Quite literally.Īlthough I wouldn’t classify the game as belonging to the horror genre, there were moments that pushed it as close to the borderline as it could get.
As you venture on, Kay will encounter menacing dark monsters and uncover memories revealing the reason for their existence, finding the determination to right the wrongs of her past and restore calm to the corrupted storm that overshadows her world. You journey as Kay, a young woman mysteriously transformed into a dark shape of her former self, with nothing but a glowing light and a speedboat to help her traverse the flooded city that looms deep below the sea. While minimal features and a noticeably short playtime (I managed to beat the game in less than four hours) offers an experience that is almost fleeting, its tragic story and heartfelt message leaves an everlasting impact. It envelops a highly mature and nuanced depiction of mental illness through gameplay that is simple and symbolic. Jo-Mei Games’ latest project, Sea of Solitude, is a prime example. When it’s done right, however, you’ll feel rewarded with so much more than just a completed playthrough. Incorporating these real-life themes into an interactive story is a daunting task for developers, as the traumatic and harrowing situations caused by mental illness must become the experience of the player. To be fair, when such a sensitive topic is represented through a commodifiable form of entertainment, it’s easy to see why.
Mental health is a precarious subject for video games to tackle.