LogFAQs > #932318374

#91





Years of release: 2013 (PC), 2014 (iOS)... 2017 (Vita)???? what the fuck, this game had a VITA PORT? FOUR YEARS LATER? WHY?
Beaten?: Glory to Arstotzka

Here's an extremely cool game that I have a hard time getting into because it's depressing and kinda bums me out. I said it before but I don't really like games that are kind of bleak and depressing, and this one doesn't put you in the most fun role to play and it gets me thinking about real life people and politics and man, I'm just trying to play video games.

But, putting the bummer aspects of this game aside, given that I already have games like TIS-100 on this list, you know that I am ABSOLUTELY 100% enough of a dullard to enjoy a game about processing documentation. It's really sort of a great concept and whoever thought of it was a genius. Looking at peoples' passports and trying to figure out what's wrong with them - or if nothing is wrong with them at all - has this kind of "spot the difference" sort of appeal but with like way more layers to it, all while you're under an intentionally-vague time crunch and dealing with an intentionally-frustrating lack of desk space, making managing your information challenging and vital.

All the while, the game is sneakily sliding in little story and worldbuilding elements when you're not expecting it - all of the little choices that this game throws at you in the middle of looking at passports add a ton of tension, and it's both fun and nervewracking as hell. This game really makes you feel like you're actually in the position of this poor border official, and the ensuing moral dilemmas are some of the crunchiest gaming has to offer. A little too much, actually - this game left me feeling a little bit ragged after playing it, thanks to the aforementioned bummerness. I dunno if I'm super eager to replay it, but it deserves every single accolade it received.