Telling Lies

Telling Lies is a narrative-driven investigative experience that turns something as ordinary as searching a computer database into the foundation of an absorbing mystery. Instead of exploring physical environments, fighting enemies, or solving traditional puzzles, the player sits in front of a computer containing a collection of secretly recorded video conversations. The objective is deliberately open-ended: search through these recordings, discover connections between four central characters, and gradually reconstruct the events surrounding their complicated relationships. Developed by Sam Barlow, Half Mermaid, and Furious Bee Limited and published by Annapurna Interactive, it is an unusual FMV adventure that places observation and deduction above conventional gameplay. The main mechanic revolves around entering keywords into a search system. When a word or phrase is entered, the database identifies recordings containing that dialogue. Every discovered clip can provide another clue, such as a person's name, a location, an organization, or a seemingly insignificant phrase. That information can then inspire another search. This creates an engaging investigative loop where progress depends primarily on curiosity and attention rather than completing predefined objectives. The game rarely tells the player exactly what should be investigated next, making discoveries feel genuinely personal. One of its strongest qualities is the nonlinear structure. The recordings cover an extended period, but players are not required to uncover them chronologically. A conversation from late in the story might be discovered before the events that explain it, while an apparently harmless recording can become much more significant after additional evidence is found. This fragmented presentation encourages players to constantly reconsider their assumptions. Characters who initially appear trustworthy can become suspicious, while actions that seem difficult to understand may gain entirely different meaning once the surrounding circumstances are uncovered. The FMV presentation is particularly effective because the performances carry much of the experience. Logan Marshall-Green, Alexandra Shipp, Kerry Bishé, and Angela Sarafyan form the central cast, and their performances give the recordings a convincing sense of intimacy. Small gestures, uncomfortable pauses, facial expressions, and changes in tone can be almost as revealing as the spoken dialogue. Since many clips effectively show only one participant's side of a conversation, discovering the corresponding recording from the other participant can significantly alter how an exchange is interpreted. There is also a fascinating tension created by the act of watching private conversations. The player is examining material that the people involved never expected an outsider to see. This gives the investigation a voyeuristic atmosphere that complements themes involving secrecy, trust, deception, identity, relationships, and surveillance. The game does not simply ask what happened. It encourages consideration of why people present different versions of themselves depending on whom they are speaking with. Mature themes and content are present throughout, making the experience clearly intended for an adult audience. The investigative system is clever, although its deliberate restrictions can occasionally become frustrating. Knowing that an important recording probably exists does not mean it will be easy to locate. Players must identify a useful keyword before the relevant footage appears, and vague searches can produce familiar or unhelpful results. There are moments when progress can feel like experimenting with words until something useful emerges. While this limitation supports the central concept of searching an imperfect database, it can also slow the pacing considerably. Telling Lies consequently demands patience. Players looking for combat, exploration, elaborate environmental puzzles, or constant interaction may find it unusually passive. Much of the experience consists of watching people talk and carefully listening for details that might become useful later. For players who enjoy detective fiction and piecing together fragmented narratives, however, that apparent simplicity becomes the game's greatest strength. A single unexpected search result can completely reshape the player's understanding of earlier events. The audiovisual presentation supports this restrained approach well. Rather than overwhelming the player with elaborate graphics, the computer interface remains functional and understated while the recorded performances become the primary visual focus. Dialogue is especially important because spoken words simultaneously function as storytelling and potential search terms. Headphones are worthwhile for catching quieter details and becoming more immersed in the private nature of the recordings. Replayability depends heavily on how thoroughly the database is explored during the first playthrough. Once the central revelations are understood, the mystery naturally loses some of its initial unpredictability. Even so, additional sessions can uncover overlooked footage, and previously viewed conversations can acquire new meaning when watched with greater knowledge of the overall situation. Completion-minded players also have an incentive to investigate beyond the minimum amount necessary to reach the conclusion. Steam Deck compatibility is officially listed as Unsupported. Players primarily interested in experiencing it on Valve's handheld should keep this limitation in mind rather than assuming that the simple controls automatically guarantee full compatibility. Its design may appear ideal for portable play, but the official Deck classification does not currently provide that assurance. Telling Lies ultimately stands out because it makes investigation itself the attraction. Its search-driven structure, strong performances, fragmented storytelling, and mature themes create a mystery that rewards concentration instead of mechanical skill. The restrictive database and measured pace can occasionally test the player's patience, but those limitations rarely diminish the satisfaction of discovering a crucial recording and suddenly understanding how several previously disconnected pieces fit together. It is especially easy to recommend to players who appreciate FMV adventures, unconventional detective stories, and narrative games that expect them to interpret evidence independently. Rating: 7/10

