EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/T00vNTr.jpg)
How good is this game??
So, being a longtime fan of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, I've naturally been excited about Frictional's next upcoming game, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, co-produced with game developers The Chinese Room. In the process of learning more about this sequel, I stumbled across Dear Esther, The Chinese Room's first game. I decided that, for $10, it was worth a play through to see how good it was. And it was incredible.
For those that have played Amnesia (or watched it because you're too afraid to play it yourself lol), you will remember how minimalist the controls were. You had a lantern, could run and crouch, move doors and items with your cursor, and...that was about it. There were no guns, no clever button combinations, no jumping, no rolling (for you Zelda fans), nothing to do but walk around and look at stuff. Dear Esther, if it's possible, took this to an even simpler level. The only controls in Dear Esther are movement and a zoom feature. That is all.
In a way, Dear Esther really redefines what a game is. For Dear Esther, it's simply a full immersion into a foreign world over which you have no control and almost no ability to interact with; your goal in the game is simply to explore and let the wild, vivid, almost hallucinatory scenery and sounds wash over you and immerse you into this deepening, felt interaction. The storyline (told through journal entries to Esther) is spotty and difficult to follow, but overall leaves you intrigued and gives you a felt connection to the writer and their experiences, whatever they may be.
I don't even know if there IS a solid storyline. But you're left with the impression of the aftermath of a car crash, of broken glass and bits of pain, wracked with guilt and undeniable clarity, blurry images of wreckage, sirens ringing in your head, the impossible beauty of something so impossible, sudden moments of sober revelation, cracked spines, and a feeling of finally letting go, acceptance. It's a very felt game; it doesn't make a lot of sense, but you can feel it.
The feelings follow you out of the game, connect with you, and no longer make it a game but an experience. And it's a beautiful experience.
I super highly recommend this game to anyone, especially if you love immersion games like Amnesia or Slender or other atmospheric games. While there's practically no skill involved, the game is an adventure. It has slightly randomized events, so it's worth replaying a few times just to get slightly different storylines.
Oh, and did I mention that the graphics are beautiful and the music is amazing? I love this game, so glad I stumbled upon it.
_
