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Dammit, I caught this on BoingBoing G adgets last week and was going to do a write-up about it, but it appears I've been beaten.
I only played it twice so far, but it's incredible. The music is perfect.
I only played it twice so far, but it's incredible. The music is perfect.
What I learned from this game:
A woman will prevent you from going places you want to go and getting stuff you want to get.
A woman will prevent you from going places you want to go and getting stuff you want to get.
For some reason this game put me in a really good mood.
It did take me a while to figure out what to do, till around 1/5 of the way in. After the woman died I just tried to go as far as I could before death.
It did take me a while to figure out what to do, till around 1/5 of the way in. After the woman died I just tried to go as far as I could before death.
[Spoilers]
The woman dying before the man totally spoiled the realism of this game for me. Grade: 3/10
No, srsly, my first experience was pretty much like Aerox, except I didn't look on it as negative. Note that when you choose the girl you get double points. Once I noticed the characters were actually moving right pixel by pixel and the aging, the sadness started filling me. I've been acutely aware of the passing years ever since I turned 8 years old and the slightly melancholy "Happy Birthday To You" played by the musical candle on my cake at Grandma's house caused me to burst into tears, much to the surprise of those gathered. I forget how I explained myself, except I didn't give the real answer, whether out of embarrassment or inability to properly articulate the feeling I'm not sure.
The second time through I tried to see as much of the changing scenery as possible in the time given. going almost constantly right. I love the effect of all the scenery appearing in front of you as if it's coming over the horizon in the beginning, then in the end it's all compressed behind you.
When your wife dies you really know the end is near, and then when your movement dramatically slows in the final few minutes it drives the message home.
The woman dying before the man totally spoiled the realism of this game for me. Grade: 3/10
No, srsly, my first experience was pretty much like Aerox, except I didn't look on it as negative. Note that when you choose the girl you get double points. Once I noticed the characters were actually moving right pixel by pixel and the aging, the sadness started filling me. I've been acutely aware of the passing years ever since I turned 8 years old and the slightly melancholy "Happy Birthday To You" played by the musical candle on my cake at Grandma's house caused me to burst into tears, much to the surprise of those gathered. I forget how I explained myself, except I didn't give the real answer, whether out of embarrassment or inability to properly articulate the feeling I'm not sure.
The second time through I tried to see as much of the changing scenery as possible in the time given. going almost constantly right. I love the effect of all the scenery appearing in front of you as if it's coming over the horizon in the beginning, then in the end it's all compressed behind you.
When your wife dies you really know the end is near, and then when your movement dramatically slows in the final few minutes it drives the message home.
As I played through, I didn't even notice the score. I was too enthralled with the minimalist graphical treatment being presented. I did find the companion and found myself shocked when I noticed the characters aging. Quite an introspective and somewhat somber piece; I find myself contemplating the events more than with any other game. It is also an experience rather open to personal interpretation.
Thanks for the link.
Thanks for the link.
Actually the very first time I played it I didn't know you could move up or down so I just walked in a straight line for 5 minutes. Then I read the readme and it was a lot better.
Well, I just played it twice.
The first time, I got the girl, and just walked straight forward the whole time... only about 2/3 of the way through did I realize that my characters were aging, I just thought it was progression as they moved left to right. When it was over, I drew the parallel of moving through life quickly, without taking time to explore or look around and be interested in whats out there
The second time, I skipped the girl and explored all around, finding treasure... but in an odd way, I found that I felt bad for my character that he was alone with his treasure, like a miser... he had no one to share it with.
This "game" is a great example of how a game can be highly artistic, especially because it doesnt cause the same reaction for everyone
The first time, I got the girl, and just walked straight forward the whole time... only about 2/3 of the way through did I realize that my characters were aging, I just thought it was progression as they moved left to right. When it was over, I drew the parallel of moving through life quickly, without taking time to explore or look around and be interested in whats out there
The second time, I skipped the girl and explored all around, finding treasure... but in an odd way, I found that I felt bad for my character that he was alone with his treasure, like a miser... he had no one to share it with.
This "game" is a great example of how a game can be highly artistic, especially because it doesnt cause the same reaction for everyone
this game... has fucked with my brain now. i would never analyze a game like this, much less analyze one because it should be analyzed. it was odd. just a little bit off with the world. yes, death is inevitable. but i saw it coming, i didn't really care for it. it was gonna happen and there was nothing i could do to stop it. just weird man.
games ARE art. but it takes an artistic way of thinking about it, otherwise you miss the point entirely.
games ARE art. but it takes an artistic way of thinking about it, otherwise you miss the point entirely.
