GRIS: "Not a Word"
Posted: Monday January 21st, 2019
by Woody
Those of you that might be following my non-GU facebook page might well know that I've had a bit of a hard time emotionally lately. I'm an artist; it's a thing that happens. And in the midst of this roiling blackness I watched the excellent Kate Stark play GRIS from Nomada Studio.
The game is, in a word, beautiful. But, it neither starts nor stops there. If you allow yourself to invest in more of than the graphics and gameplay, GRIS serves as a powerful allegory for dealing with the various stages of grief. Now I came in at the tail end of the game, but I was subjected -in full- to Nomada's representation of depression. Maybe it was because I was still emotionally raw, but I expelled several weighted breaths in spite of myself.
I watched Kate play through to the end of the game, which is stunning. I sat there and consumed the screen while the game painted visual metaphors for acceptance and healing. Again, being emotionally raw, I could feel the lump forming in my throat and a certain distinct welling up at the corners of my eyes.
To be clear, GRIS made an impression. And I'd love for each and every one of you to experience the game either via buying it (recommended) or watching someone play it. Please though, if you DO watch someone play it, make sure they're invested in the story of the game not just treating it as a pretty platformer. I think you'll enjoy it more.
[ discuss ]
The game is, in a word, beautiful. But, it neither starts nor stops there. If you allow yourself to invest in more of than the graphics and gameplay, GRIS serves as a powerful allegory for dealing with the various stages of grief. Now I came in at the tail end of the game, but I was subjected -in full- to Nomada's representation of depression. Maybe it was because I was still emotionally raw, but I expelled several weighted breaths in spite of myself.
I watched Kate play through to the end of the game, which is stunning. I sat there and consumed the screen while the game painted visual metaphors for acceptance and healing. Again, being emotionally raw, I could feel the lump forming in my throat and a certain distinct welling up at the corners of my eyes.
To be clear, GRIS made an impression. And I'd love for each and every one of you to experience the game either via buying it (recommended) or watching someone play it. Please though, if you DO watch someone play it, make sure they're invested in the story of the game not just treating it as a pretty platformer. I think you'll enjoy it more.
[ discuss ]
[ top ]
- advertise on gu -
