Vadim Gorodetsky

An excellent experience despite a few annoying flaws. First, the graphics are very nice. Very good use of pixel art. Lots of atmosphere, beatiful art and animations. Second, the music perfectly sets the mood and adds to the emotional journey, never taking over. Third, the gameplay is smooth, though never really challenging. Some platforming, some basic puzzle solving, a little bit of "combat", lots of walking and very little metroidvania elements, where things locked or not available in the level at first, will become so, once certain item is obtained or puzzle is solved, backtracking pending. Overall, none of those overstay its welcome, and the game switches between activities at a very good pace, keeping the gameplay flow nicely. Now to the flaws: First, the story is bashingly confusing at first. It's all atmosphere and mystery, but lots of confusing nonsencial narration that basically means nothing and has very little effect on the eventual resolution. The meaning behind all the alegories and metaphors got so lost, I barely remembered anything while playing. Only towards the end, things begin somewhat to make sense and then the ending bashes you on the head with an "aha-a-a!" moment that really feels quite disconnected, though starting to fit the narrative in retrospect. But not before that. So, the narration gives very little motivation to play. Thankfully, everything else compensates nicely. Second, the knight sections are frustratingly simple and repetative. These are the only sections where you're barely engaged in anything but button smashing in extremely simplistic combat, except the enemy doesn't really fights back. I understand that narratively it works, but gameplay-wise it is simply boring and annoying. Same with the old man's sections. You just walk. Very slowly. It halts the game and tests your patience. Fits the narrative, but works against the gameplay. Third, the controls can be wonky sometimes. It doesn't bother most of the time, but occasionally it would really hurt the experience. So in the end, the game left me with a very pleasant after-taste. The story was good and packed the emotional punch needed after the confusing beginning, the gameplay was fun and easy and the graphics along with the music contributed a lot to the short but very good experience.

I actually really enjoyed the game. But yeah, expectations need to be adjusted. This is not an adventure game, this is more akin to Heavy Rain or The Walking Dead. Gameplay is minimalistic, in a way of puzzles or any interactions beyond walking, talking and some very basic interaction with a limited items in the environment. Not a walking simulator, and not an interactive movie exactly, but something very similar. In narrative games like that, plot and characters are very important, and here it works pretty well for what it is. We get enough background on some of the characters and most of it is pretty fleshed out. However, the protagonist is really unlikable to the end, so it's kinda hard to empathize with him. But on another hand, that's life, that's actually kinda realistic. Most people aren't saints and can be real douchebags or become ones during their lifetime. As for the plot - it held decently well up to its ending where as usual in these type of games, movies and TV shows, it all collapsed on itself, leaving a lot of loose ends and logical questions. But that was kind of expected. Another thing that irked me was the stylistic choice for the graphics. The environments are pretty good looking with nice stylistic textures and lightning, but the human characters are all made out of awkward low-poly models that just don't look well in this world and really stand out. I see very little reason for that, so that bothered me throughout the entire game. Everything else is very decent. The voicework is good, the music fits the mood, though nothing really stands out and the motif gets repetative very soon. All in all, I do recommend the game for people who like narrative experiences with little actual challenge and active gameplay. These kind of games certainly have their place, when done well, and this one is very decent, especially for its price and the short amount of time it takes.

The prologue was amazing and held lots of promise. None of it came through, unfortunately. Nothing that comes after the prologue comes close to realize the potential. The fantastic mix of the pixel art and the pixel-shader effects displayed in the city scene - barely there and scarcely used. The puzzles and stealth elements - gone. The detective noir narrative - abruptly abandoned for some post-apocalyptic nonsense. And what for? We get a kind of 2D walking simulator that is more linear than a visual novel as you progress forward, that tells us... well... I don't know. Class divide? I guess it's there a little bit. Philosophical musing on what is self? Ahem, yeah... kinda there too. Feminism? Stringed into the dialogue here and there. Pretty out of nowhere too. The destructive nature of man? Ape? Life? Ah, sure. Feels like the creators wanted to touch many topics, but didn't have the time, the resources or the basic idea of how to do it. So they just left whatever ideas there and barely developed them into something coherent. It's a huge disappointment. HUGE! So five stars for the Prologue. Down one star with each following act. Nothing left at the end.

The show started slow and uneven, but grew better and better with every season. Now after watching it in its entirety, I can say with a certainty, that this is a fantastic show in all respects. The animation is quick and fluid, where it needs to be, in the masterfuly directed action sequences. Static and artful during the dialogues and the narration. The voice work is phenominal, where every word spoken feels meaningful and well placed, fitting like verses in poetry. The story itself is not very innovative, but will have a few suprises under its sleave, measured and paced well.