When I first played the game, I noticed there was a female companion but decided I didn't need to necessarily come in contact with her so I went on my own way. I traveled a long time, passing up treasure chests just in question as to where I was headed, and where I was going. My assumptions of where the next 'level' was were always disrupted ... first I thought I was going into a castle ... then a desert .. but all the environments ended in the ebb and flow of pixels before I could really determine the space.
Eventually, I noticed the treasure chests, but seeing the flies erupt from the first two I opened, I decided these were arbitrary to the larger 'picture' of the 'passage. I kept walking, and noticed I was getting older and slower. And then I died.
Interestingly enough, I didn't even know the 'score' until halfway through the game, and when I did I immediately recognized it as a pedometer, counting upwards towards the limit of the footsteps I would take. I didn't thing I was scoring anything in the game.
Either way, I loved it...and I feel sort of hollow inside.
Eventually, I noticed the treasure chests, but seeing the flies erupt from the first two I opened, I decided these were arbitrary to the larger 'picture' of the 'passage. I kept walking, and noticed I was getting older and slower. And then I died.
Interestingly enough, I didn't even know the 'score' until halfway through the game, and when I did I immediately recognized it as a pedometer, counting upwards towards the limit of the footsteps I would take. I didn't thing I was scoring anything in the game.
Either way, I loved it...and I feel sort of hollow inside.
Incredible. I did feel heavy hearted after playing it, but I don't mind it. Something about it reminded me of the way I felt after seeing American Beauty.
cool, but way too thought provoking without being able to talk about it with people in person. really interesting.
Man that was really impressive. I love the fact that you can only see what is behind you as the future is always a blur and that as your man gets older you move further along the passage like a timeline. I played through once and half since I'm at work. Totally missing the woman the first time I went around picking up all the chests I could until I realized I was getting older and was going to die anyway, then i just walked straight only picking up chests I saw...more becasue my boss was coming but now Im depressed that I'm doing the same thing in real life...
I didn't really "get it" till I came back here, I kinda wish I hadn't because now it seems very sad =/
This was fantastic. The games as art debate is truly over and nothing anyone says about them not being art can make them right.
During my first play through, I was stunned by the pure greatness of about halfway through when my sister had to come ruin it. "What is that? That looks dumb. Get off the computer. Blah blah blah..."
During my first play through, I was stunned by the pure greatness of about halfway through when my sister had to come ruin it. "What is that? That looks dumb. Get off the computer. Blah blah blah..."
The blurring of the world and the placement of the character is an interesting device.
When you're young the path ahead is a blur, and with old age the path becomes clearer and you know where you're going, and it's what's behind that becomes fuzzy and indistinct.
You can spend your life with someone, but can't go to so many places or accumulate as much treasure, however just going through life becomes much more rewarding (the score you get just from walking).
Also, if you're with someone, when she dies towards the end it'll be much harder on you (the character moves slower than if you were alone), but that's a small price for a life well spent.
Brilliant!
When you're young the path ahead is a blur, and with old age the path becomes clearer and you know where you're going, and it's what's behind that becomes fuzzy and indistinct.
You can spend your life with someone, but can't go to so many places or accumulate as much treasure, however just going through life becomes much more rewarding (the score you get just from walking).
Also, if you're with someone, when she dies towards the end it'll be much harder on you (the character moves slower than if you were alone), but that's a small price for a life well spent.
Brilliant!
got the girl, "explored" (went up and down) way too much, had to backtrack a lot, had no idea there was treasure, that i was aging, and that my character was moving now on the right side of the screen and the past was foggy until like 3/4 of the way through... and then died with like 400 points. pretty sad.
if there's one complaint it would be that you shouldn't be able to backtrack. if the game is truly meant to be life, you can't go back in time irl. rather, when you hit a roadblock (be it by yourself or, more likely, when you're with your woman), it should just block your path momentarily and then let you pass... thus signifying it's something you dealt with in life that took time.
if there's one complaint it would be that you shouldn't be able to backtrack. if the game is truly meant to be life, you can't go back in time irl. rather, when you hit a roadblock (be it by yourself or, more likely, when you're with your woman), it should just block your path momentarily and then let you pass... thus signifying it's something you dealt with in life that took time.
The first time I played through I just started walking to the right so I immediately found the companion. As I walked on figuring that I was only allowed to walk either forward or backwards I decided it would be better to press on. Each new place was more interesting, more beautiful, and more unique.
It took me a little while but I eventually realized my characters were changing though I didnt notice they were aging until a little later. And it was sort of when I noticed the aging that I started feeling something about it all. I started thinking about how it would be if this was my life, walking through all this world with someone. As they started getting older I began to feel a little more and even a bit sad about the whole affair. Then, when the woman finally died I actually felt a twinge of sadness at her loss because I thought about how it might be for me.
I kept walking until I was hunched over and then died myself. It was really sad at that point, but I felt something about it.
