Have any of you played this game?
The impact it had, the topics it hits on, it's absolutely amazing. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you haven't played it, and are ok with hour-long walking simulator games then I really suggest you play it, and don't read these comments.
If you had, what are your thoughts on it?
I played it yesterday morning, basically as soon as I knew Wryden made a new game I wanted to play it. It's...different, but interesting. It really made me think and that's not something games do often. I still think about it. What it boils down to without spoilering too much is that it is a very personal story about serious topics. Not that that's never been done before - it has - but not in the form of a game and not this well crafted.
To me, this game felt very much like playing through a documentary, which is definitely not a bad thing. It's interesting to see how it differs from other interactive fiction games like Gone Home, or even the Stanley Parable, as there is basically no weight actually given to the choices that the player makes (to the degree that there even are choices). The story will progress exactly the same way every time, and the actual gameplay is really only there to reinforce the narrative. For me, this is a strength of the game, and one that makes the narrative much more compelling than if this game was, say, a movie. Particularly, the moments of surprise when you uncover something in the game without narration (or even something that contradicts the narration) are some of the most powerful in the game, and definitely got me more invested in the story. Overall, a really solid game, and one that I'll probably be replaying soon.