Whether you like them or hate them, walking simulators are pretty much here to stay. They’re a great way to tell a story in an interactive manner, regardless of how savvy at game development you are. It’s a great entry point for anyone that has an opinion they’d like to get out to the public without simply writing a think piece. That is most definitely the case here, in this dark, demented world with the hope of passing immigration.

Starting out, the game tells you that the whole experience should last about an hour, and there is no saving or checkpoints – if you don’t have the time, maybe put it off for later. It also tells you that it’s important to interact with the world which will bring up a letter icon in the corner, which is for your sister – these help with directing you and giving some meaning to what’s happening in the game. For the first few notifications, I pressed every button on the controller in the hopes of reading the letter, but to no avail. So I kept playing thinking I could just figure out what to do. I did manage to get past the mining area that I apparently worked at, but several areas following didn’t make much sense.

I’d like to mention that while this game isn’t necessarily scary, it was creepy for me as I was alone in the house (a rarity) and I heard what sounded like someone attempting to open the front door. After a mild panic attack and grabbing a hammer, waiting to hear for another attempt at getting in from a different area, I went back to the game with the sound muted for the rest of it. As much as a good score can help a game, something like this is almost enhanced by silence, as the imagery is unnerving throughout, and I kept waiting for something to pop out at me.

Shortly after regaining my composure, I found a mailbox by my house where I was able to see all the letters I had written. These letters not only provided some story insight, but also assisted in how to solve the puzzles (assuming I didn’t figure them out already) by highlighting the relevant portions in red. It’s important to note that you can’t read these again unless you start over, so make sure you pay attention the first time through. If you get stuck with one of the sections, I advise checking the area and then sending a letter to see what to do.

The various puzzles thrown at you aren’t necessarily the most well put together, and annoyingly I couldn’t change my controls to an inverted y-axis, so I struggled near the beginning, but that’s not the point of this. It doesn’t matter that I clipped through the environment or other characters, or that the UI wasn’t as easily accessible as expected. Much like The Unfinished Swan, the focus of this experience isn’t supposed to be fun or precise – it’s about the story, and the confusion only aids that. Whether you’re attempting to do your job, join a cult, or be examined by doctors, it’s all a very alarming experience. You’re figuring it all out as much as the main character, and the setting and creatures that inhabit the spaces are equally unsettling.

Admittedly, games that take this path are going to be polarizing for the audience. They’re far from the AAA FPS audience, and this alienates casual players due to the fact that they have to play it all at once, which can be a bit taxing depending on your current state of mind. But if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary and has a message to tell, this one is worth checking out. The ending is a bit predictable, but no less powerful because of it.

7 out of 10

Pros

• Narrative Devices
• Unnerving World

Cons

• Frustrating Controls
• Overly Vague Directions

North was developed by Outlands and published by Sometimes You. It was released on PC in 2016, and on PS4, X1, and NS March 6th, 2018. The game was provided to us for review on PS4, X1, and NS. If you’d like to see more of North, check out the developer’s official site.

 

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