Post by Howishine on Nov 23, 2014 10:08:34 GMT -5
Alright! So this is the posts where I ramble on about what I think about a game like the most clichéd internet review with lacking technical knowledge, fully open about my biases and fully unknowledgeable about any and all technical aspects of anything anywhere! so, well, assume I can run the game and that's all I can say XD...
Now, Ib, where to start? I think, a good place to start is the story.
The story of Ib is rather simple. Or, perhaps it is not? At least, the set up of it is! Ib, a young girl, is at the museum with her family. After a mysterious event, the museum is empty, and from there, Ib enters a deranged and weird mirrored world, where paintings come alive, where she meets friends and get see gruesome things that can make or break a grown adult, let alone Ib herself. She meets Mary, and Garry. And depending on how the game is played, the final third of the game may unlock different endings.
The story is rather mysterious and asks many questions. "Who is Mary?" "Where did Garry come from?" "Why is the museum alive?" and finally, it forces the player to make choices where they can not see consequences, and maybe regret. It is a horror game, but the focus of the game is absolutely the atmosphere and there is a lot of emotions played around with.
Sometimes, you break character and will be able to play as someone other than Ib, which allows you to explore an area. That instance is very important to the game, but I won't say how.
I am trying not to spoil, and the reason is simple: The game doesn't have much gameplay to speak of. At least, it has no combat. What you do, is walk and run around, solving puzzles as Ib, and take in the very atmosphere of the game.
It is a poetic game, which fully explores what art is, what life is, and how much one value life. It makes one think, and it absolutely can make one cry.
I think that the game, which not flawless, is darned closed to. Some bugs may come up from the use of the RPGmaker, but I have seen no instances of game-breaking bugs. At all. I've played the game multiple time, and sadly that is one of the things that makes the game less replayable. While the game does have a couple of endings, all great in their own way, some are hard to get, some are really Guide Darn It types of things, and most of them are not contingent on the puzzles, but other things. (Sorry for the spoiler.) so... while the endings are great, the game can get tedious if you wanna play it all from the start from every game.
Now, the meat of it all, is the characters. I can't tell more or less anything about who the characters are, but they are so central to the game. There are not many, 3 in total (unless you count those not on screen, or enemies), and they all have an integral part of the game.
The games, as many others in genre, goes to show that it is not necessary to have amazing graphics and guns-a-blazin' to have a great game.
I love this game, and I urge whoever is reading this, to give it a try, sink a few hours into it, and get an ending. It is definitely worth it.
The game can be found here: www.vgperson.com/games/ib.htm . The site also has an installation guide, a song list and an ending guide. Enjoy the art, Ib.
Edit: At the time of posting, the profile avatar I have is of Mary from Ib.
Now, Ib, where to start? I think, a good place to start is the story.
The story of Ib is rather simple. Or, perhaps it is not? At least, the set up of it is! Ib, a young girl, is at the museum with her family. After a mysterious event, the museum is empty, and from there, Ib enters a deranged and weird mirrored world, where paintings come alive, where she meets friends and get see gruesome things that can make or break a grown adult, let alone Ib herself. She meets Mary, and Garry. And depending on how the game is played, the final third of the game may unlock different endings.
The story is rather mysterious and asks many questions. "Who is Mary?" "Where did Garry come from?" "Why is the museum alive?" and finally, it forces the player to make choices where they can not see consequences, and maybe regret. It is a horror game, but the focus of the game is absolutely the atmosphere and there is a lot of emotions played around with.
Sometimes, you break character and will be able to play as someone other than Ib, which allows you to explore an area. That instance is very important to the game, but I won't say how.
I am trying not to spoil, and the reason is simple: The game doesn't have much gameplay to speak of. At least, it has no combat. What you do, is walk and run around, solving puzzles as Ib, and take in the very atmosphere of the game.
It is a poetic game, which fully explores what art is, what life is, and how much one value life. It makes one think, and it absolutely can make one cry.
I think that the game, which not flawless, is darned closed to. Some bugs may come up from the use of the RPGmaker, but I have seen no instances of game-breaking bugs. At all. I've played the game multiple time, and sadly that is one of the things that makes the game less replayable. While the game does have a couple of endings, all great in their own way, some are hard to get, some are really Guide Darn It types of things, and most of them are not contingent on the puzzles, but other things. (Sorry for the spoiler.) so... while the endings are great, the game can get tedious if you wanna play it all from the start from every game.
Now, the meat of it all, is the characters. I can't tell more or less anything about who the characters are, but they are so central to the game. There are not many, 3 in total (unless you count those not on screen, or enemies), and they all have an integral part of the game.
The games, as many others in genre, goes to show that it is not necessary to have amazing graphics and guns-a-blazin' to have a great game.
I love this game, and I urge whoever is reading this, to give it a try, sink a few hours into it, and get an ending. It is definitely worth it.
The game can be found here: www.vgperson.com/games/ib.htm . The site also has an installation guide, a song list and an ending guide. Enjoy the art, Ib.
Edit: At the time of posting, the profile avatar I have is of Mary from Ib.
Might actually check this out over my break.
