First, a quick note - as has been pointed out elsewhere, the “Play Online” link for this game is broken. To play the game, download it and open the html file instead.
[spoiler]Blurb:
Well, it isn’t a blurb. It’s a copyright statement relating to the cover image. Shame.
General Impressions:
I didn’t get much out of this game. There is very little interactivity (two binary decision points in each play through) and only four possible endings. I got the distinct impression that this was a non-interactive story that needed me to occasionally turn the page by pressing “Next.” Not what I’m looking for.
The Good:
- Another work by a Chinese author! Not only am I delighted to see more works from outside the English-speaking world, this game in particular gave me a sense that there was some Chinese folklore worked into the narrative. I loved that, and would really like to see more of it.
The Bad:
- The quality of the translation wasn’t terrible, though it could certainly have done with a proofing pass by a native English-speaker.
- I found the music to be overbearing.
- The text in the second sequence was difficult to read; grey text on a grey background is a poor choice.
- There is very little interactivity and few decision points. Some of the choices don’t make a great deal of sense, either. Moreover, there is a lot going on in the story, and a lot of choices are made by the character… but not by the player. A lot happens as a result of the player’s choices that was not foreseeable as a consequence of those choices. Worse, the actions of other characters, including past actions are somehow influenced by the choices the player makes. It simply doesn’t hold together.
- As to the story itself, I found it a little off-putting that the tragedy seems to have come about as a result of the main characters not having a simple, five minute conversation.
Conclusion:
The game doesn’t really hold up. The story doesn’t follow logically from the choices made, and opportunities to alter the course of events are both sparse and unconvincing. That said, there are hints at interesting elements. I really would like to see folklore and cultural traditions from non-Western cultures further represented in IF, and I would very much encourage the author to continue to create.[/spoiler]