Gorogoa is a game that's exquisitely crafted, not just in its single elements but the way they all combine. The visuals are fantastic and highly detailed, as you've probably seen for yourself, and it's mindblowing to think one person did all of it. The puzzle design is so clever throughout and gets more and more challenging in a very satisfying way. And the storytelling, done without words, is subtle in a way that made me want to play the game twice just so I could absorb the little bits I missed. Took me between 1-2 hours to beat, but I don't mind the length because the game didn't overstay its welcome. The way Gorogoa embodies its time and space warping concept on every level makes it truly memorable.
You have to play this firsthand to understand how good it is. It's a point-and-click without puzzles, because those would detract from the heady amount of fiction presented. There's dialogue choices kinda like in Telltale's games, but it's never has massive ramifications over the plot's events. The story--touching on debt, economic disaster, and the nature of video games themselves--is complex, confusing at times. But there's no end to the ideas and feelings put into it all, aided all the way by amazing visuals and ultimately grounded characters at its heart. Look on the surface, with story-heavy gameplay-lite dynamic, and call it pretentious or artsy-fartsy if you want, but I don't care. Cardboard Computer has both the knowledge and the soul to create some of the most magical, arresting moments I've ever seen a video game try. I like to think I'm jaded to the idea of taking video game narratives seriously, but Kentucky Route Zero has constantly taken me by surprise with every act put out. If you're waiting for KR0 to be completed, I can understand why, but what's already here is absolutely worth the price in my book.
