Thomas Was Alone (TWA) is a beautiful game about friendship and A.I.s, told by a narrator while two-dimensional quadrilaterals move around various levels towards the end points. It is available on many systems for a small fee. I played it on the Vita, obtaining it from Playstation Plus for free (as it still is).
The gameplay of TWA is interesting. It's a puzzle game, where you have various blocks with various powers, and have to use them to get towards the exits, which are different for each block. The gameplay is fun, but it is pretty easy, and nothing truly original. No, the genius of TWA lies in it's narrative.
The story of TWA is beautiful and unique. Several A.I.s awaken, the first of them being Thomas, who becomes their leader. Thomas, Chris, Laura, John, and Claire, the characters you end up with after the first third are interesting in their reactions and actions towards one another. How they act, even though they are not super developed characters, is important and affects the player. The way the story is told, with small made up quotes before each section, and with a narrator reading about the conversations and thoughts being had within the game between the characters is done nicely as well.
Spoiler paragraph. This paragraph will have spoilers based on things within the game, up until the end. You have been warned.
The second act, introducing James and Sara, is also interesting. In it Thomas and the others work to release the other A.I.'s into the universe and sacrifice themselves to do so. Other characters appear, and can pass through certain elements to get the powers of some of the original group. This is interesting, and rather fun. The quotes reveal some about the "emergence," or the release of A.I.s into the word. It's actually emotional, despite the blocky shapes of our protagonists, they feel like people.
Spoilers end.
The art in the game, while minimalistic, is pleasing, and allows you to easily play. It is entirely consistent, and mostly just well made strait lines. The music is good, and fits the relaxing pace of the game perfectly.
All in all this is a great game that should not be missed, despite some elements of repetitive gameplay. I give it 8.75/10.
The gameplay of TWA is interesting. It's a puzzle game, where you have various blocks with various powers, and have to use them to get towards the exits, which are different for each block. The gameplay is fun, but it is pretty easy, and nothing truly original. No, the genius of TWA lies in it's narrative.
The story of TWA is beautiful and unique. Several A.I.s awaken, the first of them being Thomas, who becomes their leader. Thomas, Chris, Laura, John, and Claire, the characters you end up with after the first third are interesting in their reactions and actions towards one another. How they act, even though they are not super developed characters, is important and affects the player. The way the story is told, with small made up quotes before each section, and with a narrator reading about the conversations and thoughts being had within the game between the characters is done nicely as well.
Spoiler paragraph. This paragraph will have spoilers based on things within the game, up until the end. You have been warned.
The second act, introducing James and Sara, is also interesting. In it Thomas and the others work to release the other A.I.'s into the universe and sacrifice themselves to do so. Other characters appear, and can pass through certain elements to get the powers of some of the original group. This is interesting, and rather fun. The quotes reveal some about the "emergence," or the release of A.I.s into the word. It's actually emotional, despite the blocky shapes of our protagonists, they feel like people.
Spoilers end.
The art in the game, while minimalistic, is pleasing, and allows you to easily play. It is entirely consistent, and mostly just well made strait lines. The music is good, and fits the relaxing pace of the game perfectly.
All in all this is a great game that should not be missed, despite some elements of repetitive gameplay. I give it 8.75/10.
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