket turned out to be one of the gems I was hoping to find in that massive itch.io bundle, as it's well worth the short time I spent with it. In fact, I think it's also available on Steam and other platforms, so it's nice to know that there may be a larger audience out there who are aware of this wonderfully executed little game.
While I'm always a fan of super-heavy and in-depth narrative masterpieces, I also get a real kick out of playing something that has a simple story to tell, and tells it well. The more of these short-form games I play, the more I want to find more, as they're a real treat when they done well, and there's little to be lost if they miss the mark.
Thankfully I did manage to relate to Wide Ocean Big Jacket, but that could purely be thanks to my own experiences camping as a child. Either way though, I feel like this is one of those short little games that's worth checking out no matter how well anyone can relate to it. There are so many little nuanced scenes and techniques implemented here, that it's short run-time should be an interesting study at the very least.
Who knows, it might just be that special little game that hits just the right spot.