Richard & Alice

My review was too long (thanks for not telling me HOW much too long, GOG), so here's the very short version: - interesting story, many (quite different) endings, 4h first play-through, worth the money - bad graphics, but great atmosphere. Sound unremarkable - Didn't like Puzzles, got stuck twice and was not the only one. Found solution in forums, otherwise no fun - Puzzles make sense, but spend a lot of time re-trying interacting with objects. - Is for people who like a good story and can tolerate adventure game play. - lots of reading text with some puzzles thrown in

I think my favorite thing about this game is there are not just multiple endings, but multiple scenes. It seems like absolutely everything you do in the game world effects something else somehow, whether it's just adding a sentence here or completely changing the way the end of the game plays out. From choosing to click on a seemingly pointless animal carcass or not to having a conversation with your five year old, it feels like everything you do is rewarded in the long run, giving this game great replayability if you like to ask like "well what if I only do what is absolutely necessary to get the characters through the story how will the ending play out?" it rewards every second your willing to spend in it.

"Richard and Alice" succeeds in creating a suspenseful story and oppressive atmosphere. There are few locations, so that you become familiar with your environment while in search of puzzle-solving solutions, which I like. My only real gripe is a sense that the end is somewhat unfinished... I can't quite put my finger on it. I would recommend the game to just about anybody.

Wonderful game. Easy puzzles, and an ASTONISHING storyline. Just great.... It's a very philosophical game, and full of emotion. It made me cry a bit in the end. Buy it, play it. Seriously. Not greaaaat stuff as a game, but PERFECT as a story.

The story is sad and unpleasant, if you don't mind the game being just a pretext to tell the tale it may be a thing for you. Although there is a slight plot twist at one point it's hard not to guess it much before it happens. But that is ok, because the focus of the story is on morality, so it is more important how the action is being justified then what exactly is being done. Puzzels are usually easy but require some tedious bactracking. Game is short - it took me 3h without using any walkthroughs or guides. When I ended playing I was a bit shaken and this is not a common thing with me. I woudln't say that I liked the experience, but it was definitelly worth time and money. If you liked (from a lack of a better word) Cormac McCathy's The Road you will probably like the story told in Richard and Alice.