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Once Alive is a touching and cruel game that is slow, methodical, and wonderful to look at. Furthermore, it has an incredible story that’ll resonate with its audience. Though the recent pandemic pales by comparison, you will empathise with the feeling of loss and isolation. However, the daunting understanding of annihilation and doom is something we cannot comprehend. Accordingly, you’ll allow the sense of sorrow and fear to wash over you throughout.
This walking simulator was developed by Cem Boray Yildirim and published by GameDev.ist. Moreover, it is a single-player and first-person experience. The action is broken down into 3 acts, and every house and location has a story to tell. Notes, clues, and shrouded memories help you to piece together the mystery you are solving. Yet, it is the emotive-laced plot that drives you forward in this short and melancholy game.
Once Alive tells a great tale.
Death, despair, and apocalyptic scenes are nothing new. However, when these elements combine and the plot is exceptional, you get a moreish game that should be played by everyone. This is exactly what happens in Once Alive. The combination of incredible audio, beautiful visuals, and amazing dialogue keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.
You play the role of Jim. He is the older sibling to Daniel and the pair think they are the last survivors of a deadly pandemic. The world as we know it is over and death and destruction reign supreme. Yet, from the darkness, a glimmer of light and hope can be seen. A new home and salvation are promised and Daniel wishes to get a piece of it for himself. Though Jim begs him not to go, he leaves nonetheless. The story follows Jim as he tries to find his brother whilst solving the mystery of what happened in HaustVille.
Typical mechanics.
Though Once Alive is well constructed, it doesn’t break the mould. The core mechanics are genre-typical, and you will spend your time exploring small areas before moving on to the next. Furthermore, though there are some minor puzzle elements and some quick time events, these do not monopolise your time. Instead, they help to progress the wonderful story.
Though the familiar elements may lack originality, the execution of the ideas and the story are certainly unique. Moreover, the brilliant memory scenes and the well-written notes keep you guessing throughout. If I was to be picky, I wish more puzzles were included. There were plenty of opportunities to incorporate new challenges, but these weren’t taken. This was a shame as it would have increased the longevity whilst adding more mystery to the incredible plot.
Once Alive looks great.
Once Alive is a solo dev project! Though this isn’t unusual, this dev taught themselves how to code and write a game in under 3 years. When you look at the result of that work, you have to sit back and admire the outcome. The world is simply divine and the use of light and shadow creates breathtaking depth. Alongside this, the cinematic is great even though there were some issues with the mouths and lip-syncing. Additionally, some minor rendering issues would cause the game to hang momentarily.
The audio is a beautiful blend of danger and upbeat optimism. The soundtrack never dominates proceedings. Instead, it gently plays in the background to enhance the atmosphere. The acting is well-delivered and most of the cast perform admirably. These moments are complemented by realistic ambient sounds and sound effects. In short, Once Alive sounds and looks amazing.
Simple controls.
Walking simulators aren’t renowned for their complex controls. Luckily, Once Alive is no different. Consequently, you’ll master this in 5 minutes. Had the developer incorporated more QTEs, this would have been more challenging. However, this wasn’t to be and you’ll enjoy the simplicity and the haunting mystery that unfolds.
Sadly, this is lacking both replay value and longevity. Once you get through the roughly 2 hours of gameplay, there is no reason to return. Furthermore, there is only one ending, so you cannot change the outcome no matter how much you try.
Once Alive is a fantastic game.
Once Alive took me on an emotional roller coaster. Moreover, it is a truly beautiful game thanks to its stunning aesthetics. Yes, it has minor shortcomings, but these matter not. I wish it was longer and there were more puzzles and other aspects, but this wasn’t to be. Instead, I’ll patiently await the developer’s next project. If you love this genre, I highly recommend buying this game here! Is the end of the world nigh? Search for your brother, explore the village, and unravel the mystery.
