Pumpkin's Top Adventure Games!

[Pumpkin]

I was excited to get this going and I should have the first entry up by this weekend!

So what is this?
I decided, since I have played many games and am expanding my gaming in to different genres, that I would appreciate each genre for what it brings and make individual favourites lists based on that. These lists will happen when I've played the games I want to play in the genre (the JRPG one is going to take a long while, don't hold your breath). This will also allow me to customize the review style to what suits the genre. Scariness is important in the horror genre, for example, but maybe not so much in others. Note that games that fit in to more than one genre will be placed in only one list depending on which I feel it suits better personally.

So which list is this?
This will be my Adventure genre list, which will include point-and-click and interactive movie/walking sim types of games. The action-adventure style will be covered in a later list. These are generally more low key games, lighter on the action, and there's sometimes an element to puzzle solving. In other cases they can be "your choices matter!" type games or they might just focus on exploring while uncovering a narrative.

How will the reviews for this genre be structured?
I will cover what I think are the most important aspects: Story, environment, ambiance, and puzzles and choices if applicable. Gameplay will also be covered briefly.

Will there be spoilers?
Spoilers will be marked in spoiler tags so no worries if you haven't played the game. My hope is that some peeps can find some new games to try!

So look forward to my list Coming Soon and enjoy! Also remember that all opinions are subjective yada yada

Enjoy!

#15 Abzu (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3653390&viewfull=1#post3653390)
#14 Fran Bow (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3653456&viewfull=1#post3653456)
#13 Doki Doki Universe (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3653537&viewfull=1#post3653537)
#12 Life is Strange (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3653606#post3653606)
#11 Flower (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3653636&viewfull=1#post3653636)
#10 Firewatch (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3653664&viewfull=1#post3653664)
#9 The Wolf Among Us (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3653919&viewfull=1#post3653919)
#8 Beyond Eyes (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3654015&viewfull=1#post3654015)
#7 Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3654194&viewfull=1#post3654194)
#6 Gone Home (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3654241&viewfull=1#post3654241)
#5 Read Only Memories (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3654395&viewfull=1#post3654395)
#4 To the Moon (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3654567#post3654567)
#3 Her Story (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3654743&viewfull=1#post3654743)
#2 Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3655179&viewfull=1#post3655179)
#1 The Walking Dead (http://home.eyesonff.com/showthread.php/169451-Pumpkin-s-Top-Adventure-Games!?p=3655659&viewfull=1#post3655659)

[Karifean]

Looking forward to it! :)

[Bubba]

Oooh! "Point-and-click" has me excited! That's a genre that needs to make a comeback. So many great games...

Broken Sword, Monkey Island, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Indiana Jones & The Fate of Atlantis, Day of the Tentacle, Simon the Sorcerer...

WHY DID THEY STOP MAKING THEM?

[Del Murder]

FEnp4hZm0ss

[Pumpkin]

#15 - Abzu
http://i.imgur.com/Ncy8zBF.jpg

Platform I played on: PS4
Available platforms: Steam, PS4, Xbox One
Developer: Giant Squid
Publisher: 505 Games
Length: 2-3 hours


Story:
Abzu places you in the swimming shoes of an unknown diver who wakes up in the middle of the ocean. From there, you must swim around, uncovering the mysteries that lie beneath the water. Why are you there? What are you supposed to do? I can't tell you without giving too much away!

I did quite enjoy the story, although I found it eerily similar to Flower, which took away some of the impact. I liked how much was left up to the imagination and how much emotion was conveyed without any dialogue.

Gameplay:
Mostly swimming. You swim around the ocean and occasionally will run in to an interactable. In some cases this will release more creatures in to the sea, or activate a little companion for you, or give you a collectable. You can also use a sonar ability, useful when it's dark, and you can ride some of the ocean's creatures as well. There are also meditation statues that allow you to view the fish around you and follow them while they do their thing. The game's focus is very much on exploration and most sections will reflect that, with a few faster paced areas and some small scenes to activate in between areas.


http://i.imgur.com/K8hQEb9.jpg


Environment:
Abzu's environment is gorgeous if you're like me and love the water. You're exploring an underwater world and each section brings a new theme and colour scheme in to the picture. From the bright pinks to lush greens to the deep oranges and the dark blues, the world doesn't feel repetitive and boring but instead uses its world to great effect by demonstrating gorgeous scenes.


http://i.imgur.com/6y936CW.jpg?1


Ambiance:
Abzu is a relaxing game focused on exploration and discovery and the game does it well. The music is suited to the mood's they try and evoke and the colour scheme matches the section of the story you find yourself in. The light blue and bright pink areas convey the beauty of the ocean and the joy of exploration, whereas the dark blue shows the lonely depths as you move towards more uncertainty. Every aspect is carefully considered and well put together in order to shape a story and guide your emotions without the use of text or dialogue.

Choices:
None of note.

Puzzles:
Very minor puzzles. Sometimes you'll need to find a companion to help you through an area, or you'll need to find a switch to continue on. There are some collectables to find, but you simply have to be thorough in your searches and on the ball in the fast paced sections. Not a heavy thinker in terms of puzzles.


http://i.imgur.com/C3Kbqdu.jpg?1


Cons:
-Very short
-A little TOO similar to Flower
-Not much in the way of puzzles or choices
-Not much replay value unless you just want to spend some time relaxing under the water
-The story might be a bit too vague for some

Pros:
-Gorgeous
-Some great moments that don't need to rely on dialogue to evoke strong emotions
-Exploration and discovery
-Relaxing
-Interesting
-YOU GET TO EXPLORE THE FICTIONAL OCEAN

Overall:
It's only like $20 on the PSN and it's definitely worth it. While it might not have much replay value as far as story and branching paths, it's a great game for a calm afternoon if you just want to unwind. It's beautiful and a great demonstration of how setting, music, and the use of colour can help set the tone for a story. Also, if you're interested in fishies, it'll even give you some names of some water creatures in case you're curious!

Rating:
One big, beautiful beluga whale


http://i.imgur.com/GkElA1L.jpg

[Scruffington]

Abzu seems like a pretty interesting game. I've never played any games like that (including Flower) but it looks like a game I could just relax to.

Thanks for including some images into your post. It definitely looks gorgeous.

[Bubba]

I swear I thought the review started by saying "you are a pair of swimming shoes" and I was immediately sold... only to be slightly disappointed when I realise this wasn't the case.

It still looks like an interesting game though!

[Pumpkin]

#14 - Fran Bow
http://i.imgur.com/ULXS298.png

Platform I played on: Steam
Available platforms: Steam, iOS, Android, gog
Developer: Killmonday Games
Length: 8-9 hours


Story:
Fran Bow is a game about the titular Fran after her parents are murdered and she is put in a mental hospital, separated from her best friend, her kitty Mr. Midnight. At the mental hospital, she is given medication which causes her to see horrific things. Fed up with the hospital, she plans her escape and goes on a journey to find her cat companion.

The story is incredible strange. Are the things Fran is seeing real? Are they medication induced hallucinations? Is she just really crazy? The story was very off and quirky, but it was still interesting and the characters were very well written in my opinion. Just don't worry if you're left scratching your head as you play through this game.

