Developed by the Austrian independent development team Broken Rules, the puzzle adventure game "Old Man's Journey", which has won multiple international awards, has been launched in the Chinese market in mid-May, allowing puzzle lovers to Let’s experience a beautiful journey of memories.
One warm afternoon, an old man living alone by the sea received a letter from afar.
After receiving the letter, he embarked on a journey of memories and memories without much hesitation. A journey accompanied by beautiful scenery,
and brought us a picture that can move, sing and tell stories...
So, this Not just a game.
Rather than being a game, "Memory Journey" is more like a long impression picture drawn with colored chalk. Because almost every scene in the game can be taken as a screenshot to appreciate in detail ~ minimalist style, pastel drawing, and the romance of Impressionism.
So sometimes, even though I know that the old man takes the longer way, I still let him go there, asking him to add a main body to the picture.
Because of the unique painting characteristics of colored chalk, the color changes in the game are large, but the changes are natural, resulting in an almost perfect connection between colors, strong contrast but no excessive conflict, making each The scenes in the game are all rare masterpieces of art and are worth appreciating.
Another reason is that I have a deep obsession with colored chalks for some reasons. Although I won’t use colored chalk. But I really like the combination of impressionism + pastels. This is also the motivation for me to play games and write reviews all night long.
The operation of the game is extremely simple: click on the ground to let the old man walk over, lower or raise the ground to let the old man pass easily. This is the operation and puzzle-solving part of the game.
I also ask all readers to take a screenshot before and after each puzzle is solved, as shown below:
After you control the old man to walk over, you will be surprised to find that you The ground that was raised to allow him to walk over was exactly the scene where the old man should reach the top of the mountain. The scenery the old man saw from his initial position was exactly the scenery halfway up the mountain.
Really, really! Very clever move to change scenery! ! I really kneel down to the designer here! ! ! And the composition doesn’t feel inconsistent at all, it happens to be in a very comfortable position! ! Really! ! ! How amazing! ! ! My heart is full of fluctuations~
And this is one of the reasons why you haven’t read any game text at all, but the script also appears in your heart.
There is no language or text, but sometimes music and pictures tell more stories.
From the beginning to the end of the game, you will only be accompanied by soothing classical music. And most of it is soothing music played by string instruments that makes people feel relaxed. When listening to it, combined with the old man's journey and memories, it always makes us wonder: Did he chat with this person when he traveled here? Did you say hello to that old lady?
The memories when you sit down to rest after walking tired, still become interesting and vivid with the help of music. The rhythm of the music is also closely related to the seasons in the game ~ the energetic music is paired with the scene of flowers blooming. No one told me what season it is, and I feel the breath of spring.
The graphics of the game, that is, the old man’s journey and his memories, are the most intuitive clues to the plot. Many things on the screen can be interacted with, and some "good guys" like me are typical examples of those who are addicted to interaction.
With these interactive elements, you can always make up a short story in your mind. And this story is completely yours, it can be humorous or sentimental. The greatest fun of this game is to use your endless imagination while playing. The main line of the game also does not have any text, but it does not mean that the main line is unclear!
And I think everyone should have the same ending. And the process is the space for you to use your imagination.
Anyway, in the end... what I felt was not sadness, but warmth like the setting sun shining on my body. It was not as dazzling as the sunrise, not as hot as noon, but gentle. And warm sunset.
But this kind of warmth is always fleeting. At the end of the game, the fragrant seasoning of hope is added - the old man, the young man, and the baby embark on the journey.
May happiness last forever.
Finally, I would like to point out a few things that most people think are shortcomings:
- The game process is too short. It only took me 1.6 hours from start to finish. But I think the artistry and thinking of this game are greater than its entertainment. It is a small work that you can complete in 1.6 hours and play again for 16 years or more and will not forget it.
- The game is not entertaining enough: Just like To the Moon, you can definitely say that it is a work that can be completed in just a few clicks. It can also be said that like ABZU, it is a work that sells images. But so what? We laugh when we read comics, but how many of us laughed out loud when we looked at the Mona Lisa? Although this game cannot be said to be the Mona Lisa of games, it is not impossible to laugh out loud.
- A bug that appeared inexplicably: In the plot of the old man getting on the train, I encountered a bug where the old man got on the train but the camera did not move with the train. But because the background is so beautiful and the music is so good. As a result, I stared blankly at the background for a while... then I realized... there was a bug.
- Can't find the exit game button...:
I can't find it, I really can't find it.
- The postscript at the end of the game and the staff list are in English~
There are 27 languages ??spoken! ! ! (laugh).
Sometimes games are for fun
Sometimes games are for appreciation
Sometimes games are for challenge
Sometimes games are for thinking
For this game, for some reasons, I don’t want to write out the plot that I understand in the review.
I hope everyone will have their own experience after playing this game.
Instead of arguing about the plot,
And, cherish everything around you,
Thank you for this great work.