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Aug. 15th, 2020 08:33 pmI've at last completed (one pathway of) the main plot in A House of Many Doors! To give an idea of length - it took about 25 hours all told, which is a few more than strictly needed to get through the central mystery but still many short of having completed all available content. That's not me impatiently waving it off altogether; I intend to keep playing to hoover up everything I can and left myself a save to jump back to accordingly. It's just been years since I first cracked this game open and I wanted to get to see the Orchard for once and find out what ending had been awaiting me this whole dang time.
The short and spoiler-free version is that this game is now firmly on my favourites list. Some occasional clunkiness in the gameplay is more than made up for in rich story-telling in which you are an active and colourful part, supported by a cast of extremely lovable characters. The sometimes tedious travel-time component became much more bearable once I found myself a steady supply of Fetch Mirrors, and the barely tolerated combat improved after I refitted my kinetopede into an unstoppable skittery juggernaut. These were easier milestones to reach than in Sunless Sea and for that I am grateful. Once it got out of its own way, the game truly flourished.
Honestly, every time I remember it was written and coded by one person on Failbetter funding I boggle; and a fair nod must also be made to the atmospheric foundations laid by the art and music, which were provided by two other individuals on a Kickstarter budget. It's such a mighty effort from such a tiny team, and it provided some of the most profound narrative satisfaction I've felt from a game in a while.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up and a note that it's about $15 on Steam.
The short and spoiler-free version is that this game is now firmly on my favourites list. Some occasional clunkiness in the gameplay is more than made up for in rich story-telling in which you are an active and colourful part, supported by a cast of extremely lovable characters. The sometimes tedious travel-time component became much more bearable once I found myself a steady supply of Fetch Mirrors, and the barely tolerated combat improved after I refitted my kinetopede into an unstoppable skittery juggernaut. These were easier milestones to reach than in Sunless Sea and for that I am grateful. Once it got out of its own way, the game truly flourished.
Honestly, every time I remember it was written and coded by one person on Failbetter funding I boggle; and a fair nod must also be made to the atmospheric foundations laid by the art and music, which were provided by two other individuals on a Kickstarter budget. It's such a mighty effort from such a tiny team, and it provided some of the most profound narrative satisfaction I've felt from a game in a while.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up and a note that it's about $15 on Steam.
