Masterpiece

[Borrachofunk69]

This is not a game. It's interactive emotional devastation. By the time the finale sequence kicked in, I was crying like a little girl and I'm not a crying man.

The story is simple and if you explore everything, you'll have a very good idea of what went down by the time it ends and you return to blackness.

Dear Esther is not a game and it's not targetted at the young, innocent or emotionally unscarred. They will at best be intrigued by the premise but it'll slip right by them and that's OK, because it was not made for them.

Other people make movies or write songs about such loss, chineseroom made an interactive masterpiece.

Thank you for breaking my heart. It doesn't happen much these days.

[install gentoo]

Most emotionally powerful game ever. I'm very willing to say that.

[freakintiger]

Yup (http://store.steampowered.com/recommended/byafriend/203810/76561197994139784), I think so, too. But I experienced it in a different way. And that's an argument for how well-made it is. It lets you make of it whatever you think it is.

[TheGreyPiper]

Anybody know if this is any different -or significantly different- from the original free mod? I played this as a freebie off of ModDB a couple years ago. If it's any different I'd gladly shell out the ten bucks. I don't quite remember the ending, and judging by the comments here, either I missed something or its been made a lot punchier.

Thanks!

[SSWeltenfeind]

I was reading a lot of this game. I also watched some videos. I know this is not a traditional game, but like a tale, but anyways I don't know. I'm concerned about the differences between playthroughs.

[Trepid]

Masterpiece? I agree.

Wept? I agree.

So much.

[MustardJeep]

@TheGreyPiper

The Graphics are about 100% beyond the mod, the ending however is just as abrupt and devastating.

It's a masterpiece beyond doubt, but not much of a game. Story, Artwork, and a amazingly deep emotional range, but zilch on interaction..... It's a two hour emotion laden movie your walking through not a game.

[jdd91]

why is this game sad? i don't know how you know anyone even died.

[Rhedd]

I think "interactive emotional devastation" should be a new official video game genre! ^_^

[MustardJeep]

@jdd91

Well I played the mod back in the day..... Beyond that the tone and context of the monologue carries fairly heavy overtones for the first two chapters.

.......plus if you've ever lost someone in a horrible stupid accident you know that tone of voice........ :(

[basti51]

I followed the game since its mod-state and the transition of becoming a stand-alone purchase. When I saw it finally in the Store and ready to be downloaded I had to Insta-Buy it. I know my money will go to the right people and that I will now have a wonderful experience in a different style of game. You can't say wether it is good or bad because it is neither, maybe the term "game" is even wrong because everyone has their personal opinion on it, like an artwork. So maybe not everyone who likes great graphics should buy this game because you have to appreciate its uniqueness and look at it as a piece of art.

[TheGreyPiper]

@TheGreyPiper

The Graphics are about 100% beyond the mod, the ending however is just as abrupt and devastating.

It's a masterpiece beyond doubt, but not much of a game. Story, Artwork, and a amazingly deep emotional range, but zilch on interaction..... It's a two hour emotion laden movie your walking through not a game.

OK. I'll take your word on it and buy the new version. If it sucks I'll come get you for my money back.

(JK, sounds like it'll be well worth it!)

[Ph0X_b01]

The mod isn't very long, but every single sentence is so well crafted.

Here is one of my favorite lines:
No matter how hard I correlate, it remains a singularity, an alpha point in my life that refuses all hypothesis.

The whole thing is full of brilliance like this. Metaphors inside metaphors, along with the breathtaking view and the soundscape, all together creating this marvellous atmosphere.

The last time I felt so fragile was playing To The Moon (http://freebirdgames.com/to_the_moon/), which I highly recommend to anyone who was touched by this story. It will make you feel so many emotions you didn't even know existed.