I really enjoyed this game. More than I expected to even. Good voice acting, interesting characters, unique animation style, and just the right amount of humor. Good puzzles that aren't unfair, and the soundtrack is top-notch. If you're a fan of old school style point-and-click adventures this is an enjoyable if not terribly long one you'll probably enjoy.
I've been playing adventure games my whole life and this was one of the most unique and beautiful games I've ever played. I was able to beat it without hints and it was so satisfying I scarcely have the words. The art and concept are beautiful, it's a very cerebral game, truly an interactive work of art.
I haven't played this, so this is a review of the concept and timing, both of which are terrible. I'm not a pearl clutcher, and I typically beg to be offended and often offend others, but this is just icky to me. If the game stands on its own merits it wouldn't need a sensationalist title like this. Could have been named after any generic outbreak or pandemic. Obvious attempt to cash in on a global catastrophe that's still killing thousands of people every day.
Did I miss a meeting where saying you don't get something now makes you SMARTER than other people? A lot of the negative reviews of this game clearly miss the point and are blaming the developers for their need to have their hand held with a narrative the ties up in a neat bow at the end. Sadly, that's not always how things are in totalitarian regimes like the one featured in Papers, Please. This game isn't supposed to play by the rules of normal games. It's not supposed to be fair, it's debatable whether it's even supposed to be "fun" in the traditional sense. It's a heartbreaking and nerve wracking and brilliantly done simulation. I wasn't even going to write a review of this game until I saw some of the chowderheads who I assume accidentally found this game thinking it was Fortnite or something.
I've been playing point-and-click adventure games for the better part of 30 years so I'm always on the look-out for something that tweaks the tried-and-true formula while remaining faithful to its essential components. Bad Dream: Coma is a perfect example of that. Its puzzles are clever without resorting to "moon logic" too often, and everything feels planned out. Its simplistic art style might turn some people off, but I found it to be a really rich experience. The world and feel its style helps create is genuinely creepy at times and really worth seeing for yourself. The game offers multiple pathways/endings, so there's solid replay value. I was able to beat the game in about 12 hours, only getting a hint from an FAQ once. The game's attention to detail is what makes it great. Clicking around the screen will yield different sound effects depending what you click on, and the music heightens the game's eerie, ominous vibe. The story isn't stunningly complex, but true to its name it really does recreate the feeling of being in a weird bad dream. Unfortunately the sequel, Bad Dream: Fever, made some questionable choices that were a big let down for me, but I absolutely loved Bad Dream: Coma.
Night in the Woods is not easily categorizable. It's not quite a platformer, it's not quite an adventure. It has elements of both, but at heart it's a narrative driven tale about a group of young anthropomorphic animal friends living their lives. It's funny, it's poignant, it's relatable to just about anyone, especially if you grew up in a small town or at any point struggled with money or finding your place in the world in making the leap to adulthood. The characters are very modern, as is the dialogue, but even though I grew up in the 90s it still struck an emotional chord with me many times. It touches on modern issues like the lower and middle classes being squeezed, the struggles of small town America and mental illness, to name a few, never while coming off as preachy, in my opinion. The animation, music and dialogue are all top notch. I've played hundreds of adventure games in my life and I've never so actively (obsessively, really) sought to follow every possible dialogue tree in every conversation or item interaction. Each time I replay it I discover something new. The minigames are fun and cute little diversions, but really not what the game is all about. This game is all about subtlety. Every day of the game the autumn becomes a tiny bit more prominent. More leaves appearing on the ground, pumpkins in front of peoples' homes, etc. For max enjoyment, allow yourself to become immersed in this world and surrender to what it is rather than what you expect from "a game". Just let it unfold and enjoy. Bottom line: if you're looking for Halo 8, this isn't it. If you want an interesting experience exploring this beautifully animated world inhabited by interesting characters with many paths to take and great replayability, this is for you. It's without a doubt one of my favorite games I've ever played, and I do not say that lightly.
