A Solitary Spacecraft is, essentially, a series of diary entries about early COVID. Released during May of 2020, it relates first-hand the uncertainty and depression that many were experiencing during that time. Our entire world had been turned on its head, and there was no end in sight for this new lonely reality.
In A Solitary Spacecraft, you control a person quarantined alone in their tiny apartment. The days bleed together as the pandemic stretches on. Nothing ever changes, except for whatever they’re currently distracting themselves with - TV, exercise, family issues. The only real source of happiness is their online friend group.
I honestly don’t think this is a perfect game; it even acknowledges itself as messy in the description. My most petty nitpick is that some of the dialogue leans into ‘online speak’ a bit too much. A more important issue is the exceedingly simple presentation, especially the complete lack of audio. There’s not any real gameplay or interactive element, either - although I think that’s more understandable, since it was a short story released under difficult circumstances.
All of that being said, A Solitary Spacecraft’s writing is very poignant. There’s some great core symbolism, and an interesting visual element that ties into the themes. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a look-back on a time that was universally difficult for many. It's just a game that a lot of people can relate to.
In fact, I don’t think that this was ever meant to be a ‘five-star game’. It's just venting the very real frustrations that so many of us were feeling in the wake of COVID.
In A Solitary Spacecraft, you control a person quarantined alone in their tiny apartment. The days bleed together as the pandemic stretches on. Nothing ever changes, except for whatever they’re currently distracting themselves with - TV, exercise, family issues. The only real source of happiness is their online friend group.
I honestly don’t think this is a perfect game; it even acknowledges itself as messy in the description. My most petty nitpick is that some of the dialogue leans into ‘online speak’ a bit too much. A more important issue is the exceedingly simple presentation, especially the complete lack of audio. There’s not any real gameplay or interactive element, either - although I think that’s more understandable, since it was a short story released under difficult circumstances.
All of that being said, A Solitary Spacecraft’s writing is very poignant. There’s some great core symbolism, and an interesting visual element that ties into the themes. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a look-back on a time that was universally difficult for many. It's just a game that a lot of people can relate to.
In fact, I don’t think that this was ever meant to be a ‘five-star game’. It's just venting the very real frustrations that so many of us were feeling in the wake of COVID.