For this post, I tackle three games from my Steam backlog: Gris, Cultist Simulator, and Subsurface Circular. One is about a lost young woman, another is about finding your way through the seedy streets of Jazz-Age London, and the last is about riding the subway while looking for the truth.
Let’s dive in, shall we? (No spoilers, I promise!)
Gris (2018)
Developer: Nomada Studio
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: PC (also available on macOS, Nintendo Switch)
Genre: Platform-adventure
Mode: Single-player
Why I Chose It: Look at it, people! It’s so purty, I couldn’t help myself.
The premise: Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.
Discussion: The game begins with the image of a girl, Gris, being held in a massive hand. The hand crumbles, though, and Gris is dropped into a desolate, almost entirely colorless world. As the player, you must explore the world, reclaiming the color and returning Gris to a better place.
Example of gameplay from Steam
The gameplay is easy-peasy—it’s your standard side-scroller, a la Super Mario Bros., though your movements develop past running and jumping as the game progresses. The graphics are beautiful, as is the music (the soundtrack is available for separate purchase). The world is vast and sparse, but there are strange animals and ruins to explore, and those drew me in as much as Gris’s mission.
Conclusion: This game has gorgeous graphics, beautiful music, and atmosphere up the yin-yang, so if you’re looking for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, give Gris a go.
Cultist Simulator (2018)
Developer: Weather Factory
Mobile Version Developer: Playdigious
Publisher: Humble Bundle
Platform: PC (also available on Linux, macOS, Android, iOS)
Genre: Simulation game
Mode: Single-player
Why I Chose It: Because I’m interested in cults, and the game’s gotten a lot of good buzz.
The premise: Seize forbidden treasures. Summon alien gods. Feed on your disciples. Cultist Simulator is a game of apocalypse and yearning from Alexis Kennedy, creator of Fallen London and Sunless Sea. Play as a seeker after unholy mysteries in a 1920s-themed setting of hidden gods and secret histories.
Discussion: This a narrative/text-based/card game, where the player distributes cards in different categories, earns new cards (some which come with a built-in timer), and, if you’re me, dies a lot. But the narrative is on-going, so when your character dies, your next character may know something about/have had interactions with one of your previous characters. (For example: This happened to me when I played as a dancer and then a medical student, who tended to the dancer as she died.)
As mentioned in the premise, the game is set in the 1920s, in a barely disguised alternate version of London. The art is simple but pleasing, though the text was far too small for me until I cranked it up to 125%. However, I’m beginning to suspect I may need bifocals, so YMMV. Finally, the music is atmospheric without being intrusive. (And if you really dig the soundtrack, it’s available for independent purchase.)
Example of gameplay from Steam
While I found the enigmatic messages, characters, and locations intriguing, I never figured out how to survive long enough to delve below the game’s surface. Then again, I don’t have much patience when it comes to gameplay. If there isn’t a tutorial or the gameplay isn’t fairly clear or intuitive from the start, I get frustrated and quit. I’m also not great at “card” games, whether IRL—Magic: The Gathering—or online—Hearthstone. You may ask why I even tried this game in the first place. Well, because it looked cool, and you’ll never know if you don’t try, right? (It also doesn’t hurt that Steam has a fairly generous return policy.)
At any rate, I did find a very helpful “how-to” guide on YouTube by norespawns for those of you who have the skill and/or patience to dedicate to this game. And I can think of four or five friends off the top of my head who are either already playing CS and loving it or who would dive right in and never look back, so if this sounds even slightly up your alley, I urge you to give it a try.
Conclusion: Cultist Simulator is not my personal cup of tea, but for the right player, I really think it’s well worth the money and effort.
Subsurface Circular (2017)
Developer: Mike Bithell Games
Publisher: Mike Bithell Games
Platform: PC (also available on iOS, Nintendo Switch)
Genre: Text-based adventure game
Mode: Single-player
Why I Chose It: Check out my review of Detroit: Become Human, and it will all make sense. (Short version: I’m a little obsessed with androids.) I’m also a fan of Bithell’s other games, which are mentioned in the premise below.
The premise: When the truth is buried, go underground. Step into this new take on text-based adventure from the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume. A short story that hands you the fate of the world above, as a detective looking for answers on the Subsurface Circular.
Discussion: Okay, so the gameplay is pretty basic; it’s all point-and-click. You play as a detective Tek (the term for androids in this game) riding the Subsurface Circular. (So it’s not just a clever name!) Only Teks seem to ride the SC, and the stops have names like “Syntax Error.” Early on, another Tek mentions a missing friend. And, just like that, you’re a detective on the case.
You question other Teks when they board the SC, getting as involved or not in their “personal” business as you like. There are some puzzles to be solved, but for the most part, you’re asking questions, getting answers, and resolving objectives.
Example of gameplay from Steam
The graphics are serviceable. There’s kind of a blurry, lens flare-y vibe going on. I was a little nervous about getting motion sick while I played because the train rocks slightly and you can see the walls and lights of the subway as the car passes them, but I was totally fine. I think it helps that the camera mostly focuses on the Tek with whom you’re talking. The music is…there? Honestly, I didn’t notice it, but that’s because the mystery grabbed me right out of the gate and didn’t let up until the final credits.
Conclusion: Of all three games, this one was by far my favorite. Like I said, I love android-centered narratives, and I found the mystery quite compelling. The replay value is low, but the creators included a commentary, which can be added once you’ve completed a whole playthrough, and I definitely dug the game well enough to give that a listen. End of the day, this isn’t a long game, but it’s one that will stick with you even after you’ve finished it.
And that’s the end of this month’s post. Next month, I might tackle a series, like Art of Murder, Space Pilgrim, or Orwell. Stay tuned!
No Comments