izigame.me

This is a peculiar visual novel-based mix with a sprinkle of point’n’click, a squeeze of minigames, ladles of terrific visuals and a flavoring of highly fantastical take on hard sci-fi. A quite rare example where a little pinch of everything came together as a rather harmonious dish. Or a cup of exceedingly complex ash-flavored tea, as they like it on Jupiter.
The plot here is so dense that even doing a simple write-up of a premise would not only do a disservice to the game but will confuse the player further. The store page description is already obscure enough, so let me just add that there’s a space-time continuum involved and leave it at that – no one can explain anything properly after those magic words. What I can say is that the writing is dialogue-centered and does a good job conveying not only people’s personalities but also incredibly intricate, even convoluted ideas at a digestible level that isn’t cheap or arrogant. The narrative is a blend of poetic folklore, sci-fi concepts, politics, religion, self-discovery and even a bit of soap opera-like moments – all of which are fictional and none of which are preachy. There’s a sort of philosophical tinge with a bit of humor to everything, and the fact that one of the two main heroes is an unfailingly polite cultist helps. The other is a prickly, guarded girl – but, hey, they make for a nice contrast duo not only in personalities but in gameplay as well.
Well, as much as it’s possible in this dynamic VN-hybrid with a little bit of extra action. Most of the game will be “walking and talking” kinda deal, but because of the visuals it will feel more like moving a colorful cartoon forward, as you’ll be participating in it as much as “reading it”. You get to traverse side-scrolling screens, and while point’n’click parts will be just a basic change of cursor from “looking at something” to “talking to someone”, doing that along with rapidly changing environment significantly spices up the gameplay, so there’s never that static feeling of being locked in place and needing to read large paragraphs. Everything smoothly flows forward and feels in motion, and easy but imaginative minigames is a large reason for that. Most of them will require a few clicks here and there, but you can seriously get lost in the universe maker – just to see all kinds of wildly creative results, and the fact that every minigame is specifically tailored to what is happening on screen elevates them above inconsequential time-fillers to inventive breaks in the journey. As a big fan of high interactivity in adventures, I’d like to point to “Universe for Sale” on how to make a narrative-heavy game that’s low on puzzles engaging. Great job, Tmesis Studio.
Not just on gameplay mechanics, but also on the visuals, by the way. There’s a terrific level of fluidity achieved, and it truly feels like the player is a part of the ebb and flow of this universe. Dominance of oranges and yellows casts even the most dramatic events in a cozy light, and aligned with a philosophical, reflective way of conversations, it gives this game a calming, relaxed energy despite talking about hefty topics. Animations are of superior quality, and that note of humor that weaves in-and-out of the narrative – it’s present here too, which lends even more of the lightsomeness to the story, making it more suited for an unhurried introspection, without tugging on the heartstrings.
The soundscape is minimal – a constant stream of subtle sound effects, occasional ambient tracks, and no voice-over. And while having it would have been a sweet deal, considering the number of beings/species we’re surrounded by, not having it doesn’t negate the rest, as this game is not only chock-full of elaborate ideas but also bold enough visually to be able to carry itself without it.
“Universe for Sale” is better suited to those who like to ponder on chimerical worlds, imaginative takes on the future and the (highly inventive) path of humanity as a center of it. Despite events unfolding in a rather erratic manner, where time and space is of utmost importance, narration sets an introspective pace, and there’s an ever-present laid-back energy that permeates everything and reflects story-centric, very-light-on-the-puzzles gameplay. These kind of oddballs of adventure genre can provide surprising and welcome break between actions- or emotions- packed titles or real-life events. A wholesome treat, just like a cup of bitter tea from a suicidal plant, as they like it on Jupiter.