Gameplay:
Fran Bow is a point-and-click where you... point and then click on things to interact with them. You will also combine items in your inventory to make different items. Fran will have a comment on most things you see and you can also talk to people as well. On top of that, Fran has her medication which, when taken, will allow her to view the world in a different way, which is necessary to solve some puzzles. Clicking on her medication again will undo the effect. There will also be mini-games between chapters, such as a frogger style game to give you something different to do as a break from the main game.


http://i.imgur.com/RAa21hX.png


Environment:
The environments are as strange as the game, especially since they essentially have two layers (with medication and without). With medication, the environments usually become rather horrific with blood and corpses littering the scenes. The game does vary its locations a good bit and you'll have somewhere completely new to explore every chapter.

Ambiance:
This game is weird and creepy and it manages to fill every area with that feeling, even the ones that are brighter and happier. Just like Fran, you'll always be left with uncertainty at what exactly is going on as you try to escape the horrors, find your cat, and go home. Fran herself adds to the off feeling of the game in how she reacts to some odd or horrific things in a rather casual, off-handed manner that adds to the feeling of insanity that the game tries to express. The game seems to try too hard to be strange sometimes but they manage to pull everything together in a way that actually does make it strange and creepy.


http://i.imgur.com/3n8w3LK.jpg


Choices:
The majority of choices are simple dialogue options. Sometimes you need to say certain things to get vital clues or items you need for puzzle solving, and other times it simply changes a bit of dialogue.

Puzzles:
Fran Bow is filled with puzzles and the primary mechanic for a lot of the game is the use of your medication to enter the other layer of the environment. You'll need to constantly switch between the two states to solve puzzles, get clues, and progress the game. Later on, there will be a level in which you change the seasons to much of the same effect. You'll also need to combine items you find.


http://i.imgur.com/6oYxzkA.png


Cons:
-Disgusting and horrific imagery
-Rather sad and stressful
-Some areas feel too long
-Some frustrating puzzles

Pros:
-Open to interpretation
-Interesting characters
-Great ambiance
-Quirky

Overall:
Also an affordable game, Fran Bow might be for you if you like creepy games and point-and-click puzzle styles of games. It's not overly long and the variance in chapters means that if you find one section you don't like, you might like the next one. The characters are really good and the game did a great job of making me feel like part of the madness. Don't be surprised if all of your questions aren't answered by the end, but sometimes a story left open to interpretation is better than anything they could have written.

Rating:
One cute Mr. Midnight and a cat on a unicycle.

http://i.imgur.com/XaUFG8T.jpg

[Depression Moon]

What kind of game is Ace Attorney?

[Pumpkin]

Adventure/VN

[Fynn]

I liked Fran Bow a lot! I was immersed in it in a similar way that I used to in the past when adventure games were still somewhat mainstream. Made me really nostalgic for that time.

[Del Murder]

I was intrigued by Abzu but didn't think it provided enough for me. Fran Bow seems right up my alley though.


Oooh! "Point-and-click" has me excited! That's a genre that needs to make a comeback. So many great games...

Broken Sword, Monkey Island, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Indiana Jones & The Fate of Atlantis, Day of the Tentacle, Simon the Sorcerer...

WHY DID THEY STOP MAKING THEM?
They've made a small comeback on mobile platforms, but not of the quality of the old Sierra/Lucasarts days. Check out The Room series on mobile as it is pretty good. There are also the ones that are visual novel hybrids like Ace Attorney (already mentioned) and the Zero Escape series.

[Pumpkin]

#13 - Doki Doki Universe
http://i.imgur.com/xiKIxLL.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 3
Available platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita (buying it on one gives you access to it on all three devices).
Developer/Publisher: HumaNature Studios
Length: 5-7 hours


Story:
In this game you play as a customizable robot named QT3 who, along with his red balloon friend, was accidentally left out in space. Wanting to reunite with his friend, QT3 is found by Alien Jeff (an alien named Jeff) who tells him his robot model is being discontinued for lacking humanity. Now QT3 must travel from planet to planet proving that he does indeed have and understand emotions.

Gameplay:
This is a rather lighthearted and simplistic game. QT3 travels to different planets, each of which deals with a different aspect of humanity. There, you must help the inhabitants solve their problems by summoning items, maybe giving them gifts or making them float in the air. You receive more items for completing these tasks, which can be used to solve more problems. You'll also unlock customization items for QT3, his trusty space steed, and the Home world. You can find presents hidden around and the NPC's will each have their own likes and dislikes which will affect their view of you. There are also simple psych tests you can take on asteroids that float around in space which will help the game build a profile for you.


http://i.imgur.com/LSeJfqV.jpg


Environment:
The aesthetic of the game is rather simplistic, almost mimicking a child's drawing. Each world has its own theme, such as medieval or haunted or city or winter, etc. This adds some variety in the environments and characters as well as what type of items you can unlock and uncover. The Home world can be customized as any theme you want once you've unlocked the items, or you can just make a mishmash of everything to suit your eclectic tastes.

Ambiance:
Another game that overall does this well. The childlike nature of the graphics helps convey the innocence of QT3 as he learns about humanity. Sure that sounds pretentious but that doesn't make it any less true! The whimsy of the characters and icons fits the lighthearted theme well, which really helps set the mood they're trying to establish. The music, on the other hand, is mostly forgettable with a few tracks that take away from the ambiance rather than add to it.


http://i.imgur.com/hxH28Pf.jpg


Choices:
The major choices here are how you respond to certain questions asked by NPCs. Also the many psych test asteroids around. These don't do much for the story but each answer helps built a for-fun psych profile of yourself if you're curious about how the game interprets your decisions.

Puzzles:
Not much here. There are some puzzles to solve in the way of figuring out how to help the NPCs, but they're very basic and easy to figure out. Great for kids beginning to learn puzzle solving techniques!


http://i.imgur.com/S8xHa9Y.jpg


Cons:
-A bit too simplistic for a subject that could go very indepth and be very impactful
-Have to pay extra to unlock all of the worlds and question asteroids
-Choices and actions the player can take are limited
-Can feel repetitive

Pros:
-Adorable and sweet
-Fun to pick up and play for a bit here and there
-Good for kids
-Funny and entertaining

Overall:
The game is relatively affordable, even with the extras you have to buy for the complete game and it's great for a pick up and play style adventure title when you just want something to be happy about. It's not amazing or life changing, but it's memorable in it's own way for it's charm and quirkyness and if you like taking psych tests like I do then you're in for a treat. It almost brings you back to the wonder of being a child. While it can be a bit TOO simple it's still a very enjoyable experience.

Rating:
QT4 out of 5


http://i.imgur.com/qZA4gdu.jpg

[Depression Moon]

That game looks weird.

[Fynn]

Reminds me of Scribblenauts

[Pumpkin]

:save:So turns out I accidentally deleted one of the games from my list, so the numbers have been readjusted accordingly. 15 games instead of 14, yaaay!:save:


#12 - Life is Strange
http://i.imgur.com/LIPmtI3.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 3
Available platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Steam
Developer: DONTNOD Entertainment
Publisher: Square Enix
Length: 15-16 hours, 3ish hours per episode (5 episodes)


Story:
Life is Strange has you assume the role of Max Caulfield, a photography student. One day, as Max goes about business of being artistic and hating the rich girl, she witnesses a girl being shot in the bathroom. Fortunately, she discovers she has the ability to rewind time! What do with these amazing powers? Use them to rewind time to get information out of others and snoop around their rooms! Also reconnect with your old bestie you'd fallen out of touch with, try to find her missing friend, and solve the weird happenings around Arcadia Bay. Including that strange tornado heading for town in a few days.

