Games that are much longer than they have to be, padded out with extra content and gameplay mechanics that don't contribute to the overall experience of the game but are just there to give players something to do. Today, it seems we have the opposite problem. But I think the pushback against walking sims was part of a larger response to what, at the time, was perceived as developers and publishers trying to get away with providing less content for a higher price. In retrospect, the outrage around Dear Esther and walking simulators seem almost quaint. Later still, games like Firewatch, while technically more of a walking sim, would offer just enough gameplay to avoid the stigma while still providing a relatively linear but nonetheless engaging narrative-driven experience. I find it extra interesting because Dear Ester would be followed by a slew of similar walking simulator games many of which in fact were lazy and uninspired, many of which were low effort independent titles that seemed to want to capatailzie on a trend of introspective indie experiences. At no point would the experience Dear Esther was trying to offer have been improved if the player had been tasked to solve some sort of mini-puzzle or platforming section between every save. It's Steam page makes it clear what kind of experience you're in for.īut Dear Esther was never trying to be something it wasn't, nor was it 'lazy' or at all limited by its complete lack of gameplay. What the "game" was and wasn't was never in dispute. At no point did Dear Esther ever falsely advertise its value proposition. I always felt as I do now, that it's a strange critique to give a product. Surprising amounts of anger, and lengthy threads with thousands of users describing the many ways this game in particular isn't a game. I remember seeing actual real anger when Dear Esther came out back in 2012. r/CoOpGaming - A community for co-op gaming r/xboxone - Xbox-specific subreddit for general Xbox news and discussion r/playstation, /r/PS4 & /r/PS5 - PlayStation-specific subreddits for general PlayStation news and discussion r/pcgaming - PC gaming-specific subreddit for general PC gaming news, discussion and gaming tech support r/nintendo - Nintendo-specific subreddit for general Nintendo news and discussion r/shouldibuythisgame - Find out what's worth getting. r/gamingsuggestions - Go here to help you find your next game to play r/gaming4gamers - Discussion, bar the Hivemind Top-level comments must be at least 100 characters in length.Accounts must be at least one month old.External Links must follow these guidelines No topics that belong in other subreddits This subreddit shouldn't be used for advice of any kind. Use sufficient detail and examples from multiple sources.Clearly define the purpose of your post.Engage in good faith with the points the person you're replying to is making.No discrimination or “isms” of any kind (racism, sexism, etc).Discuss GamingĪll discussion must be about gaming 2. Wonderful! For more of my content, check out my YouTube channel here.DARK MODE NORMAL MODE Rules 1. Don’t let that scare you away, the narrative in this game is simply brilliant, and I highly recommend buying it off Steam. There are no guns, no action buttons, it’s just walking for two hours. I can’t give away too much, but all I can say is that you are a ship-wrecked man on an island, simply exploring… Dear Esther is a masterpiece among the indie game community. I understand most haven’t even heard of this game, but please stick with me here. Gaming context: The game’s trailer as well as the narrative in the story. When this paper airplane leaves the cliff edge and carves parallel vapor trails in the dark, we will come together.” When we become waterlogged and the cage disintegrates we will intermingle. I can see your traces in the ink that soaks through the fiber, the pulped vegetation. Now you’ve settled on the opposite side of the paper to me. I’ve been folded along a creasing time, a weakness in the sheet of life. “I’ve begun my voyage in a paper boat without a bottom, I will fly to the moon in it. A game that I was enchanted by – it just kept drawing me in. In my sudden exploration of indie games, I found a real gem.
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