![]() ![]() While I do think it is executed well, it isn’t anything particularly special overall. A game such as this one needs to have a strong narrative. It manages to be really effective with each new intriguing entry making the slow crawl feel worthwhile. The story itself isn’t anything original but the narration is so well delivered. The game has the feel of listening to an audio-book while having the ability to actually see what is being described. I can see why many have compared the game and the genre to another genre, “visual novel”. You can do nothing more than walk around the island and listen to the tale unfold. The ambiguity of the randomly played letter fragments forces the player to draw their own conclusions of the story.ĭear Esther is undoubtedly a video game but it certainly isn’t one in the traditional sense. The narration moves between topics which relate the characters in different ways. The identities of the characters become even more blurred as the game progresses. The figure disappears before they can be reached. At various points a figure is seen walking away from the player in the distance. The cave walls are adorned with images resembling chemical diagrams, circuit diagrams, neurons and bacteria. Different fragments are played in each playthrough of the game, revealing different aspects of the story each time.Īs the player explores the island, they find the derelict remains of buildings, a shipwreck, and a cave system. The “gameplay” in Dear Esther is minimal, the only object being to explore an uninhabited Hebridean island, listening to an anonymous man read a series of letter fragments to a woman named Esther.Īs the player reaches a new location on the island, the game plays a new letter fragment relating to that area. There have been plenty of walking simulator games since but Dear Esther is seen as the originator of the genre. ![]() This debate might not even exist if it hadn’t been for the game that I am reviewing right now. There is still an on-going argument on whether or not walking simulators should be considered a video game at all. ![]() The phrase basically implies that there is nothing to do in the game other than walk around. Puzzling especially considering I was playing the Landmark Edition, an overhauled version from a very pared down release from 2008 that was supposed to be a vast improvement.What do you think of when you hear the term “Walking Simulator”? As many of you know, it is a type of video game but one that lacks many of the traditional aspects of a game. Rocks looked like turds, and there were a lot of rocks! For the most part, the graphic jewels occurred towards the end of the game, but until you get there, you get smeared dulled landscape and blocky objects devoid of tonal gradation. I was also largely disappointed in the game’s overall graphic environment. The story is obtuse, and left me starving for clarity. I normally relish mysteries, but I can’t say I particularly enjoyed this one. Largely, it’s a mystery waiting to be solved. Something is about to happen to you.ĭear Esther is a simplistic game: you use your WASD keys to move and there are no save states. You definitely have a palpable sense of dread and sadness. You are alone with only this inner voice to piece together why you are wandering the island. Just when you think you’re at the end of one path, another one opens up to you. You walk and find obscure clues in caves. A large lighthouse can be seen in the distance. Items are located that indicate someone was once there. The island is pretty bleak for the most part as sunken ships dot the shoreline and hollow houses perch on the edges of the path. The sequence of the story is disjointed, but you quickly get the sense that what you are hearing are letter excerpts from a man to his beloved. As you hit certain targets in the game, a male voiceover starts to speak, “Dear Esther…” The voice tells you stories about himself and some history of the island. So naturally I wanted to dive into Dear Esther, a seemingly popular Walking Sim by the developers who brought you the grand Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture.ĭear Esther is a story that begins with you walking around a large island. I’ve been on a real Walking Simulator kick thanks in part to a recent playthrough of What Remains of Edith Finch.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |