Serial Experiments Lain has always been one of those pieces of media that's trapped in this weird limbo of simultaneously being niche but also not niche due to its recognition in certain circles. The Lain anime has taken off significantly in recent years, whether it be due to Lain replanting herself in a lot of memes and what not or general social media influence. Point is, at this point, lots of people have watched Serial Experiments Lain. But significantly less people have played Serial Experiments Lain for the Playstation; let alone even know what it is. Even just looking at this website, there are only 75 reviews of this game on here. Not that backloggd is the be all end all of how well known a game is, but it's still somewhat worth mentioning.

PSX Lain was actually my very first exposure to the series. I remember sitting in my room scrolling on my computer on a school night when I saw a youtube video titled: “Serial Experiments Lain (PSX) FINAL CUTSCENE” I ended up watching it and was met with a video of a girl with brown hair committing suicide on a rainy day. I don't think I have the right words to describe the way I felt after seeing that. All i knew is that i had to know what the fuck Serial Experiments Lain was. I took it to google and ended up finding out about the anime, which I promptly watched all of within the next two days. I was definitely confused after finishing because there was no graphic suicide like the video i had seen, so eventually i did end up finding out that there was a playstation game of the same name, but i never actually took the plunge and played it myself until recently.

PSX Lain is one of the most interesting works of art I have ever experienced. Lain isn't so much of a game as it is an interactive CD ROM. Getting wrapped up in the story of Lain feels more like sneaking around somewhere you shouldn't be than having a story told to you. It feels like you're accessing the traces of what someone left behind, and unraveling this sort of horrific secret as the subject matter of the game gets darker and darker as it goes on. Many say the game actively discourages a linear style of progression, which is somewhat true, but to a certain extent that only heightens this feeling more. Taking the story linearly is completely possible, however. At times playing PSX Lain feels no different than snooping around someone’s computer files that you’ve hacked into. The gameplay (or lack thereof) is certainly a hard sell at first, but once you start to get into it you feel compelled not to stop.

It’s worth noting that the story present in PSX Lain is completely different from the one present in the anime. They touch on similar themes, but the story told here is a much more personal one. Understanding both Lain and her therapist Touko– as well as the relationship between the two– is crucial to understanding the plot of Serial Experiments Lain. PSX Lain is less confusing than the anime, due to its much less abstract (albeit still extremely non-conventional) approach to storytelling. This game has the most thorough depiction of mental illness in ANYTHING I’ve ever seen. It’s sort of incredible how in depth this game goes with it without letting it take over the whole narrative. Lain touches on mental health in lots of depth, it's even arguably the focal point of the story; but that is not all Lain is about. It delves into technological existentialism and the digital age, the relationships between others; be it romantic, platonic, or parental, and abusive workplace culture. PSX Lain talks about all of these things gracefully with extreme tact while still managing to have them be important to the story.

Playing this game is to truly get to the core of what Serial Experiments Lain is as a series. Lain and Touko aren't just simply characters, by the end of the game they feel like real people that you've known at some point in your life. The Lain anime certainly has similar vibes to the game; but PSX Lain feels like the original vision of what Lain is. I’ve already slightly spoiled this game but I absolutely implore you to take the plunge and experience who Lain is. Definitely be warned about the graphic depictions of violence and suicide as well as the heavy subject matter, and most importantly take your time with this one. You don’t want to rush through this one and take all of it in in a short period of time. If you’re a fan of the anime, playing this game will do nothing but increase your enjoyment of Lain as a series and make you appreciate it that much more. There really isn't anything else out like there quite like Serial Experiments Lain for the Playstation.