Recent reviews by Saratar

Just good clean rpg'n fun

My words here are merely intended as an expression of the emotions this game has stirred within me, and I hope you strongly consider to enjoy this experience for yourself.

I don't write enough reviews. Objectively, I don't write enough reviews. Subjectively, as a lover of video games, a teacher of the literary arts and a passionate storyteller, I write far too few reviews for the far too many incredible experiences I have had in my life. Yet I felt I had to break the cycle of my literary isolation to write a somewhat rambling review of What Remains of Edith Finch, because--even though I have yet to fully complete the game--I have experienced so many emotions that I no longer wish to keep them to myself.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a masterpiece. It is a masterpiece in the piecemeal style of its storytelling; it is a masterpiece in the way it guides you through its tale; it is masterpiece in the way it touches the emotions of being human and seeking to learn the purpose we play in the lives we are given.

I discovered Annapurna Interactive through the unforgettable Outer Wilds, a game that I completed fully on a separate system and an incredible experience that I will carry with me always. As I was looking through the other works of this amazing publisher, I stumbled upon What Remains of Edith Finch, and I thought: here must be another title to capture my heart and my imagination. I say here that with great joy, I have experienced this very thing.

To bring the conversation from the realm of emotion and into the mechanic of gameplay, What Remains of Edith Finch is a smooth and beautiful game to explore. The off-beaten path generally lacks in easter eggs or secondary routes, but from my wanderings in the game I have been given great moments of reflection for the atmosphere that has been carefully crafted with its level design, and its pathing doesn't punish you for wanting to walk over an outcropping of rock, a close collection of trees, a dilapidated bridge or a railing-less edge. Some might say this game is a walking simulator, of which I have played a fair many, but I would argue that this unique style of game is rather leading you to the next piece of its puzzle, the next chapter of its story, and with each bit of the tale you learn, you will grow as an active observer and maybe even cry in the way it presents its beauty, even in its sadness.

Thank you, Giant Sparrow. Thank you, Annapurna. This is another experience I won't ever forget. When the tale has been unspun and the story is done I am certain I will sit back and reflect on this journey, and it will be a great many years and a great many more games that will pass before I forget what I have experienced here in this unique world.

You step aboard the starship. Your first day on the job and you're nervous. Who are your fellow crewmates? What class is this ship? Where are you headed and what dangers await you at the next star system. The captain orders all crew to prepare for jump. The pilot confirms alignment, the engineer charges the warp core, and as you enter hyperspace you feel a bead of sweat roll down your forehead. Space is a beautiful place.