Strangeland

I was betatester of this game and I have played it several times so I know what I am talking about when making this review. First of all, don’t expect another Primordia. This game is very different because it was made from grieve, it was made not only from the heart but the very soul itself (if you want to know the inspirations for the game, just google Strangeland inspirations). It is complicated to talk about the game without spoilers, but I will try. The game is strange, yes, bizarre, disconcerting until you keep putting all the pieces together. Puzzles are logical, you have a helping hot line so it is difficult to get stuck. Visuals are superb, the sound is outstanding and the characters… well, it is better you discover them yourself. It’s a game that Goya would have painted if he could. It’s a game that Borges would had written if he could. It’s a game that touches you, that makes you suffer with the main character, but hey, there is no gain without pain. Don’t expect a Disney story here. To nitpick, I would say there are too many quotes in the game, but that’s how the author wanted to write it, so who am I to judge? Is it a game for everybody? Probably not, as The Cat Lady or Fran Bow. But if you are not afraid of darkness, madness, you like H. R. Giger work, or just want to get on board on a trip through a strange Carnival or Theme Park, you will enjoy it as much as I did. I strongly recommend to replay the game with annotations. You will learn a lot from a lot of things, and you will find out why the game is like it is. And as The Smiths used to say, “There is a light that never goes out…”

Strangeland is difficult to define without giving too much away, but you may still be looking for answers at the end. I loved Primordia, and the production values here are the same or better, but the thread of a plot is a bit more blurry. Many of the concepts and symbols aren't entirely clear to everyone. The Black Dog is obvious to many, but not a phrase others have heard. Combined with a protaganist that doesn't have an arc so much as travels through this strange land (I will not apologize for the pun) as an observer through most of the game. The world itself is more of the star, with classic point and click levels of exploration. It's very well constructed, but, once again, isn't as clear as I think it was meant to be. A playthrough may be around four hours, and may end with more confusion than payoff. I had only heavy suspicions about what was intended to be clear about the plot. However, the game features annotations and commentary that finishes painting the scene, and can be used to get a better handle on the plot. Even skipping a chunk of dialogue, animations, and time spent pondering puzzles, that was another four hours of game time. As a grand experiment or a philisophical art piece, it's top tier. As a game, it lacks a compelling journey, and the hero is a bit bland despite terrific voice acting. Speaking of, the voice acting, visual and audio effects, and art are all amazingly at home, making it all the better. I desperately wish I could give it four and a half stars, but the hero lacks a journey, and I can't give it five stars. I still highly recommend it if you are interested enough to read this far. It's worth your time if you're interested in these kinds of worlds.

It's not for everyone and it's not another Primordia that's for sure. It's a surreal experience. Bit heavy handed when it comes to symbolism and it's more about how you will feel at the end rather than what story you have been told. If you like dark adventure games, absolutely get it. There's a chance you might not like it and there's a chance you will never forget this game. It's worth to check out.

The game sometimes feels kind of flat. It focuses too much on some of it's (rather unique?) mechanics and ideas and a bit too little on actually being immersive, intriguing or enjoyable. I can think of several things that impressed me, but I didn't actually enjoy the game that much. Played it a while ago, my mind has finally decided it's 3/5.