Gameplay:
In this game you walk around as Max, talking to people and selecting dialogue options, examining odds and ends around the environments, taking pictures when you get the opportunity in a collect them all, photography edition style sidequest. ALSO you get to rewind time. You don't get to rewind it too far though so make sure you're on the ball and know when to react or you might miss things. You also get a journal to look over, text messages to read and reply to, but most of it is based on choices, examining the environment, and using your magical time powers.


http://i.imgur.com/eaPbaQG.jpg


Environment:
The game takes place in Arcadia Bay and mostly has you exploring the school, the dorm, and a few places here and there around town. You aren't able to freely go and explore but instead will be set in certain areas for certain sections of the game. Despite that, it rarely feels limiting and there's usually a good bit for you to do and explore wherever you're placed. You will be returning to previously visited areas but it doesn't feel repetitive and there will be new stuff offered when you do return so you'll have more to see.

Ambiance:
The main character suits the artsy-fartsy environment rather well. Everything from the styles of the characters and areas to the dialogue options on screen suit the artistic vibe the game has going for it. The music fits well with the not-so-cool Max and small nowhere town and it overall conveys the tone it's trying to set. The game features a lot of orange colouring which gives it a good, toned down vibe as well which allows for slowing down and appreciating the small moments, which Life is Strange seems to encourage.


http://i.imgur.com/f0ALAqi.jpg


Choices:
One of the main mechanics of the game, this is definitely one of those "your choices matter" experiences that are popular in a lot of this style of adventure game. Some choices you make will have no impact or have a small one, whereas others will carry over to the next episodes and affect how other characters feel about you and react to you. In some cases, your choices will have major impacts and you won't always be able to rewind them once their consequences become apparent. You'll also be shown stats of choices other players have made at certain major events throughout the episode once the episode is complete.

Puzzles:
There are some puzzles here and there, mostly related to using your time powers to trigger certain events. You'll also have some detectiving to do here and there, but the puzzles are not the most challenging and don't require a ton of mental work.


http://i.imgur.com/daIQGQ4.jpg


Cons:
-Some plot points feel very contrived
-A lot of unlikeable characters
-The slang they use feels forced and outdated a lot of the time
-Fluctuates between really good moments and really dull and uninteresting moments

Pros:
-Some interesting side characters
-Some very powerful and emotional moments
-Fun and interesting to explore
-Fun picture taking mini sidequest
-Call backs to choices previously made, even some of the less important ones

Overall:
I did enjoy Life is Strange. It felt almost like playing one of those old coming of age books or movies and there was just something surreal yet nostalgic about it. There were some very powerful emotions and episode 5 was personally my favourite section of the game. The choice system was fun and overall well implemented and the visual and musical style of the game really fit the story and characters. On the other hand, I found the main two characters very unlikeable, which made it harder to relate to them and get the full impact of some later plot points and decisions. It could also be rather cringeworthy at times and some plot points felt very much like ass-pulls that came out of nowhere. Overall though, it's cheap like most of the games on this list and I would recommend checking it out if it seems like your type of game.

Verdict:
Shake it like a Polaroid picture


http://i.imgur.com/vqQy3po.jpg

[Pumpkin]

#11 - Flower
http://i.imgur.com/BJqlpBt.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 3
Available platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Developer: Thatgamecompany
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Length: 4 hours


Story:
Flower's story is pretty minimalist, leaving a lot up to your imagination. You control a gust of wind/single flower petal at the start of each "level" as you move around the area collecting yet more flower petals. A bigger plot comes in to play later on as you try and restore the natural beauty of the world with your flower petals and gust of wind, but even there a lot of it is left up to you to interpret.

Gamplay:
As stated, you start each level with one flower petal and you control the wind via controller tilting. You can also speed up your wind by pressing pretty much any button and your goal is to collect flower petals throughout the level before advancing to the next. The difficulty slowly ramps up as you go from areas where nothing can harm you to areas where stuff very much can, but even so you'll never "die" or see a game over screen.


http://i.imgur.com/Pq7h5XN.jpg


Environment:
Flower has beautiful levels that naturally evolve as you progress through the game. There's also a good deal of variance between the levels, going from wide open daytime fields to nighttime to a more residential area. You'll also find some different flowers in each level. Flower does a good job at not letting things feel dull and repetitive despite the fact that your goal is almost the same in most levels.

Ambiance:
Flower is great at this. There's a sense of progression and wonder throughout the game, and later levels instill reluctance and fear, as well as achievement and purpose. Everything from the sounds to the visuals work together to tell a narrative without use of dialogues or text. The fact that Flower can convey everything it tries to and possibly even more without using a single word is very impressive.


http://i.imgur.com/mybJ0pV.jpg


Choices:
There are no in-game choices other than how you explore the level and which flower petals to collect. The most choice comes from the little was in which you'll personally interpret the story.

Puzzles:
Again, not much to speak of here. The closest is trying to get all of the petals and the special petals if you so choose.


http://i.imgur.com/zz4ypUz.jpg


Cons:
-Minimalist which could turn some people off
-Controls can sometimes be finicky
-Not a ton of replay value if you don't want to just play a game to relax to
-Flowers are really the reproductive organs of some plants so if you think about it, these flowers are MOLESTING your innocent gust of wind

Pros:
-Relaxing
-Beautiful
-Emotional without a single word uttered
-Use your ~imagination~
-Fox News called it liberal environmentalist propaganda that is brainwashing our children. That has to count for something

Overall:
Jokes aside, Flower is a beautiful game, not just visually but through the story it tells. To me it really conveyed a message of overcoming fear and difficulties and coming out even better at the end of it, which really resonated with me. It's very relaxing if you just want to decompress with some plant reproductive units. Also if you don't care about environmentalist brainwashing, it's great for children!

Verdict:
Pink roses are best Flowers


http://i.imgur.com/mQPnQY9.jpg

[Pumpkin]

#10 - Firewatch
http://i.imgur.com/EG753br.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 4
Available platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam, gog
Developer: Campo Santo
Publisher: Campo Santo, Panic
Length: 5 hours


Story:
Firewatch has you playing as a man named Henry who has taken a job in the woods to get away from his life back home. His task is to watch out for fires, as expected. There, he is introduced to his coworker Delilah whom he communicates with via walkie-talkie. As the days go by, Henry gets to know Delilah more as he goes about his fire watching business, but soon the two of them discover that something strange is going on.

Gameplay:
The gameplay of Firewatch consists mostly of two core mechanics: exploring the forest and talking with Delilah. You'll be given tasks to complete which will require you to get to specific points on the map. This is done with your map and compass. You'll also find some things like map markers and letters and such to read over and examine. Later on you can also take pictures. The second aspect of the game is talking to Delilah. At times you'll be prompted to tell her something, or she'll talk to you and you'll be given a few choices as to how you respond, which will affect your relationship with Delilah.


http://i.imgur.com/tNUWKeR.png


Environment:
You'll get to know the forest and surrounding area throughout the few hours of gameplay as the map begins to make more sense to you from a firsthand perspective. There are some gorgeous locations and the game is pretty good about letting you go and explore if you want to. I got to know the paths more as I played which allowed me to get to my destinations without needing the map as much towards the end, so it helps the area feel like a second home for Henry and there are a lot of nooks and crannies for you to uncover.

