The Pale Beyond Review (Rip Van Winkle)
The Pale Beyond is similar to Disco Elysium, in that your choices and decisions have a direst result on your survival, success, and story. The Pale Beyond plays much more linearly to that of Disco Elysium, though feels refreshing in this regard.
At the time of this review, I just completed my first playthrough at 7.1 hours. For an $18 title, developed with heart and passion, I'd say it was a bang for my buck. I'm personally not a fan of replayability, though this game definitely caters to that crowd.
Resource management is challenging, but fair. I managed to keep every crew member alive on my first attempt. The save system (which some have complained about) is well thought-out. Saves consist of three time variations for each day, which are spread on an automatic save-tree system, giving your choices some permanence but with the freedom to revert your choices in the event you made an oopsie.
The story is entertaining, and the choices are satisfying. Characters have their own personalities, motives, etc. The player has a great deal of agency, within reason, which makes for a great casual adventure.
------{Graphics/Art-Style}--------
☐ Poor
☐ Average
☐ Good
☑ Decent
☐ Part of the 1,000 people mrbreast cured
------{Difficulty}--------
☐ Extremely Easy
☐ Easy
☑ Average
☐ Challenging
☐ Extremely Hard
------{Gameplay/Story}--------
☐ Boring
☐ Mediocre
☐ Interesting
☑ Captivating
☐ Addiction-Warning
------{Value}--------
☐ Waste of Money
☐ Sale-Worthy
☐ Worth a Purchase
☑ Worth Every Penny
☐ Should Cost More
I don't typically write reviews, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Pale Beyond. While it's not a game meant for everyone, if you're big into player choice, this game is a must.
Also shoutout to bellular for making this game possible.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Great value
Great player choice
Great world-building and progression