SPOILERS AHEAD:
Just replayed the game, been a year since I first played it. Completed the "true" ending of the game (artifact), watched a bunch of youtube interpretations of the game, and I have to say, this game is SAAAAAAAD. Like really, really sad (in a good way).
The endings are super quick and to the point, I expected a lot more extravagance, but I guess that's not it's style. I do wish the two most important characters had more to say to each other after, you know, Elster fights her way through fucking HELL ON EARTH (but it's not earth it's Leng and Rotfront and technically Vineta) to reach her soulmate. I guess an "I love you" makes it harder to carry out the promise (which I'm convinced the promise is for Elster to kill Ariane if she becomes too sickly) and we know they love each other through notes in the game and the one cutscene, but common man give us more of a payoff. That is my only real complaint about the game. The thing that makes me feel better about it is knowing how much time they spent together on the Penrose. 3000 cycles = 8.22 YEARS.
The fake ending is genius. Everyone who played the game knew that wasn't the end because it is the biggest cliffhanger of all time. I also really like the artifact ending, it takes on the idea of some otherworldly god pulling all the strings which makes a lot of sense in the context of this world. The artifact, a symbol of the safe manufacturer, holds all the puzzle pieces to bring Elsters' ambition to fruition. The most powerful entity in the game. The ever-looming red eye "a perfect metaphor for the ever-present surveillance by the Protektors and the tight grip of the central government", the violent storm on Rotfront, and a symbol of Ariane as she watches and guides her twisted dream or interpretation of reality. The idea of ███████ and the king in yellow.
It's storytelling is amazing. There are so many little details in the storytelling, but it's not one of those games that tries to tell a compelling story with other horseshit that has nothing to do with it tacked on. All of the notes and setting in the game is relevant and worth your time. It doesn't overstay it's welcome (unless you try to get all the endings). Getting the endings is a bit tedious, I recommend just playing through the game once and looking up the endings to be honest. Unless you really love strategizing it's mechanics.
It gives you enough details to understand what is going on without knowing everything in a way that makes it very mysterious. I love it when a game feels mysterious, even after the credits roll and you watch 2 hours of explanations about it. I completed the game like "huh???" and after watching videos I feel like I could have figured out the juicy details myself. All the clues are there.
Love the idea of these cyborgs who have the power of synchronicity/resonance. How the world/combat perfectly reflects this principle. Love the glitchy effects associated with it.
Combat is tuned to perfection (for this style/genre).
Something I also really want to praise is it's puzzles. They're not very difficult in retrospect, but god damn, are they structured, deliberate, well thought out, and interesting.
The whole game is so stylish, poetic, and beautiful. Great sound design and music (even if there are classical pieces and minimalist dark ambient music, it fits the game very well). The ominous hum when you stand in the cryogenic room and the creepy magpie signal are particularly awesome.
It's truly an art piece all to it's own. An experience that pulls you in and imprints itself in your mind even after the credits roll.
Just replayed the game, been a year since I first played it. Completed the "true" ending of the game (artifact), watched a bunch of youtube interpretations of the game, and I have to say, this game is SAAAAAAAD. Like really, really sad (in a good way).
The endings are super quick and to the point, I expected a lot more extravagance, but I guess that's not it's style. I do wish the two most important characters had more to say to each other after, you know, Elster fights her way through fucking HELL ON EARTH (but it's not earth it's Leng and Rotfront and technically Vineta) to reach her soulmate. I guess an "I love you" makes it harder to carry out the promise (which I'm convinced the promise is for Elster to kill Ariane if she becomes too sickly) and we know they love each other through notes in the game and the one cutscene, but common man give us more of a payoff. That is my only real complaint about the game. The thing that makes me feel better about it is knowing how much time they spent together on the Penrose. 3000 cycles = 8.22 YEARS.
The fake ending is genius. Everyone who played the game knew that wasn't the end because it is the biggest cliffhanger of all time. I also really like the artifact ending, it takes on the idea of some otherworldly god pulling all the strings which makes a lot of sense in the context of this world. The artifact, a symbol of the safe manufacturer, holds all the puzzle pieces to bring Elsters' ambition to fruition. The most powerful entity in the game. The ever-looming red eye "a perfect metaphor for the ever-present surveillance by the Protektors and the tight grip of the central government", the violent storm on Rotfront, and a symbol of Ariane as she watches and guides her twisted dream or interpretation of reality. The idea of ███████ and the king in yellow.
It's storytelling is amazing. There are so many little details in the storytelling, but it's not one of those games that tries to tell a compelling story with other horseshit that has nothing to do with it tacked on. All of the notes and setting in the game is relevant and worth your time. It doesn't overstay it's welcome (unless you try to get all the endings). Getting the endings is a bit tedious, I recommend just playing through the game once and looking up the endings to be honest. Unless you really love strategizing it's mechanics.
It gives you enough details to understand what is going on without knowing everything in a way that makes it very mysterious. I love it when a game feels mysterious, even after the credits roll and you watch 2 hours of explanations about it. I completed the game like "huh???" and after watching videos I feel like I could have figured out the juicy details myself. All the clues are there.
Love the idea of these cyborgs who have the power of synchronicity/resonance. How the world/combat perfectly reflects this principle. Love the glitchy effects associated with it.
Combat is tuned to perfection (for this style/genre).
Something I also really want to praise is it's puzzles. They're not very difficult in retrospect, but god damn, are they structured, deliberate, well thought out, and interesting.
The whole game is so stylish, poetic, and beautiful. Great sound design and music (even if there are classical pieces and minimalist dark ambient music, it fits the game very well). The ominous hum when you stand in the cryogenic room and the creepy magpie signal are particularly awesome.
It's truly an art piece all to it's own. An experience that pulls you in and imprints itself in your mind even after the credits roll.