Ambiance:
The game conveys its tone pretty well. Some parts feel more relaxing, some feel more sad, and some even feel a bit scary or worrisome when you learn that something strange is going on. There's also some good environmental storytelling to help put the player in the correct mindset of what's happening and what it means. Also having Delilah be your primary source of interaction helps build the relationship between the two characters.


http://i.imgur.com/L2pEzpj.jpg


Choices:
The choices in the game are mainly about how you interact with Delilah. Do you call her when you find something? Are you nice to her? Do you joke along with her? Your choices affect the flow of conversation, the relationship between Henry and Delilah, and how Delilah views you. There are a lot of conversation options as you go through the game.

Puzzles:
Really nothing major to speak of unless you count trying to find everything and not getting lost because, like me, you suck at using maps.


http://i.imgur.com/QUw3oiH.jpg


Cons:
-Too short to have the full effect
-Ending was kind of a letdown
-A bit repetitious
-Never got to go fishing

Pros:
-Excellent opening
-Gorgeous areas
-Intriguing story
-Focus on the interpersonal relationship between two people

Overall:
My cons kind of relate to each other. The game had a lot of potential to be excellent for me, but it wasn't long enough for everything to take the full effect. The bonding could have been longer, there could have been more work related tasks to do, and I could have been more immersed in the experience and felt the full effects of the length of time Henry was there. The ending was a letdown for me also because of the length of the game. The red herrings didn't have time to sink in and really make me think about things before the game reached its conclusion. But with that said, I quite enjoyed the game. The characters felt real, the environments were fun to explore and gorgeous, and it really felt isolating, driving home that feeling of running away. It was great interacting with Delilah and having there be such a focus on the relationship between her and Henry.

Verdict:
Good amount of fires but not enough fishing


http://i.imgur.com/aUbWPYO.jpg

[Pumpkin]

#9 - The Wolf Among Us
http://i.imgur.com/O0bfJvU.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 4
Available platforms: Steam, gog, Android, iOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Developer/Publisher: Telltale Games
Length: 9 hours, 1 1/2-2 hours per episode (5 episodes)


Story:
The Wolf Among Us is based on the comic book series Fables, which features some of our favourite fairytale characters living the gritty life in New York. They must keep their identities hidden from the regular folk (called mundies) and those who cannot are sent to live on a farm. Not all is well in Fabletown. Our protagonist, the Big Bad Wolf, called Bigby Wolf, finds a decapitated head in front of his apartment building. It is his job and yours, along with the help of Snow White and some other Fable characters, to find the murderer and solve the case before more fables suffer the same fate.

Gameplay:
For those unfamiliar with the Telltale style of gameplay, it basically consists of interacting with the environment, dialogue choices, and some quick time events. You control Bigby Wolf and you'll be able to examine our environment, finding clues or just listening to commentary. There will also be quick time events in the more action oriented scenes of the game, where you'll have to press the right button at the right time, or mash a button when indicated. The major element of the game is dialogue choices, When speaking to a character, you'll be given a number of responses, which will decide how Bigby approaches the case and how others feel about him and interact with him. You'll also have choices to make which will slightly alter the story and at the end of each episode you'll be shown how many players took the same approaches as you for key moments.


http://i.imgur.com/xpuUg6g.jpg


Environment:
This is not a free to explore game, you'll be set in specific locations for specific sections of the game. Occasionally, you'll have the choice of where to go first/in what order. When in an area, you're usually free to walk around and examine your surroundings, which might give you valuable clues or information. The locations themselves are usually small, but they do feel pertinent to the game and they're pretty interesting. You will return to certain locations which will usually have new things for you to examine and explore.

Ambiance:
The Wolf Among Us is very gritty, although less so then the comic books, I'm told. Everything has that grit to it. The lighting, the characters, the music. This is not the fairytales you tell to kids, this is a much more grown up and jaded version. Of course the whole murder mystery thing tends to put a damper on everything, but even with the generally serious and dark tone, The Wolf Among Us still manages some genuinely humourous moments which help keep the game from becoming too dark and depressing.


http://i.imgur.com/OUdOzeZ.jpg


Choices:
This is where the game really puts its focus. While the overarching plot will stay the same no matter what you choose, your choices will affect certain things like how characters react to you, Book of Fables entries unlocked, and what evidence you find to help you in your case. It also just indicates what kind of guy Bigby Wolf is going to be and how you're going to approach the case. Are you going to be the no-nonsense sort? Are you going to play the "good cop"? Are you going to help the Big Bad Wolf turn over a new leaf? There are a number of ways you can approach a situation to make the experience more tailored to you.

Puzzles:
The main puzzle is, obviously, finding the murderer. While the case will be solved by the end of the game, regardless of your choices, you'll be able to make decisions that will allow you to build a stronger case and find evidence to solve it yourself before the game tells you who did it and why. There are times when you'll need to find the correct evidence in an area and put it together to get the full picture of what's going on. Additionally, there are Book of Fables entries to be unlocked, some of which you might miss if you pick incorrect options (these aren't necessary to anything, more of just collectables).


http://i.imgur.com/ImG671q.jpg


Cons:
-2gritty4me
-My fav Disney Princess kinda sucks in this :/
-So much swearing
-Would have liked to see some more well-known Fables at least make a small appearance

Pros:
-Bigby's voice acting is excellent
-Interesting seeing what I'm used to seeing as kids characters in a more grown up setting
-The ending is super interesting
-Good amount of choices
-Good character development based on your choices

Overall:
I just want to preface but saying that this is very much a game for adults. If you have kids who like Snow White and you think they may like playing a game with her in it or something, just be aware that there's a lot of adult content. Or heck, if you're an adult and just don't enjoy that stuff. The game was a bit too gritty for me, I'm not big on that style personally, but I overall enjoyed the game much more than I expected to. I was invested in the story and characters and the ending, although confusing, was excellent. If you like murder mysteries, don't mind the grit, and want to see some fairytales, this might be a game worth checking out!

Verdict:
These lips are sealed


http://i.imgur.com/EuvPVse.jpg

[Spuuky]

Adventure is a very difficult genre to define, for me. Like, I can see all the games you've listed so far and agree "that is Adventure," but I would be hard pressed to actually define it. For instance, at what point does the puzzle element of a game start to become too heavy for it to still be considered an adventure game?

[Pumpkin]

It is difficult to define, I agree. I have a separate puzzle genre, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly when it changes genres. I mostly just go by how it feels to me, personally.

[Del Murder]

Very interesting that all your games so far are within the last 10 years. When I think of the prime of adventure games I think of the Sierra/Lucasarts days of the 1990s. You must be very young or I am very old.

[Spuuky]

Do you think Portal is an Adventure Game, for instance? I don't know. Those are the kinds of games that I can't decide on.

[Pumpkin]

Very interesting that all your games so far are within the last 10 years. When I think of the prime of adventure games I think of the Sierra/Lucasarts days of the 1990s. You must be very young or I am very old.

I've played older games in other genres but I'm fairly new to the adventure genre so I've started out with newer stuff. I'm actually playing Quest for Glory now though!


