Ocedic 249 Posted February 8, 2013 Title: Actual Sunlight Author: NeonCowboy Version: Demo Review by: Ocedic Introduction Actual Sunlight is one of those games that is hard to categorize. The closest I could come to was a visual novel, but even that would still be woefully misleading in what to expect from this game. Presentation Graphics are probably Actual Sunlight's primary weak point. They aren't horrible, but they fail to inspire any tone or emotion. Everything graphical feels so utilitarian and pragmatic rather than beautiful. The modern-day tileset is made to look functional and the environments at least vaguely resemble the real-life counterparts they depict. And it could be argued that the drab and lifeless setting emulates the narrative that the author is weaving, but there are places where more visual pizazz would have been appropriate. The first half of the game, for example, should be a juxtaposition to the bleaker second half when Evan's life begins to fall apart. And the final scene seemed to go for a bit of surrealism; a nice weather effect (like Mog's weather script) could have helped achieve that. The sequence where you smash things could also be more effective if things were actually broken graphically or the breaking animations didn't feel so hacked in. In addition, the forgettable graphics don't do it any favors in helping to set it apart from other games (even though at its foundation, this is a very, very different breed of RPG Maker game.) There were some points that used graphics that were out of place, such as Ralph on the crowded bus and other fantasy-themed RTP characters. One of the worst things to do in a game is have inconsistent visuals. There's also some slight mapping errors here and there, like this for instance: The audio on the other hand is very well done. Sound effects are fitting and used well, such as the alarm clock at the beginning of the game. The music is well-chosen and does an effective job at setting the mood and tone. Verdict: Needs Work Gameplay There isn't much of a game here. It basically involves walking around and interacting with every object to uncover more and more of the story. The game is more of a novel than most visual novels, I would say. To my knowledge, there isn't even an element of choice that changes the dialogue, narrative or outcome of the game. This isn't really meant as criticism, and I'm glad the author did not shove in needless gameplay elements for the sake of trying to conform his work to the abstract definition of a game. It is what it is, and it's good at what it does. Verdict: Not Applicable Story This is the heart of Actual Sunlight. If you want to try this game, be prepared for lots of reading. And not the friendly, hold-your-hand type of exposition you may be used to. The story of Actual Sunlight is told in small chunks, each one layered and at times poetically written. In spite of its seemingly alienating design (or perhaps because of it,) Actual Sunlight touches on a lot of themes that may hit close to home for much of its audience. Evan represents the man we hope we never become, despite the fact that we live perilously close to such a downtrodden existence. From his grandiose dreams of fame, longing for significance and terrible procrastination, to his deep inflection during his showers, Evan is an examination of the human condition through the lens of what some would consider a privileged and lucky individual. My favorite part about the story is that it doesn't judge. You're simply an observer watching a man's life self-destruct, and whether you feel pity, fear, anger, inspiration or apathy is up to you. That's the mark of brilliant writing. Verdict: Fantastic Recommendation If you're the type of person who would enjoy this game, you're probably already downloading it. Those who like to experience games that are different, or story-focused games should give this a whirl. Though the game is fairly short, it requires your undivided attention to be fully appreciated, so I suggest you play it when you are free from distractions and can devote time to its thick, layered narrative. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
