Pros:
+ gameplay offers a genuine innovation
+ detailed art style and cozy atmosphere
+ the game manages to tell a complete story with static pictures
+ architecture of the different living spaces is believable and logical
+ the contents of the removal crates are carefully designed
+ music is sweet and simple
+ the final moments are memorable and heartfelt
Cons:
- the mechanics stay the same for the entire game
- cursor is a bit too slow
- some items are difficult to identify
- the logic of placing items is not always apparent
- graphics lack quality when zoomed in too much
- the achievement system feels a bit misplaced
- you could tidy up your flat and basically have the same experience
Playtime: 5 hours, with roughly half of all collectibles acquired.
Magic Moments: When my girl finally gets a stand for her Ukulele. Moving into a fancy new place and seeing red flags everywhere. The final image.
Verdict:
Unpacking's low-key impact on the gaming scene is no surprise. With the help of a cutesy art style and simple mechanics, the creators manage to tell a meaningful story with ups and downs without ever identifying a main character or outright formulating a story arc, which is a daring and memorable approach to game design that depicts the possibilities of the medium. At the same time, there is no false bottom or hidden feature to be found here: what you see is what you get, and the gameplay loop repeats from the first moment to the last, with frequent moments of questionable logic and repeating situations of issues with the placement of items.
Giving this game a score or recommending is therefore very difficult. It does exactly what the creator's set out to do, but as someone who values mechanics in games, I found myself underwhelmed towards the end. But even if I do not think I will every revisit this and do not consider myself the target audience, there is a specific subset of players that will love this experience, and the creative approach Unpacking exemplifies is certainly memorable.
So play it if you like what you see, but keep your expectations in check.
+ gameplay offers a genuine innovation
+ detailed art style and cozy atmosphere
+ the game manages to tell a complete story with static pictures
+ architecture of the different living spaces is believable and logical
+ the contents of the removal crates are carefully designed
+ music is sweet and simple
+ the final moments are memorable and heartfelt
Cons:
- the mechanics stay the same for the entire game
- cursor is a bit too slow
- some items are difficult to identify
- the logic of placing items is not always apparent
- graphics lack quality when zoomed in too much
- the achievement system feels a bit misplaced
- you could tidy up your flat and basically have the same experience
Playtime: 5 hours, with roughly half of all collectibles acquired.
Magic Moments: When my girl finally gets a stand for her Ukulele. Moving into a fancy new place and seeing red flags everywhere. The final image.
Verdict:
Unpacking's low-key impact on the gaming scene is no surprise. With the help of a cutesy art style and simple mechanics, the creators manage to tell a meaningful story with ups and downs without ever identifying a main character or outright formulating a story arc, which is a daring and memorable approach to game design that depicts the possibilities of the medium. At the same time, there is no false bottom or hidden feature to be found here: what you see is what you get, and the gameplay loop repeats from the first moment to the last, with frequent moments of questionable logic and repeating situations of issues with the placement of items.
Giving this game a score or recommending is therefore very difficult. It does exactly what the creator's set out to do, but as someone who values mechanics in games, I found myself underwhelmed towards the end. But even if I do not think I will every revisit this and do not consider myself the target audience, there is a specific subset of players that will love this experience, and the creative approach Unpacking exemplifies is certainly memorable.
So play it if you like what you see, but keep your expectations in check.