Este juego es una pena, quiero decir, lo jugué y lo disfruté, tiene grandes actores y en la producción mejora mucho a her story pero pierde en diversión. Los videos son muchos más largos y se vuelve un poco tedioso al final. La historia me enganchó lo suficiente, y disfruté el camino pero en la recta final se me hizo algo largo. En este caso navegas a través de videos de skype por lo que sólo ves una parte de la llamada y tienes que unir hilos con la otra, es curioso pero como digo hay veces que ves videos sabiendo en x minutos sólo hay una cosa que te va a interesar. La historia en si es buena y está bien hilado con muchos momentos disfrutables pero creo que a quien más nos pesa es a los completistas. ¿Por qué lo recomiendo? Primero porque me gustó, y porque si vienes aquí porque te gusta Sam Barlow, los videojuegos narrativos o no has jugado a Her story te puede gustar, es buena puerta de entrada, pero sabiendo lo que te vas a encontrar.

Духота какая-то, большинство роликов по 3-4 минуты половину из которых персонажи молчат и смотрят в камеру. Темп повествования теряется. Из плюсов тут Том Харди и та из Клиники)

傑作『Her Story』の作者、Sam Barlow氏が手がけた映像探索型アドベンチャーの第2作。 ある男と、その周囲を取り巻く人々とのビデオ通話映像を検索し、会話の中で気になった単語を手がかりに別の映像へと遡りながら、事件の全容に迫っていく。 Sam Barlow氏の作品の中でもやや厳しい評価を受けがちな一本です。 実際、前作にあった早送り機能は撤廃されています。 また、ビデオ通話の映像では会話している二人のうち片方しか表示されないため、映っている人物が黙って相手の話を聞いている場面では、どうしても冗長な間が発生します。 前作では数十秒から1〜2分程度の短い映像が中心でしたが、本作では5分を超える長い映像も珍しくありません。 全体的にテンポは悪く、正直、退屈に感じる時間も多かったです。 ストーリーそのものも、前作と比べると強く惹きつけられる内容とは言い難いです。 事件に大きな隠された真実があるわけではなく、映像を追うごとにおおむね想像どおりの出来事が起こり、そのまま想像どおりの結末へと収束していきます。 中心人物もやや周囲に流されがちな性格で、個人的にはあまり魅力を感じられませんでした。 前作には、断片的な映像と描かれていない部分から真相を推測する楽しさがありました。 しかし本作は、映像を時系列どおりに並べ直すことが主目的になりやすく、コンテキストを読み解く推理という点では弱くなっています。 そのため、長い映像を追い続けるためのモチベーションも維持しづらく感じました。 また、内容は少々アダルティです。 そうした描写が苦手な方は、少し驚くかもしれません。 ここまで不満を並べましたが、自分はなぜか最後までかなり熱中し、全映像を回収してしまいました。 なぜそこまで遊び続けたのか、自分でもはっきりとは分かりません。 ただ、登場人物が大幅に増えたことで生まれた、「会話を組み立てていく楽しさ」が大きかったのだと思います。 この映像の会話相手は誰なのか。どの映像とどの映像がつながり、会話はどの順番で交わされていたのか。 そうした断片を自分の中で組み直していく過程には、物語の内部へ入り込み、自分もその一員になったような没入感がありました。 この感覚は、やはり洗練された映像検索システムがあってこそのものなのでしょう。 退屈な間が多いとは書きましたが、その沈黙を演技だけで成立させている俳優陣は本当にすごいと思います。 台詞を発さず、ただ相手の話を聞いているふりをするだけで長い間を持たせる。その演技力には素直に感心しました。

Почти ♥♥♥♥♥ не понятно, но очень интересно.

Una historia que te atrapa hasta que lo resuelves todo ^^

Gameplay doesn't babysit you but it's fine for me

jogo interessante, acho que talvez pudesse explorar melhor a proposta do computador e as senhas de internet, de resto, uma boa história, apesar de ser rápido de se sacar tudo, sem um plot muito grande.