Content deleted Content added
Citation bot (talk | contribs) Add: date. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Whoop whoop pull up | #UCB_webform 1296/2201 |
|||
Line 17:
'''''If Found...''''' is a [[visual novel]] developed by Dreamfeel and published by [[Annapurna Interactive]] in May 2020 for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]], and [[iOS]] and October 2020 for the [[Nintendo Switch]]. The game has the player advance through two interleaved stories by erasing journal entries or images. One story follows a space explorer named Cassiopeia trying to prevent a black hole from destroying the Earth, while the other follows a young transgender woman named Kasio in a small Irish village in December 1993 as she navigates her relationships with her family and friends. The two stories alternate chapters, connecting metaphorically.
Design for the game by Dreamfeel founder Llaura McGee started in 2016, with the eventual development of the game by a small team taking two years. Elements of the story's emotional arc were taken from McGee's personal experiences, though the game features concepts from several developers and is not autobiographical. The primary goal for the game was to connect players to the emotions of the story, with the mechanics of the game chosen to further that aim. Critics praised the game's artwork and story, especially for its emotional connection to the player via the erasing mechanic. It was nominated for the "Games for Impact Award" at the 2020 [[The Game Awards]] and for [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Video Game|Outstanding Video Game]] at the [[32nd GLAAD Media Awards|32nd]] [[GLAAD Media Award]]s.
==Gameplay==
Line 48:
| rev1Score = 8/10<ref name="EGIreview"/>
}}
''If Found...'' was nominated for the "Games for Impact Award" at the 2020 [[The Game Awards]] and for [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Video Game|Outstanding Video Game]] at the [[32nd GLAAD Media Awards|32nd]] [[GLAAD Media Award]]s.<ref name="TGA"/><ref name="GLAAD"/> An early short demo was exhibited in several events in 2016, winning awards for best Game Design, emerging talent, and the Grand Prix overall award at the Irish Design Awards in November.<ref name="Dfsite" />
Critics were largely positive towards the game, focusing primarily on the way the writing and artwork, combined with the act of erasing, formed an emotional connection with the player. Michael Higham of ''[[GameSpot]]'' praised the "stunning yet minimal" art style.<ref name="GSreview"/> Hirun Cryer of ''[[USGamer]]'' similarly described the art style as "brilliant", while Cameron Bald of ''Pocket Gamer'' praised both the art style and sound design for drawing in the player and Ellen Causey of ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' said that the artwork and sound effects at times had her "transfixed".<ref name="PGreview"/><ref name="USGreview"/><ref name="GRreview"/> The erasing mechanic was also praised by reviewers, with ''USGamer''{{'}}s reviewer commenting on the way it allowed for transitions between scenes, while Nicole Carpenter of ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' focused on how erasing connected the player to Kasio's story and caused the player to decide how fast to advance due to how the story was making them feel.<ref name="PolygonReview"/><ref name="USGreview"/> CJ Andriessen of ''[[Destructoid]]'' said that the mechanic had a "profound effect" on them, forcing them to acknowledge that not only could they not change Kasio's past, they also had to erase the good with the bad.<ref name="DSreview"/>
| |||