Is this game crap?

[The_Dark_Wall]

I'm told that it is criminally short, lacking in gameplay and has a "feel sorry for me because I'm gay" storyline. I'd like to not have spoilers, but I really hope this is not another bad game that got propped up as the best thing ever because everyone wanted to be politically correct and make gamergate fans happy. I already bought it for 2 dollars on g-2-a but whether or not I'll waste the time playing it is another question I'm trying to answer.

I also do livestreams so I may want to stream it, but the reviews have left this game extremely questionable in my eyes.

[mendel]

No, this game is not crap. It is divisive (by about 1:3, i.e there's a 25% chance you won't like it). See Should you buy Gone Home? (no spoilers)

Which reviews have you been reading that you find questionable? (link?)

Gone Home is plenty long enough for $2. For $20, most people find it short.

Given the games you usually play, Gone Home could work for you. However, you have logged under an hour on The Stanley Parable, so maybe not?

[The_Dark_Wall]

Eh, I've seen all of the stanley parable, I just played it briefly for a livestream. Interesting that you would go as far as to judge my worthiness by looking at my profile.

[The_Dark_Wall]

Oh and by the way by questionable I meant that the game as a hell of allot of " this is stupid ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ " reviews on steam. If the big twist is that she's a lesbian and this is somehow supposed to make me feel bad for her, I can't sincerely see me caring. If daddy doesn't approve I can't help but feel that storyline has been played to death. If theres more to it than that, it could be a different story though.

[The_Dark_Wall]

Hmmm, after checking your link I'm unsure. The only do not buy thing that triggered me is " unsympathetic to lbgt issues" . I'm not unsympathetic, but that doesn't mean I'm going to cry and be emotionally destroyed if they use it as an excuse to tell an unimaginative or basic story that amounts to "I'm gay and people give me ♥♥♥♥ about it". I basically don't want the game to be a game that milks the public need to be sympathetic towards these issues for approval. Similar to how the passion of the christ was universally praised because people wanted to look like good hearted christians for liking it. The issue of being gay itself and any bad things that happen as a result of it will not impress me. The story and the way it's told will.

[mendel]

Originally posted by christhewall:

The issue of being gay itself and any bad things that happen as a result of it will not impress me. The story and the way it's told will.

Well, if you're fine with "teen drama" (or more properly, "family drama", but it's the teen's diary we're reading) and "exploration mechanic" then you'll probably be fine. The game is remarkable to lesbians because they were able to identify with it, and that's rare, but I thought it was well told nonetheless, with the sexual identity one facet of a larger story. (Some people honestly thought it was boring and not written well - tastes will differ).

My point in putting that "unsympathetic" thing in there is that if you take mere portrayal of lesbian relationships as "preaching" or "SJW propaganda", then you're probably not going to like this game. Since you don't have those kind of issues, the point doesn't apply to you.

Originally posted by christhewall:

Eh, I've seen all of the stanley parable, I just played it briefly for a livestream. Interesting that you would go as far as to judge my worthiness by looking at my profile.

It's not about worthiness at all - you paid for it, you're certainly worthy to play it. But when you ask "is it crap", meaning "will I like it", then which games you do or don't like plays a part in finding an appropriate answer, does it not? TSP is another game that doesn't really have a "game mechanic" except wandering around and clicking on stuff, which is why it can be a kind of touchstone for some aspects of Gone Home.

[The_Dark_Wall]

Ya, I may have come on a tad strong with it. If you look on the reviews though it's pretty much looked at as garbage that was propped up by contriversy so it can lead one to be worried. Fair enough though, I'll give it a go.

[mendel]

Originally posted by christhewall:

Fair enough though, I'll give it a go.

When you do, I'd be interested in hearing what you think of it.

[Fasces]

Originally posted by christhewall:

Is this game crap?

Let me just stop you right there and all i will say is this. If there is one thing you will learn from this game after playing its what it is like to step into somebody elses shoes and experience how they feel.
So when you play the game and come back and reread everything youve been saying in this thread, you might catch a glimps of exactly how I FEEL reading it.
And who knows? while youre at it you should search how you feel aswell

[The_Dark_Wall]

Eh, I really haven't made any assertions about the game other than "Which side in the contriversy is right?" We'll see I suppose. Content which makes one empathize is very good when done well, and annoying/forced when done poorly. Either way, we shall see I suppose. I do have a gap in my stream schedule coming up soon, maybe I'll use it for this...

[Daemonfactor]

@ christhewall

No follow up? I was interested in what you thought.

[Arucard]

I'll tell you what I thought after just playing it.

I really liked it, and I usually get into mysteries and exploration so it's cool seeing one without murder, or sci-fi, ghosts, mining, grinding, etc. The situations and emotional strife feel pretty realistic, the parents aren't hardcore religious fanatics, staunchly opposed to gays, written as the antagonists. Every member of the family (except yourself who gets criminaly little exposition) has their faults and good points, just like real people. That was probably what made the emotional connection for me, no glowing halo good guys or demon horn goat-feet bad guys, just a few people trying to live together and you trying to find out what's been going on in the year(s?) you've been gone.

[Daemonfactor]

@ Arucard

Thanks for your opinion. I share it mostly. I got it on sale and really went into it knowing nothing. So, for me, it was a bit nerve fraying because I was always (everytime) waiting for the "boogeyman" to jump in my face - of course he never did. If it had just put the gay thing in your face (no pun or double entendre intended) and mashed it in, I would have been disappointed. But, as it was, it was a decent story about normal people with normal problems. (Albeit a in the same house at the same time.) On the part of the player, Katie, being ambiguous; I think it was to allow you to be her with whatever baggage you internalize. Her being you with little back story allows you to step into her issues at hand.

[Kitty]

yes it is crap. Thank God I didn't buy it directly from Steam. Maybe it would have felt fresher had I not played Life Is Strange.

[3cool5you]

In my opinion, it was confusing but really interesting. It depends what games you like really.

[it's shoe]

"The big twist" is not that she's a lesbian. You can figure that out from one of the trailers. There are a handful of mysteries you can choose to solve or not, but that's not one of them.