This review contains spoilers
Shipwreck 64 is a unique attempt at a palpable "youtube series" video game ARG that I quite enjoyed. It's friendly introduction to a more sinister depth, common and expected, surprisingly kept me engaged with cypher puzzles, exploration, and out-side-the-box thinking.
The game craftily places expectations of how the game should be with two in-game versions. The 2024 version, which is described as the way the planned game was intended, and the 1997 version where all the spooks and scares appear but can only be accessed after playing the 2024 version. This seemed odd to me at first but after finishing the game I realized that the 2024 version was implemented to comfort me in the world, to show me what was seen as natural and normal before changing it in the next version. It slowly, but without stopping, pushes you more and more deeper into the game. Changes being more and more apperent to the point you almost forget what "normal" is, which I deeply enjoyed.
The developers must have loved working with the ARG aspect of the game, as is shown through the effort and passion was put to every aspect. For example, you can find a computer that'll take you to a custom designed hand-written guide by two of the ingame characters on your default browser which made looking through it more of a spectacle and wonder.
My main issue with the game derives from the story, which I initially fell in love with but quickly fell out of said love. It's main premise being extremely believable and easily translated as a real life event. The quick run down being that an animation studio that had a history of covered up incidents and deaths in its theme park hired a game company to develop for them and hopefully boost attention and financial gain. After 2 years the CEO disliked the game that was presented and cut funding, leading to the head developer, in anger and disbelief, to disappear and finish the game by himself, but implementing exposure of the company's darker side. A story I thought could be told as a real event and be believable which I adored. However, deeper digging into the game reveales aspects of "undead spirits returning" and "immortality experiments" which I am frankly sick of at this point of recycled horror slop :/
My experience playing it was along side my brother, keeping paper and pencil near until we filled it with marks and scribbles keeping track of lore, important locations, cypher translations and doodles will be absolutely unforgettable. Coming across new events and solving difficult puzzles were my favorite to watch with my brother, as we looked back and forth at each other soyjacking at new information that connected/solved a previous piece of text or screaming at a scare will stick to my heart
Overall, the gameplay, atmosphere, and interactivity is phenomenal although very simple. The writing is grand and overall quality shows for itself. The game only falters in a story that could be great but fell flat so quickly. (Also bugs and glitches would be appear more than wished and be very cumbersome, but my brother had to be the one to deal with em, not me, so I didn't mind :B)
The game craftily places expectations of how the game should be with two in-game versions. The 2024 version, which is described as the way the planned game was intended, and the 1997 version where all the spooks and scares appear but can only be accessed after playing the 2024 version. This seemed odd to me at first but after finishing the game I realized that the 2024 version was implemented to comfort me in the world, to show me what was seen as natural and normal before changing it in the next version. It slowly, but without stopping, pushes you more and more deeper into the game. Changes being more and more apperent to the point you almost forget what "normal" is, which I deeply enjoyed.
The developers must have loved working with the ARG aspect of the game, as is shown through the effort and passion was put to every aspect. For example, you can find a computer that'll take you to a custom designed hand-written guide by two of the ingame characters on your default browser which made looking through it more of a spectacle and wonder.
My main issue with the game derives from the story, which I initially fell in love with but quickly fell out of said love. It's main premise being extremely believable and easily translated as a real life event. The quick run down being that an animation studio that had a history of covered up incidents and deaths in its theme park hired a game company to develop for them and hopefully boost attention and financial gain. After 2 years the CEO disliked the game that was presented and cut funding, leading to the head developer, in anger and disbelief, to disappear and finish the game by himself, but implementing exposure of the company's darker side. A story I thought could be told as a real event and be believable which I adored. However, deeper digging into the game reveales aspects of "undead spirits returning" and "immortality experiments" which I am frankly sick of at this point of recycled horror slop :/
My experience playing it was along side my brother, keeping paper and pencil near until we filled it with marks and scribbles keeping track of lore, important locations, cypher translations and doodles will be absolutely unforgettable. Coming across new events and solving difficult puzzles were my favorite to watch with my brother, as we looked back and forth at each other soyjacking at new information that connected/solved a previous piece of text or screaming at a scare will stick to my heart
Overall, the gameplay, atmosphere, and interactivity is phenomenal although very simple. The writing is grand and overall quality shows for itself. The game only falters in a story that could be great but fell flat so quickly. (Also bugs and glitches would be appear more than wished and be very cumbersome, but my brother had to be the one to deal with em, not me, so I didn't mind :B)
kuromoji
30 days ago