So, we’re here again. Another game done, this one on the same day as I got my review out. And you might say to that: “short game, then”.
Well it’s short’ish; there’s five levels. But before I get any further, let’s talk about the art style and the level design.
First the art style. I found it quite charming. It doesn’t have to be photorealistic to have a nice-looking game (just had a Borderlands-like feel to it, without looking overly gritty). The creatures look great.
As for the level design, this is where the game shines to me..well, except for a few areas where it seems they are trolling the player by having a ledge off to the side with the player thinking it’s a secret..and it turns out to be not. Everything else feels like it has a purpose.
Though another complaint is how confusing some levels are (mainly the second level). Having the player die a lot shouldn’t be a “I shouldn’t be here” way. This game might feel open world, but it’s not. It has a linear path. And I feel the fox should pop out more often to make sure the player is following the right path.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about the levels themselves; but mainly their meaning. Each level is themed, as pretty much most games nowadays (that use a level based system). However, and I didn’t really notice this until after I had beaten it…the level names are named after the five stages of grief (and ordered correctly).
To know more, would of course reveal spoilers. So here are said spoilers for anyone curious (or has completed the game themselves). Once again I’m not responsible if this ruined your gameplay experience (don’t click the spoiler link, it’s not that hard).
Going from the top of the list and to the last level, these are the names after the five stages of grief (and my thinking of why they’re named like this);
Denial: The boy is alive and everything is sunshine and happiness. The boy meets the fox who helps him with some navigation.
Anger: The ‘dragon-bird thing’ shows up, steals a time-controlling orb making it eternal day, then proceeds to hunt the player in some ruins. My guess is this is the father’s anger trying to pull the boy back to him.
Bargaining: Well..you got me here. I don’t see how infinite looping rooms and ridiculously-long hallways, strange shadows and ‘orb striders’ have anything to do with pleading to God (or Satan) that the boy comes home.
Depression: Clearly the rain represents pain and sorrow. The shadows seem to also feel the boy’s pain for losing not just his orb strider, but the fox dying in the boy’s arms. The boy turning into a shadow represents being overcome with grief.
Acceptance: The boy can’t stand living anymore. His world is literally turned upside down, and commits suicide. Then you play as the father back at home, who eventually lets go of what’s left of the boy. Yet also for some odd reason, the boy is also glowing with energy.
And then..the credits roll. And I was in tears, even crying. I could feel the pain, and that’s when I know….this is a very good game.
So now comes the theories, of the meaning of the entire game (and its ending).
First, I can only assume, that this island exists in the father’s mind as a way to cope with the boy’s loss. I also think I know what the fox represents. Though the orb strider, the shadows, and especially the red-hooded figure are unknown to me.
I think the fox represents the bond between the father and the boy, which might explain why in the Depression level of why the fox is sadly howling at the statues that look like the boy. It also could be possible that the fox is the boy’s pet (for after it howls, it lays down near the statue as possibly representing of waiting for the boy to return).
Yet… that also cannot be true, as it doesn’t explain why the boy tries to get the fox to like him in the Denial level.
As for the other two, I’m still at a loss of what the orb striders and the shadows fully represent. It could be ‘people’ or what I originally thought to be the main beings that live on the island. It also doesn’t make sense why the shadows and these striders seem to be at war with eachother. Perhaps the shadows are the father’s way of bargaining to the devil in hopes of bringing back his son, and the striders are trying to tell the father to let go.
I dunno. I’m lost here. If you folks have any ideas, please let me know.
And then, finally, there’s the mysterious red-hooded figure. …And this still has no clear answer of who the figure really is. Most people have said it’s the father watching over the boy. The problem is the game flip-flops the identity between the Bargaining and Depression levels, and the Depression and Acceptance levels.
Maybe the first represents the kid thinking of who the figure is (as it doesn’t show its face). But the second time shows the boy as the figure (possibly the devs showing this being canon).
Could it be possible, that the red-hooded figure is the boy’s spirit? This theory could be possible, as one scene in the Denial level of seeing the fox standing near the figure (like it remembers who the figure is).
I don’t think it’s the boy, because the player is playing as the boy. So I say it’s possibly the spirit of the boy (showing him the way to heaven). The spire in the middle of the island could be the stairway to heaven. And the orb striders could be the caretakers.
I mean, think about it. Why would the fox be trying to get the boy to go towards the spire? Because the boy is in limbo, detached from its soul. And its soul cannot go to heaven without the boy.
I dunno. Maybe it’s a dumb theory. But it could explain why the screen goes black and the boy gets teleported back up to safety. As for why things activate when the boy yells at them, I have no idea.
And that’s all I can say to this. Except, good game. It really moved me. However, I don’t think it’s worth $40. I would say at least $25-$30 for the amount of content it gives.