I know I have three whole months to play all the Game Pass PC games that I want, but I feel compelled to clear as many as possible within the shortest span of time. BACKGROUND:
I've seen some promotional material of this game, but I really don't know much about it. Might as well see what it's about. PLOT: The story isn't really presented in a conventional manner, and is more the kind of plot you have to interpret based on the relatively abstract way the game presents it. From what I can tell, it's about a girl named Gris who loses her ability to sing, and her entire journey is about reclaiming her voice. I think it's some sort of metaphor for overcoming emotional turmoil. If you're not a fan of less conventional storytelling, you may find the game's plot pretentious or just not understand it at all. But if you're willing to look past that, there is plenty of emotional depth to the story. Personally, I like the story a lot; the themes it tackles are ones that resonate with me, for very personal reasons. PRESENTATION: This is easily the department Gris most excels in. Everything about the presentation is absolutely beautiful, and the choices they made in terms of the art and music make the game a rather emotional experience. The art style is gorgeous, having this hand-drawn feel along with a watercolor-esque vibe to the colors. All the visual effects are dazzling, and they go all out on the animation, taking full advantage of elements such as changing the camera perspective to depict scale, or playing around with the palette. This is definitely one of those games where I just can't help but stare (and subsequently forget that I'm playing a game). The music is just as amazing, with a melodious soundtrack that goes all in on the piano and the violin. In addition to that, some of the tracks feature incredible vocals. Along with the mesmerizing art, I found myself stopping just to take in the music. To make things better, each track fits well with whatever emotion the narrative is trying to get across. GAMEPLAY: Gris is a puzzle platformer, and like most other games in the genre, the basic idea is to figure out puzzles to move forward. At first, the game doesn't feel that intuitive. The beautiful art is a bit of a detriment in terms of the gameplay, as it's sometimes difficult to tell which is just background/foreground, or if something is an actual platform/barrier. The objective isn't all that clear, either, but the gist is that you have to collect a bunch of tiny light orbs (I think they're supposed to be stars). These orbs are the key to many puzzles; not only do they open up paths once you've collected enough of them, but they also grant you special abilities. While it didn't take me that long to figure out what's going on, I could easily see some players being confused for much longer. In terms of abilities, there aren't all that many. You gain the ability to turn into a heavy cube (which can be used as a ground pound or in weight-based puzzles), a double jump (which comes with the ability to launch yourself upward in designated spots), an underwater dash, and (eventually) the ability to sing again (which activates objects in the environment). None of the puzzles are particularly hard, and none of the platforming sequences demand that much precision, but they came up with a bunch of cool ideas and gimmicks for the levels. My personal favorite is the one that involves ice, but there are mechanics involving gravity, shifting platforms, and (oddly enough) apple trees. Thankfully, the game is much better at teaching these gimmicks, though a few may still take a bit to figure out. The game is pretty linear overall, so despite the somewhat large areas, you won't really get lost. The only thing that's optional is a certain collectible that takes a bit of exploration or skill to acquire. Getting them all unlocks something story-related, but you don't really lose anything if you don't find them all. Additionally, beating the game allows you to revisit the levels to find these collectibles if you so desire. VERDICT: Gris isn't a game for everyone. Its plot may be too esoteric or "artsy" for some, and the gameplay, while solid, isn't particularly innovative, challenging, and can be confusing at times. But if you're willing to set those gripes aside, Gris is an unforgettable experience, putting together gorgeous visuals with amazing music to deliver an emotional tale. I adore this game, and if games of this style are your cup of tea, you might feel the same way. I will say that it's only around three hours long, so you might want to wait for a sale if you don't want to spend the base price for a game that doesn't take too long to beat. Check out Gris on Steam: GRIS on Steam (steampowered.com) The game is also on mobile, apparently. Choose your destiny: And here's the soundtrack on Spotify: Gris (Original Game Soundtrack) - Album by Berlinist | Spotify - end -
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June 2024
Derryck
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