This review is purely based on the game itself, the incident this game is widely known for is not relevant to any discussion of my opinions on this game.
I should also preface I am not somebody who, to my own knowledge, experiences depression. If this game is accurate to the lived experience of others is not my place to comment. I can only speak for my feelings and experiences. With two prefaces out the way, I feel comfortable saying this game really polarises me.
There are moments where I stared at the screen in silence realising other people in my life or I myself have done some of the behaviour shown in this game, and that mirror reflecting back at me chilled me a lot. Knowing that it is a experience that isn't just isolated to just me and the people I know felt almost revealing in a way. Knowing that other people are out there to share in experiences as sad as these is a reason for art to exist, to share in emotion and experiences that are uniquely human.
That being said, for every moment I felt like my own life experience was seen, a lot of others felt very ham-fisted, there was a lot of moments I thought could have been handled better, and the major issue I have is the game part of this game.
This having multiple endings, there being a "True" ending, feels wrong. No matter what, I feel the experience is cheapened knowing there is a "right way" to be playing it. You can ignore this fact and only play it once, the experience you got, and I think if I did that I would of been more positive towards the game However, knowing that there is other, better endings, it becomes a active effort to ignore that information when privy to it. It was my fault I went through the effort of getting these endings to see how they're handled.
I am not a fan at all with how the "correct" options to get to some of these endings feel really wrong. Lying to please people being one that stuck out as really strange to me. It feels like what you yourself might view as healthier or more productive choices aren't the ones the game thinks are correct, and that just doesn't sit right with me. But this is heavily subjective, you might think all the choices made to reaching this "True" ending are sound and entirely logical. I will still have issue with the fact it exists at all.
While this game will stick with me really personally in regards to moments that struck at my core and made me consider myself and others more, I can't say it was a flawless execution.
I'm happy this game exists for those it helped, and if it helped you, that is a testament to the power of games and art.
I should also preface I am not somebody who, to my own knowledge, experiences depression. If this game is accurate to the lived experience of others is not my place to comment. I can only speak for my feelings and experiences. With two prefaces out the way, I feel comfortable saying this game really polarises me.
There are moments where I stared at the screen in silence realising other people in my life or I myself have done some of the behaviour shown in this game, and that mirror reflecting back at me chilled me a lot. Knowing that it is a experience that isn't just isolated to just me and the people I know felt almost revealing in a way. Knowing that other people are out there to share in experiences as sad as these is a reason for art to exist, to share in emotion and experiences that are uniquely human.
That being said, for every moment I felt like my own life experience was seen, a lot of others felt very ham-fisted, there was a lot of moments I thought could have been handled better, and the major issue I have is the game part of this game.
This having multiple endings, there being a "True" ending, feels wrong. No matter what, I feel the experience is cheapened knowing there is a "right way" to be playing it. You can ignore this fact and only play it once, the experience you got, and I think if I did that I would of been more positive towards the game However, knowing that there is other, better endings, it becomes a active effort to ignore that information when privy to it. It was my fault I went through the effort of getting these endings to see how they're handled.
I am not a fan at all with how the "correct" options to get to some of these endings feel really wrong. Lying to please people being one that stuck out as really strange to me. It feels like what you yourself might view as healthier or more productive choices aren't the ones the game thinks are correct, and that just doesn't sit right with me. But this is heavily subjective, you might think all the choices made to reaching this "True" ending are sound and entirely logical. I will still have issue with the fact it exists at all.
While this game will stick with me really personally in regards to moments that struck at my core and made me consider myself and others more, I can't say it was a flawless execution.
I'm happy this game exists for those it helped, and if it helped you, that is a testament to the power of games and art.