Impostor Factory《影子工厂》

Impostor Factory《影子工厂》

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Edgy Wolf 2021 年 9 月 30 日 下午 9:59
Critique thread for Imposter Factory ***SPOILER THREAD***
Hello all, totally the real Barack Obama here (not really...)

I wanted to make a thread for people with critiques for Imposter Factory because I personally had a few and also have a strong feeling that this will be the most controversial game in the To the Moon series to date, so many others may have their own thoughts they might wanna share. To clarify, this is NOT a hate thread, and I have nothing but respect for Kan Gao and the dev team that has created so many amazing stories for us over the years. You guys make some of the most heartfelt stories I've ever experienced and you are exemplars on how videogames as a medium can be used to tell stories in a more impactful way than perhaps any other entertainment medium.

With that said, let's get to some of my personal pet peeves with this game in particular-

***OBVIOUSLY, SPOILERS AHEAD****

*********** Bugs ***********

My playthrough was mostly bug-free, but there were a couple of small oversights which felt a little out of place for a To the Moon game, especially given the size of the delay here. Little things like being able to collect orbs which you couldn't actually use, or the # of orbs referenced on a barrier not matching the number on the tooltip at the bottom of the screen. I feel like these are easy fixes, luckily, but it was a little disappointing that they found their way into the official release despite the long delays.


*********** Half baked horror vs sob story themes. ***********

To the Moon and Finding Paradise are what they are because they told very emotionally heavy and tear-jerking stories. I respect Kan trying to go for a more horror-themed game with this one, however, I have a couple of problems with the execution.

1. I personally don't think low-bit graphics meshes super well with horror games in general, because horror games rely on immersion inherently and 8/16 bit games simply cannot pull that off. With that said, there was nothing throughout this entire game which scared me even remotely. There were surprises, sure, but I never flinched once at anything or even felt anything in scenes where obviously the goal was to make the player uncomfortable.

2. The game tries to have it both ways with the horror undertones as well as a sob-story in the middle. The sob-story in the middle is definitely impactful, but honestly a little predictable and a little less impactful than the prior games in the series inherently because they kill off the kid first (whom we only spend a couple minutes with and thus don't have the same level of attachment to) then reverse it and kill the mom instead which feels like an asspull. More importantly, by having split focus between horror and sob-story themes, I feel like the 2 don't mesh well and lead to an neither having a particularly profound impact on the player over the course of the game

*********** No new gameplay elements ***********

Obviously this is a minor issue (story is PARAMOUNT in these games, gameplay has never been particularly memorable). However, I did honestly like some of the small little minigames in the prior games. They helped break up the monotony of collecting orbs. There isn't much of that in this game, and I didn't realize how nice that stuff was until it was gone.

*********** Barely moves the broader plot ***********

Others have already raised this issue in other threads, but I concur that this game doesn't really advance the broader plot as much as many of us would have liked. We got a small amount of context behind where the simulation technology comes from, and a deep dive into Neil's character. Confirming some theories about Neil was kinda cool but there's frankly a lot of other bigger points which still haven't been addressed (Like Neil potentially being stuck in a simulation himself, and what true "reality" is).

***********

*Huff huff* alright, that's everything off of my chest. Please let me know if anyone else here has any thoughts they would also like to share, I look forward to having a friendly critique thread for this game. And again Kan, if you are reading this, please don't take the critiques the wrong way, I did enjoy the game and don't want you to feel like you let anybody down. Far from it, you did a great job :) I look forward to what comes next from you.
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Dragoon 2021 年 9 月 30 日 下午 10:45 
In regards to the horror.

I did not find myself getting 'scared' but I did find it...unsettling? Spooky? Hard to word it. I personally loved the horror aspect of it and thought it added quite a lot to the overall experience.


BUT WHY IS NOBODY MENTIONING THE LACK OF AN AMAZING SONG WITH VOCALS????

I found a song for the game on youtube with sung lyrics, BUT THAT SONG NEVER APPEARED IN GAME!??!? ... Or did mine bug out? Because nobody else is mentioning it.

To The Moon had Everything's Alright
Finding Paradise had Wishing My Life Away

Great Wide Unknown did not appear in-game for me.

And having listened to the song on youtube...It's okay. It's not nearly as good as the other two songs I listed.


