[Mr. Mechanical]

I got this game on Saturday. So far I've finished the prologue and when I start playing again in a bit it will be I guess the first episode. Actually, I haven't left my hotel room yet. I'll probably do a lot of poking around before finding out how to start the first episode (or maybe I've started it already). I only read the first couple pages of this thread back when it was made and decided to ignore it until I could play the game since it sounded amazing.

And I'm glad I did because man, this game is amazing. I've never seen Twin Peaks but if it's anything like this wonderfully bizarre game then I need to get on that at some point.

I really like how York constantly talks to the player. I thought he was just crazy at first (he probably is crazy) but then I caught on that Zach was the player. And oh jesus that opening dream sequence. I was WTFing all over the place during that but in a good way. The pause screen is wonderful as well.

Combat so far hasn't really been anything special. "Budget RE4" sounds about right. Though from what I'm seeing combat isn't really the point at all. I do like the enemy designs and how they trail across the screen as they move. Genuinely creepy and it sounds like they're saying things like "I don't want to die" and "Don't kill me".

But yeah, so far this has been a trip and a half and it's just getting started.
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[Mr. Mechanical]

I'm up to the abandoned lumber mill in episode 1. I think I have a pretty good handle on the games structure now, though I'm kind of hoping it subverts my expectations at some point. I won't be disappointed if it doesn't though, as it's still a great mystery game.

I haven't gone off exploring the town yet. I'm hoping the game lets me off the hook at some point so I can go do some car races or revisit some of the characters I've already met.
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[Mr. Mechanical]

Awesome.
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[Mr. Mechanical]

I had a chance to go exploring right at the beginning but I went to the police station instead and got started off on the whole investigation. I'll go side questing pronto as soon as I'm out of this lumbermill.
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[Mr. Mechanical]

[Mr. Mechanical]

And I'm at the start of chapter 2. I've played about six and half hours so far and I feel kind of bad that I neglect this so often but each time I come back to it I enjoy myself so much that I make plans to dedicate more time to it.

Anyway after I get breakfast with Polly at the hotel and have my coffee I'm going to just completely ignore the investigation for a while. Me and Greenvale have some business to take care of, and that means picking up side quests, finding cards and bones, and fishing. Man I am going to do some fishing!

I like how this game manages to do what Heavy Rain could only ever dream of and for probably a fraction of the budget. Like, yeah the graphics and animation are kind of janky but that's only because they spent all their time on the stuff that really matters. The characters, the townsfolk, the daily routines and the dialogue. Creating something truly unique feeling. My mind boggles at how much effort must have went into scripting out all these unique characters with their routines and dialogues.

I can't wait to see what game SWERY works on next but I almost don't want him to have a huge budget, because I don't know how much the delightful oddness in this game is intentional and how much of it is just a result of working within heavy constraints. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of brilliant things going on here but I don't know how much is genuine and how much I'm projecting.

After I knock out these side quests and find the collectible stuff I'm going to throw myself head first into this case and solve a fucking murder mystery with my psychic powers. My coffee warned me about it.
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[Mr. Mechanical]

Well I voted for that.
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