Why is the game so controversial?

[Domitor]

Just played the Prologue, it was really good! I have a key for the full game I haven't yet redeemed. Can someone give me the down low on why its bad without spoilers? What makes its writing bad? Like is it just a boring linear story or does it fail to subvert expectations? Does it say something offensive or read like high school fan fiction?

[frank]

The prologue was indeed pretty good, but unfortunately not representative of the rest of the game.

Check out the grieving thread if you'd like to see more in-depth whinging from me and others, but basically, after the prologue the game is completely linear (i.e. there are no choices nor even puzzles); the story does subvert expectations, but in the worst way; and the writing is, at best, nothing special, though often feels derivative and try-hard (imho--I think any problems with the prose pale in comparison to the game's other issues).

[Venom Raven]

Just imagine you get to the end of a detective book and nothing is resolved. The detective doesn't triumph or win the day. And the story spends the second half of the book on a new plot thread instead that similarly doesn't really go anywhere. I can't go into anymore detail without spoiling the story (or lack of one).

Honestly the demo is easily the best part of the game and it gets worse the longer you pursue it.

[Venom Raven]

Oh and the other thing I forgot is the game-play elements barely exist outside the demo. You just press action to advance and move in the correct direction. There's no fail states or choices or puzzles that require you to use your brain etc.

[Domitor]

Originally posted by frank:

The prologue was indeed pretty good, but unfortunately not representative of the rest of the game.

Check out the grieving thread if you'd like to see more in-depth whinging from me and others, but basically, after the prologue the game is completely linear (i.e. there are no choices nor even puzzles); the story does subvert expectations, but in the worst way; and the writing is, at best, nothing special, though often feels derivative and try-hard (imho--I think any problems with the prose pale in comparison to the game's other issues).

Ah that's a bit disappointing because I found the light puzzle solving fun even if it was a bit shallow. It made the prologue feel much more like a detective game rather than just a visual novel with a pretty looking sidescroller to overlay on.

[Domitor]

Originally posted by Venom Raven:

Just imagine you get to the end of a detective book and nothing is resolved. The detective doesn't triumph or win the day. And the story spends the second half of the book on a new plot thread instead that similarly doesn't really go anywhere. I can't go into anymore detail without spoiling the story (or lack of one).

Honestly the demo is easily the best part of the game and it gets worse the longer you pursue it.

Gotcha, that explains why a lot of people say it feels like the original writing team got laid off halfway through production. There's a book I read once that tried to offer tips to writers who write brilliant openings but struggle to fill the following chapters with riveting content and falter towards the end-- sounds like the writers could've used that advice.