That's my only complaint for the game, personally.
Mari 2021 年 9 月 30 日 下午 10:48 
I loved the game but I'm still a bit disappointed, mostly about the story, because I thought it would explain a lot more than it did and I really wanted to know why the ♥♥♥♥ Eva was using the machine all by herself in a dark room at the end of Minisode 2, how Faye seemed to be able to interact with the "real world" and who was the mysterious biker in Finding Paradise (I'm pretty sure it's Faye but still) and this might be me being dumb and missing something but I don't think it was explained why Neil seems to be estranged from Quincy in the present day since also in Minisode 2 Neil presumably calls him on the phone but doesn't say anything when he answers

Guess we'll just have to wait another few years for answers
redunion1940 2021 年 9 月 30 日 下午 10:58 
As I told someone I felt annoyed about the game. I liked the story it was really well told. I understood the "horror" elements were always a diversion/ false premise.

The best way I can describe how I felt this game, is I felt like I just played the longest intro sequence in my life. After the mansion opening there is very little to do in the game other than go in one direction.

And I didn't realize how important those silly puzzle elements and some searching elements from the others games were. The Too The Moon series has always been really simple adventure games that were pretty much on tracks the whole time. But it was really obvious that there was only one path in this game.

Which is why I kept think, and soon the rest of the game will start.

I got really excited to see Watts and Rosalene again at the end, and then the game ends.

I was expecting the whole time to learn we were playing a guy dying while the duo we're trying to grant his dying wish.

Though I will say this, the story we got was good. It punched hard when it needed to. I enjoyed the story, but this game felt more akin to a bird story and not To The Moon/Finding Paradise.

And I feel like closure isn't there, even with the comic, which is probably what is bothering me personally the most.

I know Covid really threw everyone off, and it feels that a lot of threads/ideas got cut before this released. I'm hoping for another game in this series, or for the long rumored animated movie/series.

I'd guess my disappointment comes from misplaced expectations. I knew that Imposter Factory when originally discussed would not follow the Rosa/Watts crew. Then we told it would be an end to an era for the company as they wrapped up the game/story line for the story we have long enjoyed. Then the long delay (forever Spring!) made me think this game would be bigger than it was.

Ken know this you and Freebirds have made a wonderful series and I enjoyed the stories as they have been told.
redunion1940 2021 年 9 月 30 日 下午 11:03 
引用自 Floppa
I loved the game but I'm still a bit disappointed, mostly about the story, because I thought it would explain a lot more than it did and I really wanted to know why the ♥♥♥♥ Eva was using the machine all by herself in a dark room at the end of Minisode 2, how Faye seemed to be able to interact with the "real world" and who was the mysterious biker in Finding Paradise (I'm pretty sure it's Faye but still) and this might be me being dumb and missing something but I don't think it was explained why Neil seems to be estranged from Quincy in the present day since also in Minisode 2 Neil presumably calls him on the phone but doesn't say anything when he answers

Guess we'll just have to wait another few years for answers
The answer to your second question/blocked text

It's established that Quincy really loved his wife, and would have preferred to lose the child than her. In the real timeline she dies since she delays her operation for Neil. Then when Neil develops the same condition making it all seem for naught it may have made for a less than great parent child relationship.
Mari 2021 年 9 月 30 日 下午 11:12 
引用自 redunion1940
引用自 Floppa
I loved the game but I'm still a bit disappointed, mostly about the story, because I thought it would explain a lot more than it did and I really wanted to know why the ♥♥♥♥ Eva was using the machine all by herself in a dark room at the end of Minisode 2, how Faye seemed to be able to interact with the "real world" and who was the mysterious biker in Finding Paradise (I'm pretty sure it's Faye but still) and this might be me being dumb and missing something but I don't think it was explained why Neil seems to be estranged from Quincy in the present day since also in Minisode 2 Neil presumably calls him on the phone but doesn't say anything when he answers

Guess we'll just have to wait another few years for answers
The answer to your second question/blocked text

It's established that Quincy really loved his wife, and would have preferred to lose the child than her. In the real timeline she dies since she delays her operation for Neil. Then when Neil develops the same condition making it all seem for naught it may have made for a less than great parent child relationship.
Makes sense, however when Eva asks Neil if it was "something that they [the person on the other side of the line] did" Neil answers "No. It's not them.", so that makes me think it wasn't Quincy being resentful over Neil having the same the condition that caused them to grow apart
Comae® 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 2:24 
Finished in 3 hours.
The story is rushing "feels" moments like never before, the plot is predictable, its too short to build a story as good as the previous episodes.
I am frustrated.
Miklik 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 2:28 
I just finished it myself, and I've got to agree. I've really enjoyed the series up to this point, and while this entry is good, it doesn't reach the standard I was expecting.

