I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd literally rather play Sticker Star. Does this really constitute as a game? 'Cause if it does, we've bridged the argument gap about what a game can and can't be. Visual Novels are not games? Nah, you haven't played Drowning in Problems yet (not that I thought VN's weren't games, they certainly are). You think a certain game is bad? Compare it to this, does the game in question do literally anything more than this game does? If it does, then congratulations, that game is now better all thanks to Drowning in Problems. The only problem I'm drowning in is this being classified as a "game".
There is literally no gameplay outside of clicking, no music, nothing,. Just text that is so arbitrary and trying to convey some semblance of a narrative, or reflection of humanity, or even attempt a self-reflection unto oneself is laughable at best, and an outright insult at worst. What offends me most is how the game wastes your time so brazenly, it doesn't even try to hide it, as if to reinforce whatever this "game" is trying to say. It becomes hilarious then that by doing so, the message is lost on me, and I felt like I lost valuable time of my life I could be doing something else I enjoy. If that's the point of the game, at least make it interesting or endearing in some fashion, this is just pure laziness and utterly soulless, nothing of value to be gained, everything to be lost.
You might make the argument that some games like point and click adventures, as well as visual novels I mentioned earlier, or something like cookie clicker could fall under the same category as this game. With no "real" gameplay as I described it. The main difference to me is that those games have other contributing factors to make the gameplay significant in some manner, such as visual novels allowing you to make choices. Point and click adventure games also have this, player agency, consequences, rewards, branching paths, and branching story. Even Cookie Clicker for just being a "clicking" game has a lot more going on than you expect compared to Drowning in Problems. I want to make my perspective crystal clear when I make a statement like "this shouldn't be considered a game". Because I genuinely believe that, but I'd be more than happy to delve deeper into the topic should someone ask me. Regardless, I do not consider this to be a game.
Thank you all for reading! Next review, something of far more substance and positivity! Until next time.
There is literally no gameplay outside of clicking, no music, nothing,. Just text that is so arbitrary and trying to convey some semblance of a narrative, or reflection of humanity, or even attempt a self-reflection unto oneself is laughable at best, and an outright insult at worst. What offends me most is how the game wastes your time so brazenly, it doesn't even try to hide it, as if to reinforce whatever this "game" is trying to say. It becomes hilarious then that by doing so, the message is lost on me, and I felt like I lost valuable time of my life I could be doing something else I enjoy. If that's the point of the game, at least make it interesting or endearing in some fashion, this is just pure laziness and utterly soulless, nothing of value to be gained, everything to be lost.
You might make the argument that some games like point and click adventures, as well as visual novels I mentioned earlier, or something like cookie clicker could fall under the same category as this game. With no "real" gameplay as I described it. The main difference to me is that those games have other contributing factors to make the gameplay significant in some manner, such as visual novels allowing you to make choices. Point and click adventure games also have this, player agency, consequences, rewards, branching paths, and branching story. Even Cookie Clicker for just being a "clicking" game has a lot more going on than you expect compared to Drowning in Problems. I want to make my perspective crystal clear when I make a statement like "this shouldn't be considered a game". Because I genuinely believe that, but I'd be more than happy to delve deeper into the topic should someone ask me. Regardless, I do not consider this to be a game.
Thank you all for reading! Next review, something of far more substance and positivity! Until next time.
4 Comments
Thank you! Despite my negative outlook, I still valued the experience since it only serves to deepen my understanding of things. It was indeed an "experience", one that was recommended to me actually by a particularly good friend of mine.
mf discovered kinetic vn's for the first time in 2023 somehow
@Seth I've known about Kinetic visual novels before. Since they lack player agency or really any input at all, they could also not be considered "games" since all you do is click to advance the text, or click "Auto" and you're good to go, no player input required. So yes, technically speaking, it'd be incredibly difficult to say kinetic visual novels are games under my standards. With that said, the biggest difference for me is the effort put in. Kinetic Visual Novels have sound, music, voice acting (usually), and of course, visuals. This elevates them far past anything a book could offer, and certainly offers much more than Drowning in Problems does. Despite being arguable they may not be games, they take advantage of the assets the medium offers, and is far more affordable to make than an anime, while offering a bit more than a manga or book. So I would say Kinetic Visual Novels are more of a game than Drowning in Problems. Appreciate the comment though, since you brought up an incredibly good point!
Lemonstrade
5 months ago