A NORMAL LOST PHONE REVIEW
A Normal Lost Phone isn't perfect, not by any means. Still, I found it to be a nice break from the skill and/or emotionally intensive games I've played this year. That's not to say it doesn't deal with some heavy subject matter too, but it does so in a warm and optimistic way that I appreciated - especially when you consider how most LGBT+ narratives go.
The story isn't executed flawlessly. The pacing is off, and there are times where it feels very clinical; I think this is just an issue that comes with writing a story about a minority when you are not apart of said minority. But still, you can tell the creators put in a lot of research and effort. It's very well-meaning. The presentation helps it along, too, adding a fresh layer that many games like this one completely neglect.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 4/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Story: 3/5
Gameplay: 2.5/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Achievments (Does not count toward overall score.): 3/5
Overall game score: 3/5
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
VISUALS:
The phone in ANLP is very pretty. Instead of traditional minimalist icons/setups, the team opted to go for an original 'painted' look. This definitely helps it stand out in the phone/computer sim genre.
I particularly really love the color palette. The pastel pinks, purples, yellows, and blues are both nice and easy to look at. I like to think they were chosen specifically to hint toward the big twist, too.
I appreciated all of the artwork for the characters. However, I do think that some of them are a tad rushed. The facial proportions or expressions feel off at times (I say this as an artist myself.) Still, there are some really nice pieces, and I admire the effort to include so many of them at all. Being able to put faces to names adds a lot. It definitely makes the story feel more personal.
Overall, 4/5.
Sound:
For its short length, ANLP sports an impressively expansive soundtrack. I really liked the fact that there's so many songs; usually in games only an hour or two long, you end up looping the same 1-3 pieces of music over and over. That wasn't the case here. It's not really MY personal taste, but it certainly isn't bad. Most importantly, it succeeds in setting a good atmosphere.
Overall, 3.5/5.
Story:
[Spoiler warning for this whole section.]
ANLP has a touching queer/trans narrative that - amazingly - doesn't end in heartbreak. This is one of the few times where I feel like the 'trans twist' feels organic, too. After all, Samira's closeted. She's hiding things so that her family can't snoop and find out her secret. It makes sense that you only discover the truth later on, especially because of the phone format.
What really makes it work, though, is the empathy and sincerity that the devs approached it with. Like I said in the intro, I was impressed by how much effort they put into making good representation. The game is unmistakably on Samira's side throughout its entirety. She is depicted as friendly and talented. While she does experience transphobia, she gets a pretty happy ending. It's really nice to see a trans character - and her transness - portrayed in a positive light.
Also, they include a lot of good information about being trans. I think it would be really insightful for players who are less educated on the subject. And I respect how many different facets of the community are represented. In particular, I thought it was really cool how Samira has gender euphoria rather than dysphoria; this is a trans experience that isn't represented or talked about nearly enough.
Another big example of this is the trans forum you discover later on; here you read about how presentation =/= gender, how it can be difficult for trans people's partners when they first come out, what being nonbinary is like, and more. I think it's really commendable how hard the devs worked to show the diversity of our community.
That being said, I would have liked to see all of that info integrated in a more natural way. Most of it isn't tied into Samira herself, or the story. The pacing is thrown off majorly by the forum. It feels like reading an article rather than playing a game.
As another example of this, there's a point where someone is telling Samira about transphobia. Again, this conversation is solely about educating the player, rather than progressing anything. This interaction was particularly weird to me, too, given that it's a cis person explaining this stuff to a trans person. Still, it's educational; I like the idea of cis players learning what it's like to be trans through a game.
As for the writing, it's okay. All of the characters felt unique enough in their personalities and texting habits. Some people have reported being put off by the dialogue, and I think maybe it's because the game was created by a French studio? I personally didn't notice anything wrong with it, though. In fact, my only big criticism of this component is that the conversations are laid out a little TOO perfectly. But I also think this is a really difficult thing to get right in 'voyeurism' games. Making the conversations sound completely natural, while also providing the player with all the context they need, is a big task.
I do understand some of the issues levied against the story by others too - particularly the part where you send someone a photo of Samira. While she WAS planning to do so, and the person already knew she was trans, I still agree that it is a violation of her privacy. But I personally didn't find this awful enough to ruin the whole game, or the team's intentions.
MY biggest issue with the story is the way it ends. You're basically directly told how to finish the game in a very immersion-breaking way. I get that it's kind of an awkward format to close out, but there HAD to be better ways than this. For example, I think it would've been cool to have Samira text the phone directly, to see if anyone's found it. Then have it end there, with a piece of music playing you out.
Ultimately, even though it's a pretty good cis-written trans narrative, the missteps make it feel slightly impersonal (the information-dumping especially.) Of course, it's not wrong for a cis team to make this kind of story. And like I said, I think they did a decent job. However, I still can't help feeling like I'd connect with it more if it was a trans person/team creating it. That's probably in large part due to the fact that I'm trans myself, though. I don't think there's a big enough disconnect for it to bother cis players.
Overall, 3/5.