I haven't kept up with the announcements on the game, and I've only played To the Moon and Finding Paradise, so going into this game, I had no expectations, except for small bits I picked up from the store page. It sounded like a completely different experience than the previous two, and I was all for a murder mystery. The beginning was very intriguing and I was just waiting for the opportunity to start putting together theories on what was happening, until suddenly... psyche, we're doing the same thing again! It's memories time!

Now, this isn't a bad thing, and I quite enjoyed the back story it told in Act 2. It was painfully linear, like others have said, but the story was engaging at least. But by the time Act 3 kicked off, I felt like the story was supposed to be over. Not sure why Lyn bailed on Quincy (I don't think that was ever explained), but coming back to the mansion after all that was pretty jarring. Like waking up from a super realistic dream, and having to remember what real life is like. And what came next made me wish I could go back to sleep.

The memes. Just stop, please. I don't remember if To the Moon had them, but Finding Paradise had a couple, but they felt tasteful because they were coming from Neil, and Neil felt like the type of guy to quote memes. But Lyn? Providing a cat that will 'protecc?' Just stop. It's not funny. I guess you could argue that since Neil was ultimately the creator of this universe, it's therefore justified, and maybe there's something there, but at the time it's rapid firing these no effort knee slappers, Neil is the furthest from your mind.

After that point, I was just waiting for the credits to roll. When we finally reach the real reality (or at least as far as we know), it was mildly interesting, but I was done.

Don't take me too seriously though, I'm no writer or game designer, so my opinion basically means nothing, lol. I hope the creators continue finding success with these stories, and finding new ways to make us cry. It's just a shame this one didn't hold up for me.
Cyberpunk 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 4:03 
引用自 redunion1940
As I told someone I felt annoyed about the game. I liked the story it was really well told. I understood the "horror" elements were always a diversion/ false premise.

The best way I can describe how I felt this game, is I felt like I just played the longest intro sequence in my life. After the mansion opening there is very little to do in the game other than go in one direction.

And I didn't realize how important those silly puzzle elements and some searching elements from the others games were. The Too The Moon series has always been really simple adventure games that were pretty much on tracks the whole time. But it was really obvious that there was only one path in this game.

Which is why I kept think, and soon the rest of the game will start.

I got really excited to see Watts and Rosalene again at the end, and then the game ends.

I was expecting the whole time to learn we were playing a guy dying while the duo we're trying to grant his dying wish.

Though I will say this, the story we got was good. It punched hard when it needed to. I enjoyed the story, but this game felt more akin to a bird story and not To The Moon/Finding Paradise.

And I feel like closure isn't there, even with the comic, which is probably what is bothering me personally the most.

I know Covid really threw everyone off, and it feels that a lot of threads/ideas got cut before this released. I'm hoping for another game in this series, or for the long rumored animated movie/series.

I'd guess my disappointment comes from misplaced expectations. I knew that Imposter Factory when originally discussed would not follow the Rosa/Watts crew. Then we told it would be an end to an era for the company as they wrapped up the game/story line for the story we have long enjoyed. Then the long delay (forever Spring!) made me think this game would be bigger than it was.

Ken know this you and Freebirds have made a wonderful series and I enjoyed the stories as they have been told.

