TESTING OUR SANITY: THE LONG REACH ANALYSIS!

TESTING OUR SANITY: THE LONG REACH ANALYSIS

The pixel art is on the agenda. There are many small, and not so small, studios that bet on this unmistakable style when it comes to shaping their projects. Painted Black Games presents The Long Reach , an adventure that will not leave puppet with head.

Testing our sanity: The Long Reach Analysis

The daily routine of our protagonist, Calvin , is more normal than everything that is about to happen in the fictional city of Baervox . It's Christmas, it's cold and living with your partner, Shelly , does not seem to live your best moment. There are times when, however absurd it may seem, the biggest problems we face are based on an unimportant discussion. Seeing the attitude of Calvin , it is not surprising that the first thing we see on the screen is a note from Shelly recriminating his attitude.

Without apparent concern for the reproaches received, the best we can think of is going down to a store in search of our favorite snacks . There is no denying that, despite the fact that this is a horror game, the sense of humor promises to accompany us during a good part of our adventure. However, things start to twist after five minutes ... And better not to reveal anything else. We are not facing a game too long, therefore, it is convenient to avoid any possible spoiler .

Is it real if you can see it?

The four members that make up Painted Black Games have opted for a combination that rarely gives bad results: terror and science fiction . As I say a little above, I would not dare to gut anything relevant, beyond highlighting the importance that Shelly , a renowned scientist, has in the history of the game. We, who place ourselves at the controls of Calvin , are not able to glimpse what is about to happen in Baervox . The evil, in most of the times, is born of the human being itself .

Shortly after the events that are about to surprise us, a trip begins with more questions than answers. Questions for which, surely, nor the culprits have the answers. The story that The Long Reach is not bad , is able to keep us in suspense until the last minute and has several of those moments capable of making us doubt what we see with our own eyes. Neither is that we are facing something that we have not seen in various exponents of the genre, but, despite this, manages to capture our attention until its outcome.

Accessible and effective

The Long Reach proposes an experience that is halfway between graphic adventure and survival horror , which is not far from what we can find in titles like Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut , Claire: Extended Cut or Distraint , among others. We move laterally to explore different scenarios, while we try to cope with the dangers -or run away from them- that haunt us and solve the odd puzzle.

We are not facing a very demanding title; in most cases we will not have too many problems to solve an obstacle and keep moving forward . However, its accessibility does not exempt us from considering any other situation in which, if we want to get out alive, we must bring out our ingenuity and, above all, be quick when making a decision. The game does not bet on combat, but, on some occasions, we can find sufficient means to defeat our enemies.

Although the tangible dangers do not abound in Baervox , our biggest enemy can become our own mind, and that is that the game is committed to an element that, personally, I have always liked a lot: the loss of sanity . I do not know if it is something random or pre-fixed, but, in some other occasion, the game has made me see certain things that have filled me with uncertainty. Small details designed to make us think we are crazy : reassuring visions, change of perspective and a couple of elements that you better discover yourself. Distinguishing reality from fiction is the main challenge proposed by The Long Reach .

As for the development of our adventure, there is no shortage of classic situations in which we must satisfy the desires of the various characters we are encountering. Nor do we get rid of having to search every corner of the stage in search of the right object , then combine it with others and / or place it in the right place. In many occasions the logic ends up being imposed and, as I said a little above, it is not especially complicated to advance. However, there are some moments in which the dialogue options, as well as the timing when executing an action, play a fundamental role.

One option to consider

When you have to decide whether or not to bet on a title, you tend to assess various aspects of it: mechanics, durability, price ... Common factors that we have all put on a scale on more than one occasion. Would you recommend The Long Reach to science fiction lovers? The truth is that yes. Painted Black Gamesoffers us a brief, but intense experience, which has some very accurate details. We are not before a title called to be placed next to the greats of the genre, but, nevertheless, it can be very interesting for any fan of horror games. Christmas will not come for nine months; You have plenty of time to hide from Santa Claus. [75]