ThatGameCompany has built a reputation on creating stunningly beautiful worlds which convey a message and their latest game, Sky: Children of Light, carries on this pattern. You play as a child who can fly and you traverse several gorgeous worlds, lighting candles, flying and holding hands with other people. The experience is gentle and quite cathartic. The game is easy to play and the bloom effects make the whole thing pop. Check out some of my screenshots I’ve taken as I have been playing the game.
Sky: Children of Light- Video Games As Art
Donut County- Video Games As Art
I’ve played a fair few video games in my time and during those many many hours I’ve been in the shoes of many characters, vehicles and avatars but never a sinkhole… until now! Yup, in Donut County you play a sinkhole and your goal is to swallow up everything.
It’s a short but charming game with a pastel colour aesthetic and, at times, cutesy low poly art style. check out some of my screenshots from my play through!
Source: thedeadpixels.sqsp.com
Erica- Video Games As Art
Full Motion Videos (FMVs) are having a bit of a resurgence. What with Bandersnatch and Her Story, FMVs are no longer a joke from the early 90’s joke as they’ve become more accepted in gaming society. It is with this said that Erica becomes an intriguing proposition; a 2-hour or so interactive narrative in which you take charge of Erica, a young girl who takes part in a ritual in her youth with her father, who later ends up dead. You make decisions as an older Erica as she tries to uncover the mystery of his death and why the mysterious symbol carved into his chest is so prominent in her life.
The game is a wonderful palette-cleanser from all the open-world games and also intriguing in its own right. It feels like one of those creepy BBC shows from the late 70s and early 80s which still haunt my dreams. The cinematography is impressive and the lead actress, Holly Earl, portrays a vulnerable and fragile woman well. The game is on sale at the moment and at just over a fiver, well worth the investment.
LINK- The Dead Of Night- Cult TV Review
Firewatch- Video Games As Art
Firewatch is a beautiful game, set in the Wyoming wilderness. As Henry, a newly appointed fire lookout, you wander around some gorgeously rendered woodland and solve an intriguing but ultimately unsatisfying mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young boy.
At about 3 hours or so, the game isn’t long but I found myself just standing in some stunning landscape, taking in all the colours and hues. Living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where everything is beige, the colours on display really overwhelemd me and warmed me with their colourful glow. It’s a lovely game and has moments of pure beauty.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince- Video Games As Art
I recently finished a beautiful little puzzle-platforming game called The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince. The game has a stunning storybook art style and tells the dark fairytale-like story of a wolf who loves to sing. Once night, whilst singing her voice attracts the attention of a Prince who tries to find out who the voice belongs to. The wolf, worried that the Prince would see her monstrous form, accidentally blinds the Prince. The Prince is found by his troops and, due to his blindness, is considered imperfect and thrown into jail. Feeling guilty, the wolf visits a witch and gives up her voice for the ability to transform into a Princess. Using her newfound ability, the wolf/Princess busts the Prince out of jail and takes him across various levels back to the witch so can restore his sight.
The tale is very Hans Christian Anderson or Brothers Grimm but the lush art style is all manga. The game is a bit floaty and not as tightly controlled as Limbo or Inside but for a 4 to 5 hour game it is a great experience. Check out the screenshots from my play through.
Wandersong- Video Games As Art
I’ve just finished Wandersong, a puzzle adventure game in which you play as a little Bard who solves puzzles and attempts to save the world through singing. He's a naively optimistic protagonist, a gaming trope for sure, but his ability to make friends with everyone and selflessly help them, even though it will take him away from his main task of saving the world, endears him close to my heart and makes him one of my favourite video game characters ever.
He does this all just to spread some kindness in a world that is destined to die. Wandersong affirms that anyone can make a positive difference in the world; you don't need to be a superhero to do that, just kind and thoughtful. In an oft-jaded world, Wandersong offers light in the darkness and shows that a gentle approach works just as well, often better, than a more heavy-handed approach.