This is basically how I feel as well
SiberEugene 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 4:03 
The Act III is too rushed. It would be great to have separate stuff for the mystery and the big event
Comae® 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 4:42 
Everything is rushed.
I felt like the ending was a fake ending and the real game was beginning.
HoboForEternity 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 10:30 
i thought some of them true, that we waited for 10 years for the "overarching" plot to move on so slowly, but overall i love the game, and it's the biggest reveal we have ever seen in the whole series. it's not the last one in the series definitely so it's obviously will answers those hanging questions. but it's still feel more satisfying and the quincy's plot is good, i think even my favorite out of all 3. i dont get the predictable complain since every patient's story is somewhat predictable if you know what you're looking for, plus how they use faye after the conclusion of finding paradise is really cool and answer (indirectly) a lot of question

i will be waiting until honeymoon period ro be over to declare this my favorite, but so far this one i really really like.

some real complaint is really just no vocal ED song (maybe because laura shigahara moved on working on another project or something since she did made rakuen few years ago) and we have to wait 5 years for another sequel. sure i agree with some of the nitpicks, but i don't feel it rushed at all.


for the memes, i don't mind really, it's probably the least annoying meme insert i have ever seen.
denerd1 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 11:21 
I have to admit I didn't get very emotionally involved in this game, unlike TtM, FP and bird story, partly because it felt like I never believe that what I was watching was 'real' long enough to get invested before it was revealed to be a simulation (or another layer of the simulation).

First there was the horror aspect, which was interesting but quickly revealed to be fake. Then Linri's life story started, but at first I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be real or some kind of life simulation she created for herself, so I was a little sceptical about the whole thing until the part where Linri creates the test version of Quincy. (Although I did get a little teary during the first talk under the stars between Linri and her Dad, and I felt bad for them when Tobi died) And then before I could get too invested in what had gone wrong with Linri's test scenario, it turned out that the version of Linri we'd seen all game was also a simulation and the real Linri had been Neil's mother. THAT part I was immediately invested in (although only because I'd played the other games, I really don't think this game can be played alone like the store page says), but then once you go to space it all goes back to Linri and Quincy and them living through their ideal simulated lifetime, which was interesting, but still felt like it had no real bearing on the real story.

I suppose to summarise, I felt like the mystery style of storytelling hurt the emotional side of the storytelling. And it didn't help that compared to previous games, there wasn't as much incidental dialogue to help flesh out the main 2 characters. (NPCs in the memory section not having anything to say when you check them and Quincy going through that whole section by himself and hardly commenting on any of it made it had to get a feel for what he's like as a character, and we didn't see that much of Linri outside of her lifestory) So as a result I wasn't too worried about what happened to them, only how it would affect the characters I'd grown to love in the first 2 games.
最后由 denerd1 编辑于; 2021 年 10 月 1 日 上午 11:25
[NcK]MasterShake|CM 2021 年 10 月 2 日 上午 8:30 
引用自 Comae®
Everything is rushed.
I felt like the ending was a fake ending and the real game was beginning.
I kind of think that's partly the point.
Sleeper 2021 年 10 月 2 日 上午 9:10 
Just finished the game, mixed feelings. Was blown away by FP, the OST, humour and strong narrative and emotions that felt very personal. FP set the bar and expectation in the stratosphere. FP main theme is unforgetable, haunting Scale Theme (piano, guitar and cello all unique in their own) and teary melodious Fayes. No track in IF stood out. After numerous IF delays, expecting more polish, unique tracks plus deeper thought provoking narrative - didn't get much here.
Atrus Oranis 2021 年 10 月 2 日 下午 12:30 
I really liked I.F, and thought when it came to story (and feels) it was on-par with To the Moon. That said, I do agree that there were some things that could have been done much better.
1) while all the games in the series so far have been very "linear" they at least allowed you to get lost and explore a little. This game STARTED that way, but when it came to the traveling through the memories, it went from "very linear" to "railroad". Let us explore the various settings. If we want to speed-run it later, that's ok!
1a) side note: having a "Joke" speed-run option for a To the Moon game would actually be kind of fun, and could lead to an alternate funny ending.
2) I agree on the missed game-play Setup the Memento minigames. Yes, they were simple, but it did make me have to think, and made the game feel at least more like a game.
3) I REALLY hope it isn't the end of the series! there are so many unanswered questions, even with the tie-in comic! in fact, the commic makes me want to have something like this for ALL the main doctors! Why was Eva in a chair with a helmet on, unaware of what was going on? Will Neil ever reconnect with his father? SigCorp never developed the original tech, but acquired the tech and licenses to do what they do; what is the YH Foundation's original plan with the Device.

That said, I still loved the game, I just think that it had some missed potential.
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