GRIS

This game. Wow. There were many times during it that I was left genuinely speechless, or when the feelings and thoughts it evoked were so powerful that I found that I just had to stop and think. This game is about grief and loss and healing. It is presented in a way that provides a highly relatable narrative in a simple, non-verbal way and allows the player to not only take in what is being conveyed but to project their own experiences upon it in a way that I found to be genuinely therapeutic. This game knows exactly what it is. It is not intended to be a punishingly difficult platformer or a mind-bending puzzle, although the platforming and puzzle elements are well balanced for the experience that the developers are sharing with the player. This game is about the human heart, and is a tool to help the player explore what is in their own heart and move towards a feeling of catharsis, relief, and healing. For those who have gone through difficult loss and trauma, there are small, important details that the developers included that the player will relate to. This game is also a stunning piece of art, both visually and auditorily. There were several areas that I just stopped progressing and allowed myself to take in the ethos of the mindscape that the developers created. This surreal, fantasy world holds many emotional truths that are spoken without words, but communicated in a profoundly clear way. As I worked through the experience that Nomada created, I felt seen and understood. It was not what I was expecting. The ending sequence... holy cow! I was genuinely moved to tears at the powerful use of visual and auditory symbols, especially the intertwining of two voices at once for the first time in the soundtrack. This is a game I will be thinking about for a long time, and that I will wholeheartedly recommend to others.

Gris is the type of game that transcends or, rather, blurs the boundaries between game and holistic experience. While purists (i.e. platformer die-hards) might get somewhat bored by Gris' simple challenges and the fact that you can't really lose, I firmly believe that this shouldn't stand in their way. Trust me, give yourself the opportunity of living a strong, almost cathartic experience of playing this game. I don't think that by judging the game on a gameplay basis only does it justice: it's a living, breathing organism that requires your undivided attention. One cannot experience the game without feeling awed by its stunning visual & environmental narrative in tandem with the marvelous sound design (best experienced with headphones). I truly feel that this is a game where, as another reviewer put it, you don't play to overcome a challenge or test your platforming skills (there are much better games out there to do so); instead, you play because you feel inspired to. There's not many "A-ha moments" here; but give yourself the chance to play this game and you'll find yourself smiling plenty of times in front of several small yet poignant revelations.

When I started up GRIS, I couldn't believe what I was immersed in. Each level became exponentially more incredible than the last, from the visuals to the sound. The gameplay was simple and not too tricky, which allowed a constant focus on the experience of existing within the game. I wish more games were made like GRIS . . . with such subtle attention to detail. It is really, really incredible.

Gris grabs you right from the outset, and demands that you trudge on through its' masterfully crafted world. Not because anyone is telling you (in-game or out), not because there are waypoints or HUD objectives telling you, but simply because it invokes a curiosity in the player. A wonder not captured in many other games is on display here. The vivid art style, the harmonizing mechanics and the loose storytelling all lend themselves to a sense of awe that you'll be hard pressed to find in other games, let alone other media. It utilizes all that makes storytelling in games unique, and reaches breathtaking heights with it. Cutscenes are sparse and obtrusive handholding/jarring elements are thrown to the wayside to really capture the vision Gris set out for itself. Refreshingly, the game also recontextualizes failure states from the standard "death, retry" system, and instead focuses more so on setbacks. If you miss a jump in this game, the only punishment is having to walk back to where you began it to once try again. Even when you think the game might be running on fumes with a newly introduced mechanic in one section, it reinvents itself entirely in another with varied gameplay elements and challenges that are appropriately introduced and structured and are a blast to complete. The description is right in that it is a truly frustration-free experience, and one that I believe anyone who boots up the game can complete. Definitely a sleeper hit just when everyone thought the year was winding down, but a hit that smacks harder than any to have come before it. Serene, captivating and mesmerizing while still managaing to be strong in the only way games as a medium can. Not gonna say anymore as this one is a must in my books, just thank you to Nomada Studios for such an astonishing experience!

I love the game in both the mechanics and atmosphere. This is not a game we simply aim to beat or to finish to see the ending, but it is one that we players dive deep into the world to discover and to enjoy every bit we see and hear within. I bought both the game and the OST, I truly wish artbook or official wallpapers are released too.