Umurangi Generation is a declaration of dismay against the government and corporations that have failed to save the world. It burns brightly and there's nothing we can do but watch. This is the central premise of Umurangi Generation, one of the few games that spoke loudest to the COVID Generation.
Umurangi Generation is a first person photography game. You play the role of a photographer, who documents the chaotic end of New Zealand. Beautiful landscapes are replaced with dystopian cities, ruins, and a red sky. These are the subjects of your photos, a world gone to hell because of government failure. Anger and frustration flow through many of the game's levels.
I feel that Umurangi and I share the same anger against government incompetence. In 2020, the world shut down as COVID ruined everything. I saw neighbors die, businesses shut down, and the corrupt thrive. The country suffered as we watched our geriatric government leadership conduct the most useless nightly “talk shows”. All talk, no game. Millions infected, and thousands dead in the nation. It was the most powerless I have ever felt and I wasn't alone. Perhaps you feel the same, reader?
It's okay, the world can't kill us yet. However, I can't say the same for Umurangi’s end times.
It's very easy to see that Origame Digital experienced the same revolting feelings we all did. All the revulsion and anger against the status quo that keeps us down. Besides, the game was released in the middle of the chaos in 2020. What resulted is a generational piece of art that expresses the same powerlessness we felt then and now. Umurangi speaks to the times.
The game evokes this punk-rock aesthetic in this near future setting. There’s a fury seeping through its tone, but there’s also a chill hangout vibe that flows against it. Yes, the end of the world is here and we can’t do anything but take pictures and hangout with the crew. These are the last days of a chaotic world.
However, I will not speak of what ails the setting of Umurangi Generation, doing so would only ruin half the fun. What is obvious from the beginning is there’s something that dooms the world and there is nothing you can do but watch.
As the game continues, the player slowly takes the role of a historian of sorts, documenting a crisis in progress. In light of this, Umurangi tasks you with taking photos of… Cats, birds, candles, graffiti, and much more. The subjects of your photos feel normal, which adds to the initially chill vibes. However, this ordinary set up eventually contributes to an entirely different tone, a feeling of desperation to hold onto normalcy. It’s a relatable feeling because we did that during the pandemic and even today.
The gameplay is very good and simple to pick up. As mentioned earlier, the game tasks you with capturing photos of several things such as cats or cars. There’s a ten minute timer, but it feels inconsequential. There is nothing stopping you from taking your time, exploring the level, and getting the best shots possible.
Umurangi Generation doesn’t make use of cutscenes or dialogue to tell a story. Instead, it uses environmental storytelling to great effect. The game invites the player to assemble its story, creating an engaging narrative experience that forces its players to seek out pieces of story. Throughout the levels, you’ll come across newspapers, graffiti, television sets, and posters that each detail the maddening situation that afflicts the world. As a result, the narrative never feels disruptive and the player is always in the middle of things. It's an immersive way to tell this story and the most fitting way to do so.
The OST by the magnificent ThorHighHeels should be praised. Not only does this man make banger video essays, but he’s also creating banger music as well. The music of Umurangi Generation is nothing short of fantastic, always expressing this “Sophistifuture” tone (as he would say) that really adds to the atmosphere. The music always feels nostalgic, relaxing, and also disruptive in some tracks due to the presence of robotic sounding voices. It all fits perfectly with the game.
The game also shows a unique Maori perspective that I would love to see more in video games. Diversity is the spice of life after all. While I can’t speak much to its Maori identity as I’m not one myself, I can definitely say its expression of identity and culture adds so much humanity and creativity to the game.
Umurangi Generation is a protest in the guise of a video game. It’s never shy about its disruptive and frustrated attitude. There's a lot of righteous anger that the story directs straight at its in-game governments as they continue to fumble important work. Thanks to its solid gameplay loop, great environmental storytelling, and a fantastic soundtrack, Umurangi Generation is able to lift a mirror that lets us see the madness.
Umurangi Generation is a first person photography game. You play the role of a photographer, who documents the chaotic end of New Zealand. Beautiful landscapes are replaced with dystopian cities, ruins, and a red sky. These are the subjects of your photos, a world gone to hell because of government failure. Anger and frustration flow through many of the game's levels.
I feel that Umurangi and I share the same anger against government incompetence. In 2020, the world shut down as COVID ruined everything. I saw neighbors die, businesses shut down, and the corrupt thrive. The country suffered as we watched our geriatric government leadership conduct the most useless nightly “talk shows”. All talk, no game. Millions infected, and thousands dead in the nation. It was the most powerless I have ever felt and I wasn't alone. Perhaps you feel the same, reader?
It's okay, the world can't kill us yet. However, I can't say the same for Umurangi’s end times.
It's very easy to see that Origame Digital experienced the same revolting feelings we all did. All the revulsion and anger against the status quo that keeps us down. Besides, the game was released in the middle of the chaos in 2020. What resulted is a generational piece of art that expresses the same powerlessness we felt then and now. Umurangi speaks to the times.
The game evokes this punk-rock aesthetic in this near future setting. There’s a fury seeping through its tone, but there’s also a chill hangout vibe that flows against it. Yes, the end of the world is here and we can’t do anything but take pictures and hangout with the crew. These are the last days of a chaotic world.
However, I will not speak of what ails the setting of Umurangi Generation, doing so would only ruin half the fun. What is obvious from the beginning is there’s something that dooms the world and there is nothing you can do but watch.
As the game continues, the player slowly takes the role of a historian of sorts, documenting a crisis in progress. In light of this, Umurangi tasks you with taking photos of… Cats, birds, candles, graffiti, and much more. The subjects of your photos feel normal, which adds to the initially chill vibes. However, this ordinary set up eventually contributes to an entirely different tone, a feeling of desperation to hold onto normalcy. It’s a relatable feeling because we did that during the pandemic and even today.
The gameplay is very good and simple to pick up. As mentioned earlier, the game tasks you with capturing photos of several things such as cats or cars. There’s a ten minute timer, but it feels inconsequential. There is nothing stopping you from taking your time, exploring the level, and getting the best shots possible.
Umurangi Generation doesn’t make use of cutscenes or dialogue to tell a story. Instead, it uses environmental storytelling to great effect. The game invites the player to assemble its story, creating an engaging narrative experience that forces its players to seek out pieces of story. Throughout the levels, you’ll come across newspapers, graffiti, television sets, and posters that each detail the maddening situation that afflicts the world. As a result, the narrative never feels disruptive and the player is always in the middle of things. It's an immersive way to tell this story and the most fitting way to do so.
The OST by the magnificent ThorHighHeels should be praised. Not only does this man make banger video essays, but he’s also creating banger music as well. The music of Umurangi Generation is nothing short of fantastic, always expressing this “Sophistifuture” tone (as he would say) that really adds to the atmosphere. The music always feels nostalgic, relaxing, and also disruptive in some tracks due to the presence of robotic sounding voices. It all fits perfectly with the game.
The game also shows a unique Maori perspective that I would love to see more in video games. Diversity is the spice of life after all. While I can’t speak much to its Maori identity as I’m not one myself, I can definitely say its expression of identity and culture adds so much humanity and creativity to the game.
Umurangi Generation is a protest in the guise of a video game. It’s never shy about its disruptive and frustrated attitude. There's a lot of righteous anger that the story directs straight at its in-game governments as they continue to fumble important work. Thanks to its solid gameplay loop, great environmental storytelling, and a fantastic soundtrack, Umurangi Generation is able to lift a mirror that lets us see the madness.