Reviewed for The Big Issue in 2020:
Newly hired by a mysterious firm, architect Carmen is sent to photograph and review a luxury home. But instead of an indulgent working holiday, Carmen’s job takes a nightmarish turn for the surreal, threatening her friendships, family and sanity. Part hidden object puzzle, part social media simulator, HoloVista tasks players with taking photographs, then posting them on Carmen’s social media feed. Each 3D scene is cluttered with gorgeous neon, glitchy visuals, and an electronic soundtrack to match. No matter how long it takes to find an object, environments never grow stale – though extensive accessibility options and a hint system means there’s little chance of actually getting stuck.
The writing is sharp, with ruthless satire of online influencer culture met by thoughtful discussion of trauma, identity and forgiveness. It’s a combination made easier through humour, particularly in messages from Carmen’s friends.
HoloVista is a brief, rewarding adventure in digital dystopia. If you feel like you’ve spent too much time on Instagram lately, HoloVista might help you kick the habit – if only for a little while.
Newly hired by a mysterious firm, architect Carmen is sent to photograph and review a luxury home. But instead of an indulgent working holiday, Carmen’s job takes a nightmarish turn for the surreal, threatening her friendships, family and sanity. Part hidden object puzzle, part social media simulator, HoloVista tasks players with taking photographs, then posting them on Carmen’s social media feed. Each 3D scene is cluttered with gorgeous neon, glitchy visuals, and an electronic soundtrack to match. No matter how long it takes to find an object, environments never grow stale – though extensive accessibility options and a hint system means there’s little chance of actually getting stuck.
The writing is sharp, with ruthless satire of online influencer culture met by thoughtful discussion of trauma, identity and forgiveness. It’s a combination made easier through humour, particularly in messages from Carmen’s friends.
HoloVista is a brief, rewarding adventure in digital dystopia. If you feel like you’ve spent too much time on Instagram lately, HoloVista might help you kick the habit – if only for a little while.