Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut

Ця гра мені дуже подобається. Спочатку все здається доволі простим і зрозумілим: ви — герой, вам потрібно вбити принцесу, врятувати світ (чи ні?) і жити своє найкраще життя. Але дуже швидко стає зрозуміло, що все набагато складніше. «Slay the Princess» — одна з моїх найулюбленіших ігор у своєму жанрі. Філософія — 10/10. Лейтмотив наслідків кожного рішення — просто ааааа. Герої харизматичні, діалоги запам’ятовуються, а варіативність справді вражає: постійно хочеться повернутися й перевірити, що станеться, якщо зробити інший вибір. Коротше, рекомендую всім, хто ще сумнівається, — усе ж брати. Я взагалі не люблю читати, але ця гра змінила навіть це.

macht spaß

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[h1]Thoroughly Enjoyable![/h1] I'm not usually into playable novel games like this, but wow. I don't think there's been a "choose-your-own-adventure" game quite like this for a very long time. I can guarantee that you'll love this game. [hr][/hr] [h2]Writing & Storytelling[/h2] 10/10. The writing of this game is superb and is something that every game developer from indie to AAA needs to study. It was not written "for an audience" or "to a market". It was written, clearly, from the bottom of someone's heart as a creative act. These are the games that will stand the test of time as classics, and this game is among those. It's very clever, very nuanced, and well-delivered. It starts off very unassuming and very standard, but it quickly becomes the most unhinged, off-the-rails experience that I've had in a very long time. I won't really talk about the content itself much to avoid spoilers, as the twists and turns are so important to the experience of the game. Just know that you're in for one hell of a rollercoaster ride! [hr][/hr] [h2]Art Style[/h2] The art style is charming and imaginative. It guides you just enough to visualize the narrative, but leaves enough unillustrated to allow room for the best graphics engine in the universe, your imagination, to fill in the gaps. This is why so many of the games of the 90s and 00s were so classic - they relied on you to fill it in just like reading a book. The horror is visceral and surreal, so if you're in to that - great! If you're not, well, why are you playing a horror game? [hr][/hr] [h2]Music & Sound Design[/h2] The music is great - just enough to provide some undercurrent and direction and mood, not so much that it takes over. If I have a complaint I would say that it is a little repetitive at times and could use more triggered track layering on certain events or development. Some of the music tracks could have been mastered a bit better but I understand that this was an indie game on a tight budget. That's a very nitpicky criticism as I'm a composer/musician. They do save the big music for the big moments and the score can quickly crescendo to something giant and sweeping at the right times. The sound design is superb - a big part of horror is audio and boy do they get this right. You will definitely be scared and unnerved by some of the really surrealist sound effects that they have created for this game. Best played in the middle of the night for maximum spooks! [hr][/hr] [h2]Final Thoughts[/h2] I've had this game on my wishlist for a long time and I finally picked it up and I am so impressed by what I stumbled upon. I didn't really know what my expectations were, but I wasn't expecting such a rich story and grappling with a surrealist existential treatise on the nature of being. I strongly recommend that this game should be in the library of every Steam account holder! Bravo to all involved!

an absolutely normal and grounded game

This game is expertly written - the dialogue, general messages of transformation, and variety in paths is expert-level. Beyond that, the art style is captivating and entrancing, and the music design is top-tier. I don't think I have anything critical to say about this game - 10/10 would recommend.