Gameplay:
I really appreciate that ANLP actually had puzzles at all. Many games like it completely neglect this aspect, despite often presenting it as an integral part of the experience. It's nothing groundbreaking here, but they're enjoyable enough for what they are. [SPOILERS] I particularly really liked the twist with the calculator app - it was a cool 'right under our noses' thing. [SPOILER END]
They do get a bit repetitive, though, because many of the puzzles are just finding correct passwords. The fact that all of the passwords are dates important to Samira does make the concept slightly more interesting - but it still gets old by the fourth or fifth time.
Overall, 2.5/5.
Worldbuilding:
As I mentioned in the story section, all of the characters are pretty unique. Some of them can be kind of one-note, but that's to be expected from a game this short - especially one that has such a large cast of minor characters. And even then, the side narratives going on give them a bit more context. That large cast benefits it, too, making the world feel more full, and Samira more realistic.
Overall, 3/5.
Extra Category - Achievements:
I 100%ed this back in 2017, but looking over a guide again, I think I can safely say that it's a pretty easy one to do. A lot of them are progression-related. Most of the rest you'll probably get naturally.
Overall, 3/5.
Overall game score: 3/5. The warmth that permeates ANLP, and its above-average presentation, make it a worthy 1-2 hour experience. But while I do love all of the information included about the subject matter, I think it should have been given in a more natural way. The pacing suffers because of it, and it often feels like a slog to read through. Still, I liked Sam and I liked the direction the narrative went. This is one of the better computer/phone sims I've played.
A Normal Lost Phone isn't perfect, not by any means. Still, I found it to be a nice break from the skill and/or emotionally intensive games I've played this year. That's not to say it doesn't deal with some heavy subject matter too, but it does so in a warm and optimistic way that I appreciated - especially when you consider how most LGBT+ narratives go.
The story isn't executed flawlessly. The pacing is off, and there are times where it feels very clinical; I think this is just an issue that comes with writing a story about a minority when you are not apart of said minority. But still, you can tell the creators put in a lot of research and effort. It's very well-meaning. The presentation helps it along, too, adding a fresh layer that many games like this one completely neglect.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 4/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Story: 3/5
Gameplay: 2.5/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Achievments (Does not count toward overall score.): 3/5
Overall game score: 3/5
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
VISUALS:
The phone in ANLP is very pretty. Instead of traditional minimalist icons/setups, the team opted to go for an original 'painted' look. This definitely helps it stand out in the phone/computer sim genre.
I particularly really love the color palette. The pastel pinks, purples, yellows, and blues are both nice and easy to look at. I like to think they were chosen specifically to hint toward the big twist, too.
I appreciated all of the artwork for the characters. However, I do think that some of them are a tad rushed. The facial proportions or expressions feel off at times (I say this as an artist myself.) Still, there are some really nice pieces, and I admire the effort to include so many of them at all. Being able to put faces to names adds a lot. It definitely makes the story feel more personal.
Overall, 4/5.
Sound:
For its short length, ANLP sports an impressively expansive soundtrack. I really liked the fact that there's so many songs; usually in games only an hour or two long, you end up looping the same 1-3 pieces of music over and over. That wasn't the case here. It's not really MY personal taste, but it certainly isn't bad. Most importantly, it succeeds in setting a good atmosphere.
Overall, 3.5/5.
Story:
[Spoiler warning for this whole section.]
ANLP has a touching queer/trans narrative that - amazingly - doesn't end in heartbreak. This is one of the few times where I feel like the 'trans twist' feels organic, too. After all, Samira's closeted. She's hiding things so that her family can't snoop and find out her secret. It makes sense that you only discover the truth later on, especially because of the phone format.
What really makes it work, though, is the empathy and sincerity that the devs approached it with. Like I said in the intro, I was impressed by how much effort they put into making good representation. The game is unmistakably on Samira's side throughout its entirety. She is depicted as friendly and talented. While she does experience transphobia, she gets a pretty happy ending. It's really nice to see a trans character - and her transness - portrayed in a positive light.
Also, they include a lot of good information about being trans. I think it would be really insightful for players who are less educated on the subject. And I respect how many different facets of the community are represented. In particular, I thought it was really cool how Samira has gender euphoria rather than dysphoria; this is a trans experience that isn't represented or talked about nearly enough.
Another big example of this is the trans forum you discover later on; here you read about how presentation =/= gender, how it can be difficult for trans people's partners when they first come out, what being nonbinary is like, and more. I think it's really commendable how hard the devs worked to show the diversity of our community.
That being said, I would have liked to see all of that info integrated in a more natural way. Most of it isn't tied into Samira herself, or the story. The pacing is thrown off majorly by the forum. It feels like reading an article rather than playing a game.
As another example of this, there's a point where someone is telling Samira about transphobia. Again, this conversation is solely about educating the player, rather than progressing anything. This interaction was particularly weird to me, too, given that it's a cis person explaining this stuff to a trans person. Still, it's educational; I like the idea of cis players learning what it's like to be trans through a game.
As for the writing, it's okay. All of the characters felt unique enough in their personalities and texting habits. Some people have reported being put off by the dialogue, and I think maybe it's because the game was created by a French studio? I personally didn't notice anything wrong with it, though. In fact, my only big criticism of this component is that the conversations are laid out a little TOO perfectly. But I also think this is a really difficult thing to get right in 'voyeurism' games. Making the conversations sound completely natural, while also providing the player with all the context they need, is a big task.