This game is a joy to play and there are moments that will stick in my mind for a long time to come, not bad for a game coded by one man with music supplied by a team of just 2. You owe it to yourself, and the game makers, to play this wonderful video game. Check out the beautiful art below:
Uncharted 4- Video Games As Art
Many games have claimed to be like the movies but few can claim to be as proficient in the art of building a gaming experience that mimics the thrills of a blockbuster summer action movie than Naughty Dog. With the Uncharted series it has perfected the video game blockbuster. I only got onto the Uncharted bandwagon in the PS4 generation as last generation I had the Xbox 360 and Wii U. However, I am making up for lost time and after completing the first 3, moved onto the 4th and final (so they say) of the series. Out of all the Uncharted games it is the most movie-like and has twists and turns like the best Indiana Jones movie. I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Nathan Drake but do feel that after 4 games (not counting the portable one) it probably is time for the series to be put to pasture to age gracefully.
Uncharted 3: Video Games As Art
The words ‘cinematic’ and ‘epic’ are overused terms, often used to sell you on a game. By using these buzzwords the hope is that the hype will build and interest in the game will pique. Many games have claimed to be like the movies but few can claim to be as proficient in the art of building a gaming experience that mimics the thrills of a blockbuster summer action movie than Naughty Dog. With the Uncharted series it has perfected the video game blockbuster. I only got onto the Uncharted bandwagon in the PS4 generation as last generation I had the Xbox 360 and Wii U. However, I am making up for lost time and completed the first 3. Here’s to the 4th!
Shikhondo- Video Games As Art
I’ve always liked shoot ‘em ups… no, not first person gun games (although some are alright) but space ship shooting aliens. They've always held a special place in my heart as once the enemy patterns are learnt and memorised you can look like a boss completing a game. I have a vivid memory of playing Rtype at Heathrow airport and getting to level 3, that huge base ship.
Unfortunately over the last few years bullet hell games have taken over, I like them as I feel zen-like when I play them but they are not the same as traditional shoot 'em ups. Bullet hell games, especially the ones that have made their way West in the last few years on console including Deathsmile and Akai Katana have a place but they do feel stagnant compared to Dodonpachi and Ikaruga, the true exciting innovators of bullet hell. But generally bullet hell games have a different feel and mechanics and so it is with Shikhondo. The game looks pretty but is a bit of a soulless affair. Enjoy the images and grab the game when it’s on sale.
Lost In Harmony- Video Games As Art
We live in an interesting time in video gaming. We have the big hitters providing us with the spectacle and set-pieces but there are smaller developers who are trying unusual or experimental things. One of the latter is Lost in Harmony by Digixart, an endless runner and rhythm game but not…
Lost in Harmony is the story of a young boy name Kaito and his best friend, Aya, who is being treated for cancer. After texting Kaito falls off to sleep and the game comes into play in which you control the two skateboarding towards the screen in a variety of gradually more outlandish backgrounds, reflecting the fact that Aya may not make it.
The game is fine, nothing much to write about, but the music is sublime in places. Wyclef Jean produces a track ‘Lost in Time’ and it is a joy. Check out the game but definitely listen to the track!
SOMA- Video Games As Art
SOMA is a horror game by Frictional, the studio that brought us Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Penumbra, both staples of annoying YouTube screaming teen vids. However, rather than just offering jump scares, SOMA is a deep game about personal identity. “Soma” is Greek for “body”, and over the course of the game you consider what it means to be ‘human.’
The world of SOMA is beautifully realised and well worth a look. It reminded me of a more industrial Rapture, and that’s no bad thing.
Trine 2- Video Games As Art
Trine 2 is a sidescrolling game of action, puzzles and platforming. You play as one of the three heroes (a Knight, Magician and Thief) and make your way through fantastical worlds to restore peace to the land. What makes the game a joy to play is the ability to change characters on the fly; each of the characters possesses their own unique abilities and strengths, which you must use to overcome obstacles and progress through the lands.
The game looks gorgeous and the lighting is stunning, almost painterly in its airbrushed glory. Considering it is a 2012 game the art style still really holds up.
Valiant Hearts- Video Games As Art
Valiant Hearts is a puzzle adventure set in World War I. The game follows 4 different story plots and interconnect and weave in and out of each other to create a grand and affecting narrative about the horrors of war. What sets the game apart is not only the art style, which is admittedly amazing, but the fact that the game is densely packed with facts and trivia about the Great War. At 4 hours or so, the game doesn’t overstay its welcome but it will linger in your memory long after you put the controller down.
