This game is quite polarizing, and I'm one of those who falls into the positive camp. Yes, it is quite short and the gameplay is overly simplistic even for an adventure game, but this little gem transcends all that with its story and atmosphere. The story starts out feeling like a murder mystery or even a supernatural horror game, but as it progresses it turns out to be a much more personal and engaging story about growing up and finding oneself that will keep you mesmerized until the very end. The immersion is helped greatly thanks to the loving recreation of the 90s that game takes place in and the fascinating side stories you can investigate as you go. I took off a star because of the length. It's hard to justify even a $10 price tag for three hours of game play (5-6 if you look into the side content), so wait for it to go on sale to get the best bang for the buck. Despite its faults, the heart warming story and incredibly detailed, nostalgia-laden setting make this game so much more than so many of the reviews here make it out to be.
Many games have have received episodic releases in the modern day, but the episodes often tend to vary wildly in quality, particularly in terms of story. The Last Door, over the course of two seasons, has never had that problem. The visuals, while lovely in their own way, are deliberately vague so as to shift focus on two specific aspects: story and sound. The writing for this series is spectacular and, while an obvious homage to Lovecraft, still retains a unique, disturbing identity. The central mystery is well-crafted and revealed at a pitch-perfect pace which keeps your riveted from the off. The sound design, as with season one, is the real star here. The weather effects and background sounds put you in the heart of London and isles of Ireland in the 19th century, the sound effects used to perfection to put you off your ease and genuinely startle you and the soundtrack is, once again, beautiful and melancholy. Now that Game Kitchen and Phoenix Online Studios have shown us what they're capable of, I hope they continue putting out games with this level of quality.
This game is, quite possibly, one of the most lovingly crafted titles in the last decade, at least. The core gameplay is in the vein of games like Bastion, Lufia and the old school Zelda titles in that its a simple matter of swinging your sword and wailing on enemies. Like the graphics, the gameplay evolves constantly and will have you surprised, delighted and laughing with each new mechanic. Some highlights include a dead accurate simulation of Chrono Trigger's classic combat, a Street Fighter-style boss encounter (complete with hadouken super move) and a surprisingly deep nod to Puzzle Quest's unique combination of Bejeweled gem-matching and RPG abilities. The graphics, as I mentioned, evolve as you playing, ranging from the signature green and black of the original GameBoy to beautifully rendered 32-bit visuals, all matched with an art style reminiscent of Chrono Trigger and, most especially, Golden Sun. The addictively evolving gameplay and brilliant visuals are anchored by a soundtrack that will make you want to buy it from the first few notes and tons of hilarious and clever references in both the dialogue and the game world itself (including nods to everything from Kingdom Hearts to Fire Emblem). As a conclusion, here are a few things to keep in mind about the game: its very linear at first, but be patient: when the game opens up it REALLY opens up; a controller is a must; there are very few guides for this game online, so be prepared for tough, well-designed puzzles, well hidden collectibles and unpredictable enemies and dungeons. Do not hesitate to get this game. It's a wonderful experience, particularly for long time gamers, and constantly delights in every aspect.
Many have used Lovecraft as an influence in various media but few have succeeded on this level. The story seems like it could have been a lost work of Lovecraft himself. The game follows the unsettling investigations of a man named Jeremiah into the bizarre suicide of a a close friend. The thrilling, supernatural mystery narrative will have you riveted from the game's intro and will keep you hooked until its conclusion, which, sadly, arrives all too soon. The wonderfully written story is bolstered by a beautifully haunting soundtrack and surprisingly well-implemented retro visuals. My only complaint is that Season 2 isn't here yet. Get on it, guys!