Do you think Portal is an Adventure Game, for instance? I don't know. Those are the kinds of games that I can't decide on.

I haven't played Portal so I'm not sure. I want to say puzzle?

[Del Murder]

Quest for Glory is awesome. Portal is also awesome, but it's a puzzle/platformer.

[Pumpkin]

#8 - Beyond Eyes
http://i.imgur.com/WswdFOx.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 4
Available platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Steam
Developer: Tiger & Squid
Publisher: Team17
Length: 3 hours


Story:
Beyond Eyes is the story of a little girl named Rae who was blinded one day by a firework accident. Since then she had become increasingly isolated, until a cat wandered in to her yard. She named this cat Nani and he would often come and visit her. One day, however, Nani stopped visiting. Wanting to see her friend, Rae must venture in to the unknown in search of her kitty companion.

Gameplay:
In Beyond Eyes, you play as a blind girl imagining and discovering the world around her. As you walk forward, more and more of the blank white scenery will be filled in based on what she can hear and feel. In some cases, she'll imagine things in the distance based off of sound or smell. Sometimes, as you get closer, you'll discover that what she imagines to be there is not always what's there. You'll venture out, watching the world go from pure white to being much more full and filled out as you walk along and discover things in search of Nani.


http://i.imgur.com/bAPli37.jpg


Environment:
When you enter a new area, the screen will be almost pure white, and it will be up to you to fill it out by exploring. You aren't required to fill it out completely, you can just try and beeline it for the next area if you want, but the environments depend entirely on you experiencing them to exist. There's a decent amount of variance, from fields to a farm to a park to a small town and then a port, but they all have a similar feel and aesthetic. There will also be a few "danger zones" blocked off by Rae's fears.

Ambiance:
Beyond Eyes' ambiance is it's biggest strength, I feel. You're playing as a blind girl so you can't just SEE your environment right off the bat, you have to discover it. When you're surrounded by white in a new area, you can feel the uncertainty. I felt lost and overwhelmed. I couldn't just see my destination and how to get there, I had to feel my way around, uncovering the map slowly. But then when I would get to the end of an area and see the beautiful watercolours representing everything I'd discovered, it was a great feeling of overcoming obstacles and demonstrating strength. Then I'd move to the next stage and do it all again. It's also interesting to see the colours change based on Rae's feelings, such as fear. Later on, you explore an area while it's raining heavily and you'll see what an effect it has on Rae's senses, which I feel is used to great effect.


http://i.imgur.com/AlGRHw8.jpg


Choices:
Really the only choice is how much you want to explore and fill out the area. Do you try and explore everything or are you just trying to get to your destination?

Puzzles:
Again, not much in the way of puzzles. Trying to find your way around when originally surrounded by whiteness is the biggest puzzle of all and is pretty much the entire point of the game. With that being said, it's relatively straight forward and you certainly won't be wracking your brain trying to solve it.


http://i.imgur.com/GJTksVm.jpg


Cons:
-The walking is REALLY SLOW with no option to speed up, so exploring can take a lot of time and can get especially frustrating when backtracking
-Weird save points, but as short as it is, that isn't a major issue
-Not a lot of variance in gameplay or new things to discover except for a few odds and ends here and there

Pros:
-Beautiful watercoulours
-Great ambiance
-An overall relaxing experience
-An emotional ending

Overall:
Beyond Eyes isn't perfect by any means and could have been improved upon, but it's still a great way to spend a few hours. Watching the world fill in around you and overcoming the anxiety at not being able to see what's in front of you are just great feelings. The game also helps you appreciate the beauty in real life but showing how beautiful things are all around us if we just stop and take the time to notice and appreciate them. The ending packed a punch for me and Beyond Eyes was just an overall memorable and enjoyable experience.

Verdict:
NANI COME BACK!!!


http://i.imgur.com/3pga4cy.jpg

[Pumpkin]

#7 - Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
http://i.imgur.com/G7gUhbG.png

Platform I played on: PlayStation 4
Available platforms: PlayStation 4, Steam
Developers: The Chinese Room, SCE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Length: 7 hours


Story:
In Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, you'll find yourself exploring some small English town devoid of any people. Instead, you'll see little light orbs floating around which will guide you and sometimes play out scenes for you about the missing inhabitants. What happened to them? What's going on? These are the narratoive driving questions as you explore and uncover the story.

Gameplay:
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is an extremely simple game to play. You walk around. By doing so, you'll slowly unravel the narrative of the game. There are optional scenes you can see by exploring thoroughly and you can look at the areas for clues to try and unravel the mystery before the reveal, but that is pretty much the gameplay. It is separated in to distinct "chapters" or sections which lead you off in to the next area and orbs of light will usually guide you towards the next major scene.


http://i.imgur.com/rCho9km.jpg

Environment:
This game is gorgeous. It's very detailed and allows a decent amount of exploration. The game is divided in sections with each new section offering a bit of a change in scenery, from the woods to a farm to camp grounds and a few others. You're free to explore a lot of these areas, and while it does have limitations as to how far you can venture and what you can see, there's enough there that it rarely feels limiting. You're also free to go back to any previous areas when/if you want to.

Ambiance:
This game has very good ambiance. It does a lot of its storytelling through environment, so even if you catch all of the scenes, you'll gain more from the story by observing and exploring. The orbs of light really stand out, as they're intended to, which helps show the impact they have on the game. The music is pretty good and suits the mood overall well. And it really does give you the sense of mystery and wonder with a slight bit of fear, which is what Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is trying to convey.


http://i.imgur.com/bmPyU41.jpg


Choices:
Really the only choices are how much you explore and at what pace. Also how you interpret the events that are happening.

Puzzles:
Not much here either. You are basically trying to figure out what happened, but there's nothing you really need to do in-game other than find the appropriate scenes.


http://i.imgur.com/dDe2QBl.jpg


Cons:
-Not much variance in playthroughs or aspects to make your experience "unique"
-The walking can be too slow, especially for when you want to backtrack
-The light orbs that guide you can kind of bug out at times, which made it drustrating to find my destination in one section

Pros:
-Good cast of characters
-Some of the story is left open to interpretation
-Beautiful
-Relaxing
-A lot of environment to explore

Overall:
I really enjoyed this game. It had just the right amount of ambiguity to the story so that it felt resolved but allowed for theorizing and discussion. The characters were well written and really came across as "real" people. No one was without faults and the less-than-good people were not without redeeming qualities. It was gorgeous and relaxing but it also kept me wanting to uncover the narrative and learn more about these people. If you like the "walking sim" style of adventure game, this might be worth checking out!

Verdict:
Don't let your controlling mother interfere in your love life


http://i.imgur.com/ME2rNI5.jpg

[Pumpkin]

#6 - Gone Home
http://i.imgur.com/yC6MGqA.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 4
Available platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam
Developers/Publishers: The Fullbright Company, Majesco
Length: 3 hours


Story:
In Gone Home, you assume the role of Kaitlin who has returned home for a visit. Unfortunately, it seems no one else is around. On top of that, you find some vague, cryptic messages left by your little sister, Sam. Your goal is to find out what exactly has been going on since you went on your European adventure. Where is your sister? What happened to her?