Kamiko- Video Games As Art
Kamiko is a top down action game in the vein of the original Legend of Zelda and Gauntlet. You can play as one of three divine maidens: Yamato has a giant sword, Uzume has a bow and arrow and Hinome has a dagger and shield combo. In the game you play through four levels which consist of easy to solve puzzles involving sliding blocks, buttons, orbs and keys. The game is download only on Nintendo Switch and is usually on sale for a few pounds but is well worth the hour or so play time, just to appreciate the beautiful pixel art graphics.
LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East
LINK- Mysterious Cities of Gold Season 3 (English Dub) - Complete Series Review
LINK- The Midnight Library and the Idea That You Can’t Go Home Again
LINK- Manga Exhibition at the British Museum
LINK- The Golden Voyage of Sinbad- Cult Movie Review
LINK- The Transportive Nature of Objects (And the Power of Mini Consoles)
Gris- Video Games As Art
Gris is a stunningly beautiful game, probably one of the most gorgeous games I have ever played. The game is a puzzle-platformer set in an alternate reality where ancient ruins, fragile metalwork and iridescent woods are metaphors for the protagonists state of mind. The visual are like a huge canvas filled with dazzling details, that why there are so many images here as each could be a work of art in its own right. Check out and enjoy the images.
Moss- Video Games As Art
Moss is a VR action-adventure puzzle game, which takes all the classsic hallmarks of the genre and then gives it a VR twist by creating a world that seems vast and expansive but is actually little more than small dioramas.
In Polyarc’s words:
Quill is a young mouse who dreams of greatness beyond the confines of her sleepy community. When an ancient magic is awakened, she becomes linked with another - you, the player - who will take on their role in the story.
As a distant evil extends its reach, the two of you are called together to embark on an incredible journey brought to life with storybook-style narration that will draw you into a rich world of myth and magic.
The game is short, at about 3 hours, but is a must play experience as the level of detail and creativity on show is stunning. The puzzles themselves are self-contained and pretty easy but the world draws you in. I can’t wait for the second chapter!
One Eyed Kutkh- Video Games As Art
Video games are cultural artefects but often they do not always show the true breadth of the diversity in humanity. One Eyed Kutkh is a short (about 45 minutes at a leisurely pace) game about a one-eyed creature who crashes his spaceship on a strange planet. He has to find the pieces to fix it and deceive the sun and moon in order to escape the planet. The video game is based on the tales of the far North and it is brief game however, it does do things a bit differently and for that it should be applauded. The games forgoes dialogue and instead has thought bubbles and images which you have to decipher. The art style is naive but unique, reminding me of Balinese shadow puppetry.
The game is well worth a play, it’s not anything extraordinary but is a great palette cleanser for the 100 hour sandbox games or shooting people in the face all the time.
Detention- Video Games As Art
Detention is a 2D survival horror adventure video game created and developed developer Red Candle Games. It is an atmospheric game and the setting of 1960’s Taiwan under Chinese martial law is an interesting one, especially when considering that it takes place during a storm after school when everyone else has gone home. There is a deep sense of unease that permeates the experience yet it is much better than most cheap jump scare fare… this slowly unravels in front of you and the psychological horror that emerges is more satisfying for it. At certain points it reminds me of Silent Hill 2 and Eternal Darkness, as you begin to understand more of the psychological state of the protagonist.
Detention is on sale on the Nintendo Switch and well worth the 4 quid or so for the 3 hour play time needed to complete the experience. I’m off now to research the Chinese occupation of Taiwan in the 1960s as this game has me proper intrigued about this time period.
Sine Mora EX- Video Games As Art
Sine Mora EX is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up that has a unique mechanic, you can slow down and speed up time. This comes in useful as the game is brutally challenging but beautifully presented.
Sailors Dream- Video Games As Art
Sailor's Dream is a peaceful narrative experience from Simigo. The only objective is to explore and satisfy your curiosity. You explore a variety of locations including ancient ruins, a windswept ship and an old lighthouse. As you explore the world you find pieces of memories that help you to create a narrative. The experience is beautifully realised and when I am a bit stressed or worried I find a quick dip into this app helps me calm right down. Check out some shots from my play through.