The second time I tried exploring but it felt kind of empty. Sure there was treasure, but it didnt really matter. Plus, I thought the world looked less interesting down below where I had been the first time. Also, I noticed that while my score was higher at the end I died a lot younger.
Wow. Excellent game. The music in particular was phenomenal.
It took me a little while but I eventually realized my characters were changing though I didnt notice they were aging until a little later. And it was sort of when I noticed the aging that I started feeling something about it all. I started thinking about how it would be if this was my life, walking through all this world with someone. As they started getting older I began to feel a little more and even a bit sad about the whole affair. Then, when the woman finally died I actually felt a twinge of sadness at her loss because I thought about how it might be for me.
I kept walking until I was hunched over and then died myself. It was really sad at that point, but I felt something about it.
The second time I tried exploring but it felt kind of empty. Sure there was treasure, but it didnt really matter. Plus, I thought the world looked less interesting down below where I had been the first time. Also, I noticed that while my score was higher at the end I died a lot younger.
Wow. Excellent game. The music in particular was phenomenal.
I always just stop and die next to the wife. Seems more poetic that ways since I've gone so far with her already and in my old age, I don't have the need to go much further.
I didn't even realize I was aging until I had been playing for about 2 minutes. It is quite a unique game.
Mesmerizing. Games CAN be art, but they art not. In much the same way movies CAN be art, but reach that status with increasing rarity. Does it provoke thought about the world and our place in it, that's the real test. Too bad more games don't make us reflect about our "passages" the way this one does.
I have a degree in art history and like to think of myself as someone who looks at things with a sort of semantic searchlight. That being said, I'd really like to know what I would have thought of the game without the priming your article created for me.
I felt my heart sink when my wife died. A lot of thought went into making this little masterpiece, to be sure.
This game is defnitley something else. I'm not going to read any interpretation just yet, but so far, this is an absolutely AMAZING game, it terms of how it mirrors life and the choices you make.
The first time I played, I was with the girl. She died, I hunched over, and died shortly after.
The second time I played, I skipped the girl. Odd thing is, I lived way longer, but I never hunched over. I just went bald and then died out of nowhere.
If this game includes a random dying system, then this person truly is a genius.
The second time I played, I skipped the girl. Odd thing is, I lived way longer, but I never hunched over. I just went bald and then died out of nowhere.
If this game includes a random dying system, then this person truly is a genius.
I think it was stupid. I got nothing out of it but annoyed. Make any "that's the type of person you are" or "that's how you're going through life" comments and I will assure you that, "No. It's just the way I went through the game." Annoyed and bored.
Also, it could have used a way to LEAVE the game. After it took up my whole screen I had to bring up the task manager to end the application. I must have "missed" the part where I could get out of their retarded game.
Also, it could have used a way to LEAVE the game. After it took up my whole screen I had to bring up the task manager to end the application. I must have "missed" the part where I could get out of their retarded game.
The definition of greatness, whether its a movie, music or a painting, is emotion.
Think about it, why is your favorite movie your favorite? I'll bet all the money in the world that it's because it made you feel something.
Obviously, Passage is Great
Think about it, why is your favorite movie your favorite? I'll bet all the money in the world that it's because it made you feel something.
Obviously, Passage is Great
I've read about this and wanted to check it out, so thanks for the link Rev. Anthony. I loved it, even if I do feel a tad down right about now. Even as I was playing it, I pretty much assumed what was going to happen would happen. But that didn't stop it from effecting me. Passage is definitely a great piece of art.
This is why I love indy games. They make stuff that no one in the mainstream game industry can.
This game was simple in all areas (graphics, music, gameplay), yet it was one of the most emotionally powerful and thought provoking game experience I have ever had. The more I think about my experience with this game, the more it has an impact on me. I love this game.
This game was simple in all areas (graphics, music, gameplay), yet it was one of the most emotionally powerful and thought provoking game experience I have ever had. The more I think about my experience with this game, the more it has an impact on me. I love this game.
As soon as i found the girl and saw the score goin up i thought it was my age and immediately remembered this picture. (http://www.edg3.co.uk/snatch/life.jpg) Maybe he was influenced by this, the use of rectangles, color, size etc. I didnt like the game, just met the chick and went right til i died. More like a flip-book than a game.
i just got the wife and kept walking straight...the wife died so suddenly i got depressed. As soon as i noticed they were aging I knew it was gonna happen but i wasn't ready for it. Its Brilliant.
lol i picked up the girl and im like wtf?
then i kep walking and then i noticied i was gettin old!
but me and my chick died with an admirable score of 604
i feel like i have really achived something today
then i kep walking and then i noticied i was gettin old!
but me and my chick died with an admirable score of 604
i feel like i have really achived something today
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