I do understand some of the issues levied against the story by others too - particularly the part where you send someone a photo of Samira. While she WAS planning to do so, and the person already knew she was trans, I still agree that it is a violation of her privacy. But I personally didn't find this awful enough to ruin the whole game, or the team's intentions.
MY biggest issue with the story is the way it ends. You're basically directly told how to finish the game in a very immersion-breaking way. I get that it's kind of an awkward format to close out, but there HAD to be better ways than this. For example, I think it would've been cool to have Samira text the phone directly, to see if anyone's found it. Then have it end there, with a piece of music playing you out.
Ultimately, even though it's a pretty good cis-written trans narrative, the missteps make it feel slightly impersonal (the information-dumping especially.) Of course, it's not wrong for a cis team to make this kind of story. And like I said, I think they did a decent job. However, I still can't help feeling like I'd connect with it more if it was a trans person/team creating it. That's probably in large part due to the fact that I'm trans myself, though. I don't think there's a big enough disconnect for it to bother cis players.
Overall, 3/5.
Gameplay:
I really appreciate that ANLP actually had puzzles at all. Many games like it completely neglect this aspect, despite often presenting it as an integral part of the experience. It's nothing groundbreaking here, but they're enjoyable enough for what they are. [SPOILERS] I particularly really liked the twist with the calculator app - it was a cool 'right under our noses' thing. [SPOILER END]
They do get a bit repetitive, though, because many of the puzzles are just finding correct passwords. The fact that all of the passwords are dates important to Samira does make the concept slightly more interesting - but it still gets old by the fourth or fifth time.
Overall, 2.5/5.
Worldbuilding:
As I mentioned in the story section, all of the characters are pretty unique. Some of them can be kind of one-note, but that's to be expected from a game this short - especially one that has such a large cast of minor characters. And even then, the side narratives going on give them a bit more context. That large cast benefits it, too, making the world feel more full, and Samira more realistic.
Overall, 3/5.
Extra Category - Achievements:
I 100%ed this back in 2017, but looking over a guide again, I think I can safely say that it's a pretty easy one to do. A lot of them are progression-related. Most of the rest you'll probably get naturally.
Overall, 3/5.
Overall game score: 3/5. The warmth that permeates ANLP, and its above-average presentation, make it a worthy 1-2 hour experience. But while I do love all of the information included about the subject matter, I think it should have been given in a more natural way. The pacing suffers because of it, and it often feels like a slog to read through. Still, I liked Sam and I liked the direction the narrative went. This is one of the better computer/phone sims I've played.
4 Comments
@DustyVita, i'm interested to know what you think of it if you play it! :D
Alright, back to say I have finished the game. All and all, pretty cool. Regardless of anything it's not a type of game I play very often, typically look for something more active (like stuff with mechanics to really sink my teeth into and practice with) but a little push from someone for a shorter game can be enough for me to give one out of my comfort zone a shot. I stuggled a bit (ADHD fighting these text walls) but the puzzles came quick and were satisfying enough to keep me going. I feel like if I learned anything from the game it was how to be better as the friend you would lean on, someone a person with struggles like Samira's would trust. I can empathize to a degree since I'm bi but I'm still cisgender so I'm always learning new things about trans people's experiences. One of those thing you always feel like you can "be better" about.
@DustyVita, yeah i definitely agree about the walls of texts. it got overwhelming for me too after a certain point. i'm glad to hear that it resonated with you as a cis player though!
i honestly do feel like it's more built for giving a better understanding of trans people, rather than being made for trans people themselves (if that makes sense, haha.) as a trans person, i enjoyed it. i really appreciated the happy ending. BUT i spent a lot of the game going "this just feels like it's trying to educate me about stuff i literally experience in my own life" lol. like... it wasn't long enough for me to have that much emotional investment. and as i said in my review, it prefers to just GIVE the information rather than integrate it into the story. so, in the end, i think it's more useful for providing insight to people who DON'T have those experiences - since it feels more like an education tool rather than a whole story (at least from the perspective of being trans myself.) i do really appreciate it for what it is though! it's not wholly a bad thing to be that kind of experience. teaching people about the intricacies of our community/experiences is good, and a lot better than most media does.
i honestly do feel like it's more built for giving a better understanding of trans people, rather than being made for trans people themselves (if that makes sense, haha.) as a trans person, i enjoyed it. i really appreciated the happy ending. BUT i spent a lot of the game going "this just feels like it's trying to educate me about stuff i literally experience in my own life" lol. like... it wasn't long enough for me to have that much emotional investment. and as i said in my review, it prefers to just GIVE the information rather than integrate it into the story. so, in the end, i think it's more useful for providing insight to people who DON'T have those experiences - since it feels more like an education tool rather than a whole story (at least from the perspective of being trans myself.) i do really appreciate it for what it is though! it's not wholly a bad thing to be that kind of experience. teaching people about the intricacies of our community/experiences is good, and a lot better than most media does.
DustyVita
3 years ago