Gameplay:
Another "walking sim" style of game. In Gone Home, you explore the home of Kaitlin's family, trying to piece together what happened. You'll also need to find specific clues in order to advance to other areas of the house. You can examine and interact with objects, and you'll also be able to find journal entries left by Sam, which you can listen to any time from the menu. You'll also get a map so that you won't get too lost in the giant house.


http://i.imgur.com/zEPk2fA.jpg


Environment:
The game takes place in a single house. A big house, sure, but one house nonetheless. Gone Home tries to spread it out by opening up more of the house to explore as you go along, but you will just be traveling from room to room. The biggest variance is the way the rooms are decorated differently and what you can find in them. It also takes place in a single night, so nothing really changes much within the environment, although minor changes do happen when you get the necessary information.

Ambiance:
The ambiance is pretty good. There's definitely that air of mystery to it and at times it even feels a bit scary. Being alone in a big house at night, wondering where everybody is. But it also does a good job of helping us see what Sam went through by providing key music to play and having her voice over her journal entries. I could kind of feel the sadness and the happiness associated with the different rooms while exploring.


http://i.imgur.com/aFdWb3X.jpg


Choices:
Again, not really much here. Just going along with the story and uncovering it at your own pace.

Puzzles:
Not many, but there is trying to collect everything and find combinations to locks and that kind of stuff. Nothing major here either.


http://i.imgur.com/HRfOr3S.png


Cons:
-Super short
-Not much variance
-Space feels limiting

Pros:
-An interesting and touching story
-Good ambiance
-Looks good
-Good voice acting

Overall:
Gone Home gets a lot of praise so I was a bit worried that it would be overrated and I would find myself disappointed. While I don't think it's AMAZING, BEST GAME OF THE YEAR, ALMOST PERFECT like some reviews seem to think, it was a really enjoyable experience that felt very grounded and down to earth. Even if you haven't personally faced the struggles presented in the game, it still feels relatable and the characters seem very real. While it's by no means a perfect game, and is probably quite boring for anyone who doesn't like the "walking sim" style of game, I had such a good time with it, I played it twice in two days.

Verdict:
It's okay to leave the lights on all over the house


http://i.imgur.com/WUi0hVG.jpg

[Shauna]

I thought Gone Home was gonna be spooktastic, but then it was sad instead. :(

[Pumpkin]

#5 - 2064: Read Only Memories
http://i.imgur.com/8Gj5EPj.jpg

Platform I played on: Steam
Available platforms: Steam, gog, Humble Store, itch.io, PlayStation 4, Xbox One soon
Developer/Publisher: MidBoss
Length: 12 hours


Story:
Taking place in Neo San Fransisco in 2064, you play as a writer who hasn't exactly made it to where they want to be yet. One day, you find a robot person in your house named Turing. Turing informs you that your mutual friend has gone missing and it is very important you find him. There are some people who may have kidnapped him for his skills with technology, including creating our new friend Turing. You'll have to investigate and find out what's happening and why. Outside of the investigation, you'll see that Neo San Fransisco is struggling with their technological singularity and the political and ethical issues that come with it.

Gameplay:
ROM (for short) is a point-and-click adventure style game. This means that you point at things and also click on them. You can interact with your surroundings by looking, touching, speaking to, or using an object on various things in your environment. You'll also have dialogue options and some logic puzzles here and there as you progress the game. You'll also get a map so you can move from place to place.


http://i.imgur.com/vr5ln6G.png


Environment:
The game takes place in Neo San Fransisco ~in the future~ with a good variety of places to visit. It can feel a bit limiting at times in that you're stuck to a few locations in a big city, but overall it's a decent amount of locations. Additionally, while you do revisit locations, it never feels annoying as there will be new things to do and examine. The environments are highly interactable and one of my favourite things is that you get a pair of headphones early in game which you can plug in to various things across the city and have a listen to. There's a lot of detail in the environment and that one small thing helps to demonstrate that.

Ambiance:
There game really does achieve the mood it sets out to convey, I think. One of the major elements is inclusivity and humanity and that shows in every aspect of the game from the characters to the dialogue to the world you explore. They don't just say they want to explore these topics, they actually show it in every way that they can. It's got a good sense of humour to it, but it can still get heavy and tense when it wants to and it conveys that sense of futuristic mystery really well through the sounds and visuals.


http://i.imgur.com/rA6XhCs.png


Choices:
These game is pretty choice heavy, with the major aspect being how you interact with Turing. This can and will affect the endings you receive. It will also affect what the other characters think of you. Most of the choices are related to character relationship building, but you'll also have some other choices to make throughout the game.

Puzzles:
Being a point-and-click you will have some puzzles, mostly in the form of knowing where to look and what to interact with in the correct way. There will be some logic puzzles as well, and also some puzzles having to do with how you interact with others to get information and clues from them.

http://i.imgur.com/GhTo6Zp.jpg


Cons:
-Makes its political views very known, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you disagree it might be annoying
-Could have done with a few more locations to explore
-The story was very focused on the specifics it set out to explore, which isn't bad, but it could have expanded its focus a bit more to make it even more immersive and interesting

Pros:
-Very inclusive
-Great themes
-Very realistic character development for Turing
-Memorable characters
-Good sense of humour

Overall:
I really enjoyed my time with Read Only Memories and it is my favourite point-and-click that I've played so far (not that that's many). I do believe they've updated it since I've played, so I'm not sure what the changes are. But I thought it explored really interesting themes about what it means to be human, both when it comes to sentient machines and when humans themselves start becoming more machine-like through the use of implants and surgery. Turing was an excellent character. He wasn't always likeable, although he usually was, but he was flawed and imperfect in a way that made him believable and relatable. At the end of the day, this game was very human, not necessarily in spite of all of the robots and human augmentation, but maybe because of it.

Verdict:
One Maple This Off and two Mo' Sugar Rushes


http://i.imgur.com/i1RJhJr.jpg

[Pumpkin]

#4 - To The Moon
http://i.imgur.com/rhayrr6.jpg

Platform I played on: Steam
Available platforms: Steam, gog, Humble Store
Developer/Publisher: Freebird Games
Length: 5 hours


Story:
In this game you play as Dr. Eva Rosalene and Dr. Neil Watts who work for a company that is in the business of artificial memory creation. You are assigned a dying patient named Johnny who had a dream to go to the moon. It's up to your characters to go back through his memories before he passes away and alter them so that his wish can be fulfilled. However, when going back through his past, they learn a lot more about him that complicates their job.

Gameplay:
This game is mostly about interaction. As you go back through memories, you'll need to collect key items to progress and solve small puzzles. This will allow you to dive further and further back in to Johnny's past. There are a few gameplay elements to shake things up, such as a small RPG battle section and a part where you throw plants at zombies. Mostly though, you'll be going through memories and watching key scenes.


http://i.imgur.com/35iJh6X.jpg


Environment:
In To The Moon, you will explore a few different locations, mostly through Johnny's memories. You'll also be able to explore his house. Most areas are pretty small and limited, but there is a good variety of different places and story to uncover in each new area you visit. It isn't really a game that focuses on exploration, it more just uses the environment to hold more of the story.

Ambiance:
Fantastic. In case you couldn't tell yet, To The Moon is very narrative driven. Everything in the game exists for the purpose of telling a story. If that's something you enjoy, this is certainly a story worth experiencing. The pacing is excellent and the environments and gameplay help to express the feelings To The Moon wants to convey. It's really easy to get attached to these people as you learn about them and their lives and because of that, the emotional moments hit hard and leave an impact.


http://i.imgur.com/7iNO1Zi.jpg


Choices:
The game isn't very choice heavy. The choices come more in the form of watching the characters make impactful decisions in their lives and seeing how that plays out and, in some cases, what could change if they made different ones.

