I expected a conventional, by-the-numbers point-and-click game, with a typical, american "small town horror" story, and a visually stunning piece.
Well, it turns out. I wasn't that blown away by its visuals. I liked it most of the time, the pixel art it's pleasant to look at and it conveys all the info you need. The game truly excels at backgrounds though, compared to character design. Still, it's good, that's for sure.
The gameplay is...weird. Mixing typical mechanics of the genre with many other elements, such as turn-based battles with quick time events, and top-down driving? And for me, that's the key to understand for those that seem to be dissapointed with the combat. They want to see it as a combat "system" when the game treats it as nothing more than a minigame.
The puzzles felt very engaging for me, the exploration was intriguing. It was never too much to handle, it was never so loose that I wouldn't care. Except for a single part of a grander puzzle in the final parts of the game, I believe all of it can be beaten without a guide.
The story was something else. You gotta understand, for us worldwiders, in like, anyone from outside America (or USA for many of us), your culture can be strange. Those stories about people in a small town, most of the time in the middle of nowhere, where either a tragedy, a supernatural event or a capitalist takeover happens, seem so cliché. I don't necessarily hate the premise, though, I gave this game a chance after all. I'm so happy I did!
Norco's story may not be perfect, there may be some plot holes and some predictable results, but only some. As this game excels in its writing, balancing a lighter tone with effective drama and tension, with perfectly-defined characters and motivations. The predictability does end, and some curveballs are thrown.
This is an easy recommendation for any fan of the genre. I can't fathom finishing it in 3 or 4 hours like many seem to suggest.
Played for around 12 hours through Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series S.
Well, it turns out. I wasn't that blown away by its visuals. I liked it most of the time, the pixel art it's pleasant to look at and it conveys all the info you need. The game truly excels at backgrounds though, compared to character design. Still, it's good, that's for sure.
The gameplay is...weird. Mixing typical mechanics of the genre with many other elements, such as turn-based battles with quick time events, and top-down driving? And for me, that's the key to understand for those that seem to be dissapointed with the combat. They want to see it as a combat "system" when the game treats it as nothing more than a minigame.
The puzzles felt very engaging for me, the exploration was intriguing. It was never too much to handle, it was never so loose that I wouldn't care. Except for a single part of a grander puzzle in the final parts of the game, I believe all of it can be beaten without a guide.
The story was something else. You gotta understand, for us worldwiders, in like, anyone from outside America (or USA for many of us), your culture can be strange. Those stories about people in a small town, most of the time in the middle of nowhere, where either a tragedy, a supernatural event or a capitalist takeover happens, seem so cliché. I don't necessarily hate the premise, though, I gave this game a chance after all. I'm so happy I did!
Norco's story may not be perfect, there may be some plot holes and some predictable results, but only some. As this game excels in its writing, balancing a lighter tone with effective drama and tension, with perfectly-defined characters and motivations. The predictability does end, and some curveballs are thrown.
This is an easy recommendation for any fan of the genre. I can't fathom finishing it in 3 or 4 hours like many seem to suggest.
Played for around 12 hours through Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series S.