Developer: Hiding Spot
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Verified
Rrp: £15.49 (Gog.com and Humblebundle) £15.99 (Epic) £16.75 (Steam)
Before I start this I have to make it clear that this game was funded through Kickstarter and that I was one of the backers. While I will do my best to not let this affect my feelings towards the game there is still the chance it may.
Beacon Pines is a game about a rural town and the secrets of its past, its also a game about making choices. As the game puts it “A single word can completely change the outcome.” You play as Luka VanHorn, a young deer boy (everyone in this game is an anthropomorphic creature) as he attempts to untangle the history of his little town.
This is a game about choices, as you play you’ll attain ‘charms’, these charms are a single word that can but used at specific moments in the game known as ‘turning points’. Turning points are where the story can branch depending on what charm you choose to use. Usually the first time you encounter a turning point you’ll only have one charm to use but as you continue to play you’ll find more that can change the situation. That’s what’s so unique about this game, there aren’t many turning points but you can always go back to a past one and try out a charm you found (assuming it fits). In you playing of this game you’ll hit many endings, most of them being of the bad variety, but with each ending you the player will learn more about the story.
I absolutely loved the writing in this game, each sentence felt emotive and the characters were really fleshed out. It helps that the general aesthetic of the game really appealed, I’ve always been a sucker for a game that chooses to use an unusual artstyle.
It’s not often I feel sad after finishing a game, but something about this game makes me wish I could play it all again for the first time.
—-
If you’d like to support me I’ve recently made a Ko-fi, the reviews will continue to be posted donation or not.