Puzzles:
A few here and there. Basically you will be looking to retrieve specific items and memories in order to progress. When you find the necessary things in a level, you'll have a small picture uncovering puzzle game, which aren't super challenging.


http://i.imgur.com/EefEgXy.jpg


Cons:
-Everything in the game is there to serve the narrative so if you don't like the narrative, there's nothing here for you. If you do like the narrative though (as I did) then this isn't a bad thing
-Small, limited environments
-Doesn't have a proper sequel yet

Pros:
-Wonderful story
-Much feels
-Good sense of humour
-Little ways of changing things up with the gameplay here and there

Overall:
If you're in the mood for a wonderfully touching and engaging story in the form of a short, cute little game, then look no further. It doesn't have the best graphics, the best gameplay, the best environments, and there's not a ton to do differently on subsequent playthroughs. But that isn't what the game is about. It's about experiencing the story of a dying man named Johnny and learning about the life that made him who he is. And in that regard, the game accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do. Just be ready for the feels.

Verdict:
Several hundred origami rabbits


http://i.imgur.com/8dnPgD6.jpg

[Pumpkin]

Only 3 left!

#3 - Her Story
http://i.imgur.com/C951xv6.jpg

Platform I played on: Steam
Available platforms: Steam, Google Play, App Store
Developer/Publisher: Sam Barlow
Length: 3 hours


Story:
Her Story is a story... about HER! Seriously though, it's a bit of a unique game in that you play someone, although you don't know who for a little while, watching old police tapes. These police tapes are about a woman named Hannah and the disappearance of her husband, Simon. It's up to you to figure out exactly what's going on.

Gameplay:
Again, Her Story is a rather unique game. The gameplay consists of... watching video clips. And then you type in a search word in to the search bar and... watch more video clips. Until you "finish" the game, a search term will limit to the first 5 results, but after finding the twist and finishing, you can expand the amount of results shown so that you can more easily find and watch any of the clips you missed. There are 271 total clips to find, but not all are needed to complete the game.


http://i.imgur.com/0ZJKgdA.jpg


Environment:
Literally you sitting in front of a computer screen searching for videos which take place in interrogation rooms.

Ambiance:
Really good. The use of a real actress and having you kind of... sitting in front of a computer screen while your character is unseen but also sitting in front of a computer screen does wonders for immersion. This really is an "interactive movie" like none I've ever seen. The ambiance, aside from what I mentioned and a few sounds and visuals here and there, is very bare bones. But not in a bad way. It's been stripped down to its basics because that actually helps the immersion and the feel of what the game is going for.


http://i.imgur.com/FKfWpY9.jpg


Choices:
The only choices are what you choose to type in the search bar. Which is both a very limiting amount of choice and a surprising amount of freedom. Especially since some surprising searches will actually turn up results sometimes.

Puzzles:
Basically the whole game is one giant puzzle. You watch a video and write down or keep in mind anything you think might be important. Then you enter that in the search bar and watch more clips. Then you try and find important terms or themes or observations from those videos and search more things. And so on and so forth. Her Story rewards you for taking educated guesses and making observations even when a key word or name isn't explicitly stated. Especially when your search results are limited to five in the beginning, you'll need to get creative sometimes to get more clips.


http://i.imgur.com/jfyzB2n.jpg


Cons:
-It's literally just typing search terms and watching movies. If you want something more gameplay heavy... well, look elsewhere. It's really BARELY a game
-Also doesn't have a sequel

Pros:
-Very interesting story
-Bare bones in a way that works amazingly well
-Strangely addictive
-Unique, which is a good thing if you like it as I do. It's different from any other gaming experience I've ever had
-A surprising amount of freedom

Overall:
I was pretty skeptical about Her Story at first. I mean, you watch clips and it's real people, not even video game characters, making it even more like a movie and less like a game. I decided to give it a try when I saw a glowing review for it and I am very glad I did. As I said, it's different from any gaming experience I've had before and in a good way. It made me want to keep playing, keep watching, try and figure out what happened. It's also got a weird contrast between being very limited and very free. The order in which you watch the clips, discover the story, and find key terms is entirely left in your hands. And yet, that's all you can do. But really if it sounds at all interesting and you want to try something new, it's like $6. Definitely worth the price in my opinion.

Verdict:
Perfect for someone who doesn't like to look at their own reflection


http://i.imgur.com/mB5jYKq.jpg

[Karifean]

I've heard a few good things about Her Story, though to me, the short length and style of interaction is a little off-putting. Though I'd still probably play through it in one session if I got to my PC with three hours to spare and for some reason decided to try it.

[Pumpkin]

#2 - Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
http://i.imgur.com/L7ebN7c.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 4
Available platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Steam, iOS
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: 505 Games
Length: 4 hours


Story:
The game follows two brothers (go figure) as they journey to the Tree of Life in order to collect the waters that will save their fathers life. They must work together to overcome obstacles with each bringing their own skill. The brother can fit in to smaller spaces, for example, but is afraid of the water after their mother's passing. Will they make it to the Tree of Life in time to save their father?

Gameplay:
Brothers is an overall simple game, although it can feel awkward at first. Each brother is controlled by one of the thumb sticks. You'll need to move them simultaneously in some cases in order to solve simple puzzles or get through platforming sections. You'll also need to be aware of each character's positioning and make sure they aren't getting themselves in danger while you focus on one of them. Basically, a lot of coordination.


http://i.imgur.com/tTcZUTm.jpg


Environment:
There's a lot of variety in the environments you'll explore, from farmland to a former battleground, to snowy scenery. While you won't be able to do massive amounts of exploring in each area, you'll get enough time with them to take an interest and get the feel for them. It also does a great job of making each area feel distinct and add to the ambiance it is trying to set up.

Ambiance:
Speaking of ambiance, this game is the best example I can think of when it comes to telling a story through gameplay. I don't want to spoil anything, but the mechanics play a crucial role in the emotional impact of later story elements. By controlling both characters at once and coordinating everything, controls that feel weird and awkward grow to feel much more natural and expected. While Brothers does have some voices, it is in a fictional language, so instead of telling the story through words, the game uses environment, gameplay, and tone of voice.


http://i.imgur.com/ITmZTfW.jpg


Choices:
Not really any to speak of. I guess you can choose to play the game or not!

Puzzles:
An important element to the game. As I mentioned, you'll basically need to learn to coordinate your characters to work in sync in a lot of cases. In some other cases, you'll need to reason out how to progress and unlock some gates or sections in order to continue. Not the hardest puzzles but a few good thinkers. The puzzles also involve some motor skills, which is a nice change of pace from the usual pure logic puzzles.


http://i.imgur.com/vJkGKCb.jpg


Cons:
-Too short!
-I would have loved more info and backstory on some of these locations and just this world in general

Pros:
-Dem feels ;__;
-Interesting mixture of motor skill and logic puzzles
-Great bond between the siblings
-Excellent example of storytelling through gameplay
-Interesting areas

Overall:
I really loved Brothers. Even though it's been a while since I played it, the emotions I felt while playing have stuck with me and just thinking back to it reminds me of all of the touching, sad, and happy moments the game had to offer. While it is short, it still feels rather large in scale and as I mentioned a few times, I have never been as impressed with how a game incorporates gameplay in to its story, especially towards the end. It's emotional ride about the bond two brothers share while going on a quest to rescue their father and it was worth every penny.

