After Us Review (The Grim)
I wish I could love this game. I really, really, really wish I could. But here I am, writing this review, lamenting what could have been.
And what could have been? A beautiful story about bringing back the remains of nature from a world that has long lost it. A silent, harrowing journey through breathtaking sights and set pieces that don't *need* to throw random things at you to engage, because the sights alone do the trick. But... The second combat began, I got turned off.
I don't think this game needed combat mechanics. I think the idea of traversing this broken world alone, knowing that there's *nothing* left, not even enemies to fight, would've given this game that much of a stronger hit. The sheer idea that this child of nature, that this avatar of sorts, has to fight in order to purify just feels... Off, to me.
And that's not even to mention the pretentiousness of the achievements and the ham-fisted beating the game gives you over the head with its message.
Now, don't get me wrong. The environment is important. I think no sane person would say otherwise. We only have one planet to be on, and if we kill it, we kill ourselves. But did the game really need to tell me that with achievements thanking places like animal shelters? To me, that just takes *away* from the message. It doesn't inspire me to act. It just makes me go "Yeah I get it, it's important, now can I please go back to the world I liked?" I didn't need to be beat over the head with it, the thoughts were going in my mind as is, but the second you had to effectively pause the narrative to scream in my face "YOU SEE THAT?! OIL BAD! SAVE THE TREES!" I just... Get dejected.
I'm aware this is a personal opinion, and yet. I can only imagine how much stronger the message would have been had they not shouted these things. Had they let the images alone convey the horror that has been wrought. The world is already dead and hostile, I get it. Just... Wish it could have been done cleaner.