Developer: Everything Unlimited Ltd.
Publisher: Everything Unlimited Ltd.
Rrp: £6.99 (Steam), £8.49 (Humblebundle)
Released: 1st October 2015
Available on: Steam and Humblebundle
Played Using: Mouse and Keyboard
Ordinarily I’d put something here to try and give you, the reader, a artistic vision of how I saw the game or a thought process I was having while playing. But this is one game where I really can’t do that. It’s also the reason that for this game there isn’t a video, because it was impossible to do one without spoiling something important.
The Beginners Guide was created by the creator of The Stanley Parable, Davey Wreden. Davey also happens to be the narrator for the experience. The thing about this game is that it’s not so much one game but many small games. Although there are many people out there that would likely not call any of these games ‘games’ because there’s no win condition. This is an argument I’ve heard many times and, while I understand where they come from, I have to disagree… but this isn’t the place for that discussion.
Davey (the narrator that was previously mentioned) speaks to you throughout the game, he fully admits that these games are not his but are ones a friend created.
This begs the question; is that true or just the conceit of the game? And if it is true doesn’t that have some quite serious legal ramifications? To be honest I already made my mind up about the question, and the answer is simple; its entirely a work of fiction. Think about it, why would the creator of the hugely successful Stanley Parable plagiarise someone else’s work? Exactly, they wouldn’t.
Graphically the game looks a bit on the dated side but when taken in context with the story (which, again, I won’t tell you, sorry), it makes sense and is an artistic choice. Even so, what’s been done with that old engine is quite impressive.
Final thoughts time!
Umm… well, I think its safe to call this game ‘meta’, but not in a hack the game sense. More in the sense that it’s concepts go beyond the game itself. Again it’s nothing I can tell you about without running the experience. I found it an interesting experience but its not one I’d play again in a hurry, definitely a one shot.
If this appeals to you perhaps try;
The Stanley Parable
Among the Sleep
Firewatch
