GONE HOME. (2013) So yeah, this game wasn't very good, in my opinion. So many wasted opportunities. I must first clarify that I generally love the genre of the "walking simulator" and visual narratives/visual novel type games where storytelling, graphic arts and music come together in perfect harmony to offer a profound and meaningful experience. Often these games are very interactive relying on the players intellect and powers of observation before progressing, and small details paint the greatest of pictures. This had some of those factors.
The thing is, Gone Home started out with such promise, such as a deeply mysterious premise and filled to the brim with hints of supernatural otherworldly elements. One minute you might think ghosts, the next alien abductions etc. But sadly the truth is a huge letdown, because in this game- the truth is the most obvious outcome. Which isn't the best thing for a twist ending.
While there's nothing wrong with high school themed stories about angsty tweens, filled with teenage dramas etc. It does bother me when the developers use tricky tactics in order to engage you, only to end with such an anti-climactic letdown ending. Very disappointing and lazy storytelling, in my opinion. The ending was very predictable from the very beginning, and all the other "mysteries" were such obvious red herrings that ended up feeling cheap. I feel like I would had preferred one of those red herrings.
[SIDENOTE: I disliked this game, but that is mostly due to the obtuse storytelling. The graphics were pretty decent and the house fairly interesting to traverse. There was some decent music as well as some pretty good voice acting. Also, the art design and branding was done by one of my favorite artists, Emily Carroll. Great job there.]
Without spoiling, the ending of Gone Home is one of those endings that negates everything that happened before it, rendering the game pretty much pointless, while at the same time downplaying the drama of the real truth. It makes the player feel they wasted their own time with a story that didn't even know what it wanted to be. Also, I feel the theme of there being any real mystery or paranormal elements attracts the wrong audience for it, and maybe why it was such a let down to me. Perhaps I was expecting a real story, with real mystery, and real heart- but instead got a bunch clichés hidden under layers of intriguing concepts. Once you realize there's nothing really unique going on beneath, there is no true mystery, you can't help but feel a bit let down. So yeah, not a great game, kind of a waste of money. At least it was on sale.
STORY: 1/10 GAMEPLAY: 3/10 GRAPHICS: 6/10 ART DESIGN: 8/10 MUSIC: 6/10 OVERALL RATING: 2.5.
The thing is, Gone Home started out with such promise, such as a deeply mysterious premise and filled to the brim with hints of supernatural otherworldly elements. One minute you might think ghosts, the next alien abductions etc. But sadly the truth is a huge letdown, because in this game- the truth is the most obvious outcome. Which isn't the best thing for a twist ending.
While there's nothing wrong with high school themed stories about angsty tweens, filled with teenage dramas etc. It does bother me when the developers use tricky tactics in order to engage you, only to end with such an anti-climactic letdown ending. Very disappointing and lazy storytelling, in my opinion. The ending was very predictable from the very beginning, and all the other "mysteries" were such obvious red herrings that ended up feeling cheap. I feel like I would had preferred one of those red herrings.
[SIDENOTE: I disliked this game, but that is mostly due to the obtuse storytelling. The graphics were pretty decent and the house fairly interesting to traverse. There was some decent music as well as some pretty good voice acting. Also, the art design and branding was done by one of my favorite artists, Emily Carroll. Great job there.]
Without spoiling, the ending of Gone Home is one of those endings that negates everything that happened before it, rendering the game pretty much pointless, while at the same time downplaying the drama of the real truth. It makes the player feel they wasted their own time with a story that didn't even know what it wanted to be. Also, I feel the theme of there being any real mystery or paranormal elements attracts the wrong audience for it, and maybe why it was such a let down to me. Perhaps I was expecting a real story, with real mystery, and real heart- but instead got a bunch clichés hidden under layers of intriguing concepts. Once you realize there's nothing really unique going on beneath, there is no true mystery, you can't help but feel a bit let down. So yeah, not a great game, kind of a waste of money. At least it was on sale.
STORY: 1/10 GAMEPLAY: 3/10 GRAPHICS: 6/10 ART DESIGN: 8/10 MUSIC: 6/10 OVERALL RATING: 2.5.