The Way

I found this game pretty much by accident, but right away fell in love with the look. The story kept me engaged the whole time as well and I finished it within two sessions. (which is very unusual for me these days, I mostly loose interest rather quick) One of the strongest points in that regard is the way, this game depicts how times passes. I mention this because it's something I noticed while playing, that is lacking in most games I would argue, or if it's done, it's not that good executed. That said, I must say if it was just for the gameplay, it wouldn't have held up that good, because it's quite frustrating at times. I tried my best to figure out things by myself, but as it seems to be common still today, some pieces won't fall into place even if you think it through as methodically as possible. Some mechanics you simply wouldn't think of as a legit option. Even so that some solutions feel a little glitchy, once I read them up. Anyway I could have ignored that simply because of the art and story. But I still have to subtract 2 stars, simply because there is one feature missing in the PC version (switch has it) which I craved during my playthrough. VOICE-OVER! I cannot see why this would have been so hard to implement if it's already done for another version... or just replace this one with the so called remastered version from switch. Still a good game but getting to know there is a better version right after was a massive disappointment. I only found out about this because I wanted to see the alternative ending on Youtube. (both are pretty good btw.)

It's more than an adventure game, it's an experience.

It ticks all the right boxes for me: pixel graphics that remind us of the good old days yet with a richness and layering that gives this kind of visual style new life; lots of puzzling puzzles; a very nice musical score that adds to the atmosphere and has subtle reminders to Blade Runner; enough in-game lore for the player to build up his own sense of the world without overloading it with exposition and leaving some interesting mysteries floating in the air; last but not least a moving story that carries the game with a sense of purpose and pathos up until the end. Five full shiny deserved stars.

The graphics are art. Incredibly well crafted. It does not leave unfilled ugly gaps or suffering of repetitive empty areas. Very detailed and beautiful with those little dust on lights, vast deserts and gardens and those wonderful tech areas and catacombs. Everything echoes and amplifies the feelings, that you could have if you are in such places - long forgotten, abandoned from eons, lying there for eternity, filled only with their ghosts and memories... Old catacombs, machinery of unknown origins that are still functioning, hidden incredible cities "under your very nose", jungles with incredible creatures, somehow not just extras - they fit perfectly and are part of the world in way that I can actually from time to tam ask myself "I wonder what are they doing now"... The accompanying friend is unique also and so well crafted, that he alone have sort of story told for the way he joins you - and that story have it's own morals and questions. And it is so well told in the course of the game that you do not even think of it as a story - he is just another part of the world, so important in the very way he comes to you, that this alone with it's morals is part of you yourself and his story is not separate but part of yours. Somehow poetic review but I cannot write anything else because of the feelings this game inspired in me. Very hard but rewarding game (for me at least). It feels like the endless struggle is somehow part of the plot. The sounds and soundtrack are perfectly resonating in you, the lonely nostalgic, sad feeling shining with revelations giving you hope... This is one of the very few games I can think of, that having so deep meaning in the story and conveyed Properly, make you think deeply in the bitter end. For a man with his woes, alone, against a world and universe and fate... In struggle futile as fight against the universe's laws... Puzzles require (and in my case develop) mind flexibility - sometimes you just think the wrong, the ordinary way.

I'm a few levels in so I think it's fair to review it at this point. The GFX, music, atmosphere and controls are so good. I'm completely immersed in this game. The macOS build has serious problems. It's the first application I've used in years that captures the system keys so I can't ALT+TAB to another application. I can't even change the volume or do anything with the keyboard other than play the game. Thís is particularly problematic when the game hangs - which it does often, usually around the scripted scenes. So I have to pull the plug on my computer. TLDR: a perfect game marred only by the macOS build. Very fixable so please do it!