I don't normally take part in the whole "games as art" discussion. I consider games to be just a medium like others, in a sense that 90% are crap, 9% are good and the remaining 1% is great. The strength of the medium lies in the fact that it is interactive, hence allowing for alternate stories, endings and more involvement on the part of its consumer, the weakness being that it is generally considered as flashy entertainment for socially inept morons.
Every now and then, however, there arrives a title that proves otherwise and the game I would like to present today is exactly such a title. As much as I shudder to write it, it is a perfect example of art in game form.
Conceived as an entry to for Casual Gameplay Design Competition, the theme of which was "exploration", Small Worlds conveys the story and the ambiance via simple exploration. In this game there are no threats to the player, such as enemies or hazards, there is just player and the level. As player progresses, the camera pans out and shows the bigger picture of their surroundings. Similarly, as the story progresses, the player gains more insight into what is happening.
Having reached the ending, I was looking for some explanations of the story over the internet and have found some interesting ideas in the comments on Reddit (much to my surprise, to be honest). Turns out it is really hard to tell with absolute certainty what has happened in the story - it is somewhat ambiguous and open for interpretation. The mood it conveys, however, is truly spectacular, amplified by excellent music tracks that enhance the experience. I was swept away by the feelings of melancholia, loneliness and nostalgia, as I was unfolding the layers of the game.
If you are stuck or otherwise too lazy to complete the game, the video walktrough can be found here - unfortunately it misses on couple of elements of the puzzle that (in my opinion) are important to the story. Therefore, try to finish the game on your own for a complete and unique experience.
I highly recommend playing Small Worlds: this little jewel of the gaming worlds will take less than 10 minutes of your life to complete, but will leave its imprint in your soul for much longer.
[ via IndieGames ]
Every now and then, however, there arrives a title that proves otherwise and the game I would like to present today is exactly such a title. As much as I shudder to write it, it is a perfect example of art in game form.
Conceived as an entry to for Casual Gameplay Design Competition, the theme of which was "exploration", Small Worlds conveys the story and the ambiance via simple exploration. In this game there are no threats to the player, such as enemies or hazards, there is just player and the level. As player progresses, the camera pans out and shows the bigger picture of their surroundings. Similarly, as the story progresses, the player gains more insight into what is happening.
Having reached the ending, I was looking for some explanations of the story over the internet and have found some interesting ideas in the comments on Reddit (much to my surprise, to be honest). Turns out it is really hard to tell with absolute certainty what has happened in the story - it is somewhat ambiguous and open for interpretation. The mood it conveys, however, is truly spectacular, amplified by excellent music tracks that enhance the experience. I was swept away by the feelings of melancholia, loneliness and nostalgia, as I was unfolding the layers of the game.
If you are stuck or otherwise too lazy to complete the game, the video walktrough can be found here - unfortunately it misses on couple of elements of the puzzle that (in my opinion) are important to the story. Therefore, try to finish the game on your own for a complete and unique experience.
I highly recommend playing Small Worlds: this little jewel of the gaming worlds will take less than 10 minutes of your life to complete, but will leave its imprint in your soul for much longer.
[ via IndieGames ]
