The atmosphere is a bit hit or miss?

[Gvaedyn]

I'm still in Act 1, so no spoilers please.

I loved the prologue and beginning of Act 1. It was dark and moody, which I found to be really fitting. The first few story beats were very good, and I thought they were excellently paced.

Yet, a few hours and a new location later, and it's a lot more...cheery.

I'd avoided gameplay footage etc before release, so I must admit I didn't know what I was expecting. I'm still REALLY enjoying the game, but I have been thrown a bit by the change in tone, especially so early on.

Just wondering if anyone else thought the same, or had differing opinions?

[Selphares]

Play further and comment after act 1 again. :)

[朱利安]

I'm also still on Act 1 and I have the same feeling. I find the more cheery vibe that comes later in Act 1 doesn't really fit to what has happened before. I still like it though and I think the mood will change again to be more serious.

[Gvaedyn]

Originally posted by Selphares:

Play further and comment after act 1 again. :)

Originally posted by 朱利安:

I'm also still on Act 1 and I have the same feeling. I find the more cheery vibe that comes later in Act 1 doesn't really fit to what has happened before. I still like it though and I think the mood will change again to be more serious.

Aye, I'm sure it will (as Selphares implies). I'm not disappointed, but I think maybe it was a bit too soon to introduce a couple of the things we witness in this act, give the opening moments a bit longer to breath.

[Alt]

Its a standard story telling device. In games with a lot of tragedy and drama, a lot of the time lighthearted and funny moments always put before something tragic is a bout to happen. We had heavy prologue and act 1 start, then we get more lighthearted moments and interactions, to not burden player heavily. Emotional burnout in stories like that is a thing. Wait for the next major turn point in the story.

I red books where whole book is just one big tragedy. Things started to get bad after prologue and never stopped. Books like that is very hard to read, especially if you always empathize with main characters. And if it is a series of tragic books with no light insight... A lot of readers drop them because of emotional burnout.

Thats why authors in their heavy stories use humor and silly moments in the story, to get (emotional) reader/watcher/player not drop their story. Funny. Its sort of emotional gaslight strategy. So that author could keep up the lie of something good could happen to main characters in the end (if it is tragic).

[Nirh]

Also Act 1, I find it ok, it adds to the complexity of the characters.

These are people who left on a suicidal mission, the last in a long string of similiar failed expeditions, to at least pave the way for who will come after them, as Gustav reminds us every time he uses his Overcharge in battle.

They have accepted the idea of dying, but are shocked when facing the real brutality of it. It comes up in their conversations.

They are weighted by what is happening, it’s just at times buried in their natural disposition, especially since it’s a group of people who have long known each other. If you know you are likely going to die soon, might as well exorcise the tension and have some cheerful and affectionate banter with your companions, to feel alive and good.

The part that struck me weird is rather how they went RETREAT!1! at the beginning, totally amateurish both psychologically and tactically, but maybe that can also be put in perspective.

Anyway I like them being positive because it gives a glimpse of who they are in normal circumstances, adds to the story in a way.
And it’s a story about a magic painter in old France … some goofiness and mischief is to be expected.

[Nirh]

Originally posted by Alt:

Thats why authors in their heavy stories use humor and silly moments in the story, to get (emotional) reader/watcher/player not drop their story. Funny. Its sort of emotional gaslight strategy. So that author could keep up the lie of something good could happen to main characters in the end (if it is tragic).

Showing some beauty and good is actually needed to create attachment in the observer.
The characters need to possess something of value, like being wonderful people themselves or have an idyllic relationship, for the loss to be tragic.

See also Tolkien, he depicts a wonderful aspirational world and then points that the necessary destruction of the ring will bring an end to many beautiful things created with its power.
We know that even the happy end will bring loss, which resonates with the real life knowledge of the inexorably destructive power of time. I felt it was a powerful and haunting subtext at every step of the adventure.

[Gvaedyn]

Originally posted by Nirh:

And it’s a story about a magic painter in old France … some goofiness and mischief is to be expected.

I'm more referring to the Gestrals and everything that turn up. Again, keeping it light so that I don't spoil for anyone else, but I just find the whole bit to be...goofy.

The "magic painter" and "old France", while unrealistic, come across as more grounded. The opening of Act 1 plays into that. Then suddenly you find the atmosphere turns more into a JRPG.

Again, still enjoying it, and this is my own ignorance at play here.

[Nirh]

Heeh I’m probably at the doorstep of their village, so far it’s weird to have the things even exist, I’m assuming they may be a product of the painter too.

She probably isn’t painting only death, given her land is beautiful, there are hints of empathy towards her that may be prescient, the light-seeking guy on an unknown mission, the “familiar” feeling flower-protecting boss … I’m hoping the story will merge everything in a reasonably coherent and emotionally satisfying picture.

Anyway I’m also really enjoying myself with the game 😃👍🏻

[Eren Jäger]

I thought the prologue would be intense, but after the first act I was broken, bro. Enjoy the beautiful moments in the first act; they'll be over quickly.

[Leihjir]

As many said, come back and comment after act 1 ! have fun !!!!!!!

[Lestrad]

Well, judging by what's been said here, you guys have saved me $50.

[ZexxCrine]

clair obscur

light and dark

expecting this game to be just 100% emo trash and no character even using gallows humor or trying to escape that feeling wherever possible is just unrealistic.

besides if everything was dark 100% of the time, the darker moments wouldn't hit as hard as they do.