Thirith on 29/3/2017 at 07:19
Inline Image:
http://i65.tinypic.com/2h34sr9.jpgI've recently been playing
Night in the Woods, in parallel with much bigger, more epic, more triple-A games - yet it's probably my favourite recent game. The style, atmosphere, the visuals, music and writing, it's all right up my alley (and no, that's no cat-related pun). Like so many story-heavy indie games, it's perhaps not much of a game if you're looking for challenge and failstates; it's much closer to something like
Oxenfree (the ghost story atmosphere and young adult protagonists), with a touch of
Kentucky Route Zero (especially the themes of economic hardship and nostalgia for a past that may never have existed) and the sensitivity of comics like
Ghost World (main character Mae would get along well with
GW's Enid Coleslaw).
I'm not quite done with it yet, and I expect to replay it before long, as some of the choices you make result in you missing out on certain scenes (you often pick which one of your friends you spend time with). There's a bit of a shift towards the end that I'll still have to think about; it does make sense thematically, though it still feels quite abrupt - but I haven't yet formed an opinion on it, since I still have to finish the game.
In any case, I was curious if anyone else has been playing this one. If so, what do/did you think? Who's your favourite character? (I'm torn between Bea and Angus myself.) And, more importantly, do you also suck as much at playing the bass as my Mae does?
Sulphur on 29/3/2017 at 07:33
I have yet to be complimented by Bea on my bass playing skills, because I usually begin songs like Pete Townshend ends them - windmilling, screaming, and smashing shit up.
The rest are good sports about it though.
Anyway, I think I really like Gregg. Bea's gradual thawing over Mae's complete cluelessness makes me really like her, but Gregg's immediately the sort of person I'd want to go out and do retarded things with. (He's gonna regret those knife jabs though.) Overall, it's a great experience, with lovely aesthetics and really nicely written conversations. It's entertaining yet feels very solidly realised. Renz mentioned a while ago that it has exactly the sort of small-town ambience and issues he's used to finding in the US, which means it's pretty a good observation on that sort of thing.
I've yet to get to anywhere near the end, but on the strength of what I've experienced so far, anyone who backed this on KS back in the day should feel very happy about making that choice.
Thirith on 29/3/2017 at 08:26
The game also makes me want to replay the supplementary Lost Constellation, which I really liked at the time. Is Longest Night also worth playing after the other two?
Malf on 29/3/2017 at 08:27
Yeah, I haven't played it in a while, but I do really, really like it. Again, I'm a Gregg guy myself, and for the same reasons as Sulphur. While you know you may end up being embarrassed about what you did with him, and it might get you into serious trouble, what you actually do together really captures that post-teen ennui you feel in your early twenties when you're supposed to be a "responsible adult".
Plus,
dat bike ride.
I did go with Bea to help the forgetful old lady and smashed up her boiler. That was fun. But she don't have those awesome wiggly arms when she's excited.
That and Gregg's relationship with Angus is very touching.
And yeah, I suck at the Guitar Hero bits too, but then I never played Guitar Hero other than that one time at a company Christmas do.
I suspect I may find it easier if I play those bits on keyboard rather than controller, but I reckon that being crap at it is more in the spirit of things.
Gonna have to go back to it soon I reckon. It's a lovely place to be.
Edit: Oh, and I really regret not backing it at the tier which would have got me a plush Mae.
Inline Image:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BZb6KzjCUAEgAYP.jpg:large
Thirith on 29/3/2017 at 09:42
Oh man, that would've been great. I love that plush Mae, though I'd absolutely take a plush Bea, Angus or Greg as well.
Quote:
And yeah, I suck at the Guitar Hero bits too, but then I never played Guitar Hero other than that one time at a company Christmas do.
I suspect I may find it easier if I play those bits on keyboard rather than controller, but I reckon that being crap at it is more in the spirit of things.
Yeah, I think so too. It's the Y button that throws me most, since the four buttons aren't organised in a row; I think when you play with the keyboard, you use 1-4, which would make it easier. But Mae shouldn't be a Bass Hero. She needs to suck at this, at least a bit.
Mr.Duck on 30/3/2017 at 10:23
Played it, finished it, loved it. It's not perfect, and some stuff at the end feels a bit rushed, plus the whole Old One at the bottom of the mine demanding sacrifice to make the town survive and many of the townsfolk providing unwilling sacrifices was somewhat left field. Tbh, I found it interesting, but I wouldn't have minded juuuuust a bit more digging into it. Plus the ending seems to just...end. Which, I guess, fits, but after the previous buildup it left me a bit wanting. Still, I really enjoyed the story and the characters' relations and problems. Some really strong and brutal heart-wrenching moments. As for my choice, I went Bea all the way.
Also part of the Mae Sux At Bass Club, wooooo!
Thirith on 30/3/2017 at 10:54
Quote Posted by MrDuck
As for my choice, I went Bea all the way.
Crocopunk fistbump.
Edit: Also, one of the things I really like about this is how they successfully blend irony, sarcasm and still a sincerity that feels real.
Thirith on 30/3/2017 at 22:08
I've just been reminded of the great soundtrack they had for
Night in the Woods:Lost Constellation:
(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-DWruAtPEs)
(I tried to embed the video but it didn't work.)
Also, I might be developing a slight obsession with "Die Anywhere Else", the song they play at band practice.
Sulphur on 31/3/2017 at 18:46
Unfortunately, the OST doesn't have the ratchety bass line in the mix. But elsewhere on the intertubes, someone did a very decent job of dubbing vox onto a playthrough:
[video=youtube;dNlTQ9z8D1w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNlTQ9z8D1w[/video]
Thirith on 31/3/2017 at 18:56
In general, what did people think of the last part and the ending? It's clearly the game's riskiest choice, and I understand if some people come away thinking that it doesn't fit, but for me it worked pretty well, and the very last scene, while painful - I didn't want to leave those characters behind - struck me as perfect for the story it was telling.