Verdict:
2/2 brothers


http://i.imgur.com/D2ulqHZ.jpg

[Slothy]

I thought Gone Home was gonna be spooktastic, but then it was sad instead. :(

Yeah that caught me quite by surprise as I went along. Spent the first 15-20 minutes carefully sneaking around waiting for anything and everything to jump out at me until it was obvious it wasn't that kind of game.

And I've yet to finish it and I'm not sure if you've played it already and it will show up later, but if you haven't played it then check out Oxenfree Pumpkin. It's ridiculously good so far.

[Pumpkin]

I did actually play Oxenfree, but it will be making an appearance on my horror list!

[Slothy]

Oooooo. Exciting!

[Shauna]

I thought Gone Home was gonna be spooktastic, but then it was sad instead. :(

Yeah that caught me quite by surprise as I went along. Spent the first 15-20 minutes carefully sneaking around waiting for anything and everything to jump out at me until it was obvious it wasn't that kind of game.

Right? Although, I was still mildly paranoid that I was gonna find a dead body in the attic. xD

[Pumpkin]

#1 - The Walking Dead: Seasons 1 & 2
http://i.imgur.com/r02HJoe.jpg

Platform I played on: PlayStation 4
Available platforms: PlsyStation3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Google Play, telltale.com, Steam, gog
Developer/Publisher: Telltale Games
Length: 22 hours (Season 1 ~13, Season 2 ~9)


Story:
In season 1, you play as a character named Lee, a black man in Georgia who is under arrest. Before we get to learn too much about what exactly is going on however, things decide to go to crap and suddenly there's a zombie apocalypse. Shortly in to the game, Lee finds a young girl named Clementine whose parents were away when everything happened. He brings her with him as they search for other survivors, look for somewhere safe, and just focus on surviving. I won't say much about season 2 to avoid season 1 spoilers, but it continues the story of survival in a zombie apocalypse.

Gameplay:
This is one of those "Your choices totally super matter" style of games that focuses on slightly branching paths depending on choices you make in game. Because of that, selecting dialogue options is a huge part of the game as it will cause slight variations in the story and bigger variations in character interactions and relationships. You'll also be able to search areas for items and examine things. There are also quick time events that involve aiming, as well as pressing and mashing buttons.


http://i.imgur.com/wgh7Xe0.jpg


Environment:
Bleak. Seriously though, prepare for a lot of zombies, dead bodies, garbage, the colour brown, and disorganized messes. Despite the common elements to each environment, there's a good variety of location changes and new things to see and explore. The amount you can explore is usually limited, but it doesn't feel too often like a bad thing and there's usually a good amount of intractable in each area. Also brown.

Ambiance:
The game's ambiance is excellent. You always feel that sense of hopeless dread, like there's always a huge weight on your shoulders. There are some lighthearted moments thrown in to prevent you from burning out on misery and not caring anymore, but it's always very easy to feel the weight of the situation. Since it is based on a comic book, I also really enjoy the artistic style which feels very comic book in its shading and presentation.


http://i.imgur.com/dMTFNo6.jpg


Choices:
This is where the game really excels. You'll be faced with a lot of choices, both big and small, throughout the course of both seasons. To be clear, it isn't a situation where your choices change the game completely and you'll get an entirely different game each time. There are branching scenarios but they always snap back to a single point where the story will always go through the same major events. However, your choices do impact certain things like for how long some people survive, different conversations, different relationships with other characters, and just general stuff like that. The game is good about remembering your choices and having it be referenced in the future (even in to the next season in some cases). Really though, the big thing about choices is that they're meant to reflect who you are and what you value and prioritize. That's where the main appeal is when it comes to these decisions, even if they sometimes end up the same way.

Puzzles:
Not really much in the way of puzzles. A bit of investigating here and there, finding the right stuff, and maybe some logic involved in the best courses of action to take. Otherwise, not much here.


http://i.imgur.com/KqnqCt6.jpg


Cons:
-It sucks when you like a character and then they die
-It sucks when people are supposed to be on lookout but then have sex instead
-A character came back that really shouldn't have come back and it was weird and they barely explained it

Pros:
-THEM FEELS
-THEM SELF-REFLECTIONS
-Actual, tough moral choices
-Excellent characters and character developmet
-Great story
-Good aesthetic

Overall:
I was worried about playing this game because I'm not a zombie fan and I don't like the TV show. But not only is it my top adventure game, it is one of my favourite games, period. The characters are excellent and even the ones I wanted to punch managed to be believably written which allowed them to illicit an emotional response from me (anger, in case that wasn't clear). The story was bleak, but it was still touching and charming and it had me invested in everything going on. My favourite part though was the moral dilemmas because, even if they had little impact on the actual story, they allowed me to learn more about myself and learn to view situations in different ways. This game was amazing, emotional, and insightful and I eagerly await the release of the full season 3 so that I can delve back in to this wonderful work.

Verdict:
Of course Kenny would be from Florida.


http://i.imgur.com/iXL4eAF.jpg


So that is my list everyone and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed making it! As for what's next, it'll probably end up being fighting games, or maybe visual novels.

Also, if you aren't sure which of the awesomely awesome games on my list to check out, I made a (probably not so) handy dandy flow chart for you!



http://i.imgur.com/q5efMWs.png


Thanks for reading!

[krissy]

cool thread

i love the look of oxenfree as well

telltale usually does amazing work

[Bubba]

I really enjoyed this :D

I haven't played the majority of them but it was interesting reading about them. I adored The Walking Dead games!

[Pumpkin]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it :jess:

[Karifean]

Not exactly the most unexpected of #1 picks =P Never played it myself, but everything I've heard about it has been great. I should probably pick it up sometime...

Was pretty fun to follow along. I knew more of them than I expected to, though I still haven't played a single one of them ^^;

According to your flowchart, the games I should play are Life is Strange and To The Moon. Hmmm~

[Vyk]

Just started Read Only Memories yesterday, been waiting a long time to get my hands on it, but sadly I totally forgot about it and then last month realized it was on console, and then it just went on sale, so I nabbed it

I remember their trailers capitalized a lot on people's love and fondness of Snatcher, and that they were trying to recapture that look and feel. And for the most part I think they nailed it. Though it kind of over-shot the look. It looks great, but it also looks a bit older than Snatcher. But I think the two games would be in good company. Makes me want to replay Snatcher and Policenauts. Two games you may want to investigate someday if you haven't already

I've had To The Moon and most of the Telltale games in my libraries for a long time and never touched them. Actually I think I have Life is Strange on PS4 digitally as well... And Oxenfree, since people are talking about it. I've just had this pill in my head the last few months where I don't play games much, and when I do, I want to ... do stuff. Walk around, explore a world. And fight things. And adventure games are very passive experiences. I don't watch a lot of TV or movies, and adventure games kind of blur the line between watching and playing and I typically feel more compelled to play more than watch. Which isn't a good feeling when I know I'm missing out on fantastic stories like these

Thanks for shining a light on them