I went into this game completely blind and judging by the name thought this could either be some kind of racing game, maybe a gambling game or a story heavy game that has gambling or racing as their main theme.
Boy, was I wrong as it wasn’t any of that. The game starts with a scene in a dingy little apartment within a dystopian cyberpunk city; some gadgets are strewn about, a couch and a balcony, and before you know it you are in control and you can target a few things like the door, a computer, a gaming console and finally the balcony. I think to myself, all right this is a point and click kind of game. Not bad. I start looking around to see what is what and figure out what I am supposed to be doing.
I click on the balcony, the scene changes to it where you are looking out over the street outside your apartment. Nothing much is happening, some people milling about, loads of neon lights and general life is occurring. I notice a little tablet next to the window chimes with notifications. I click on it and read some messages. One of the messages gives me an IP address and a warning that if I choose to participate in whatever that IP address is, I should be careful as there have been reports of missing people who participated in whatever this is (information has been very scarce so far). I go back into the apartment and start looking at the different things I can target and look at, these are extremely limited i.e., the door, balcony, computer and gaming console. That is pretty much it.
I click on the door and get a view through the peep hole, nothing there. I click on the gaming console; nothing happens except an icon pops up and I deduce it means no game installed or cartridge inserted. I click the computer and it opens up with a browser asking for a link or something to connect to.
I think back to the IP address I got on the tablet and think to myself, great I need to write down or remember information in this game to progress. Just like the old days of computer gaming, fantastic! No sarcasm here, I was genuinely excited for some old school type of point and click adventure.
I go back to the tablet and write down the number, go back to the computer and input the number. I get connected to a website for a console game and what looks like some kind of forum for said game. I browse through the pages I have access to and read them. They all read like forums do, some helpful tips and tricks and then the trolls and idiots. All very immersive.
The website says to participate I have to download the latest build of the game and try to beat it. I hit the download link and upload it into the console. I exit the computer and boot up the console. I am greeted with a colourful splash screen about… fruit or something? Maybe balls? I am not sure but anyway I hit start. The game starts and it is a platformer. All right that is pretty cool, 2 games in one, I guess. Pretty cool idea actually, having a point and click adventure game about trying to win a console game or to find out what happened to those people that disappeared after playing, still not sure what the game is about at this point and then a platformer as the game inside the game.
The platformer portion turns out to be one of those pixel perfect platformers like super meat boy or Celeste. Both fantastic games, if you like that kind of gameplay. Personally I like platformers but not those pixel perfect ones, at least not until I can’t finish the levels. I played through the first 10 levels, which served as the tutorial for the platformer and the platforming is very slick and responsive.
After the first 10 levels I am back in the point and click part of the game. I start to look around and there are some things different but the game is very light on exposition. After exhausting all the options I click back on the console and I am greeted with the next 10 levels of the platformer and that is how the game plays out I discover. A small portion of kind of point and click and then 10 levels of the platformer. After a few transitions like this I realise that the game is mainly a platformer with a point and click veneer or suit on that is extremely shallow, there is nearly no exposition any more, no more text messages or mails or anything really.
The further you get into the platformer the more surreal the point and click portions become and by the end of the game you’ll have seen some scenes of revolution I guess? There are some security forces shooting at rebels but as I said there is no exposition and no real context about what is going on.
Very disappointing really as I was looking forward to the story elements and hopefully some puzzle solving.
The platform portion is excellently made and feels very responsive and slick. Just keep in mind this game is a platformer and not a point and click adventure. A pretty decent platformer if you need a new one but an awful adventure game if that is what you were after.
In conclusion only get this game if you really need a pixel perfect platformer to tide you over until the next one.
A Night at the Races is available now on Nintendo eShop priced $9.99
Comments