ELI RATES THE GAMES
By KCOW Weekend Warrior and Resident Madman Eli Smith

Indie game developer Benjamin Rivers released a game earlier this year that caught the eyes of a few critics, but really didn’t cause too much of an uproar on the indie games scene. This game is obviously no Minecraft, Fez, or Braid, but it certainly has a charm of its own– an experience that is well worth it for the whopping price of three dollars. This game is simply known as Home.

Home is an interesting game…as you play through the storyline you find yourself discovering a few strange things, among them your own somewhat beaten appearance and signs that people were hurt all over the first area. As you continue to explore, bodies start popping up all over the place. During this whole period your character has no memory, making the signs around you even more interesting. The storyline is nothing overly special; it’s  something you would expect out of a horror game. “Home” is more a game of exploration, and if you make the effort to find additional items you will not be disappointed with the results. You find yourself backtracking through a few short areas you couldn’t get to the first time, because you found an item that might help you out later on, and if you use that item to get to a new area the mystery continues to grow. That being said, this gameplay might be boring to certain gamers who are used to the action packed titles of today. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that the game is only about an hour and a half long. Despite that fact it may take a few playthroughs to acquire the best possible result, making this game around five hours long depending upon your willingness to try again.

The sounds are rather well crafted for a three dollar game. The game suggests that you turn off the lights and put in a pair of headphones, and provides a lot of sounds that work well with the darkened ambiance. Those who are easily spooked might want to avoid this title, but the horror is subdued by the game’s graphics. “Home”  was created by one  man–an indie game developer who decided to go with a retro look for the game, as the characters and items are all pixelated. The graphics are rather charming, giving the gamers who play this piece some fond memories of the past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To conclude, Home is a three dollar horror game. People will be turned off by the lack of action and the fact that it is very short, but I encourage you to give it a try anyway. It may not look like much, but the game still gives you a sense of intrigue and is well worth the three dollar price-point. To throw in a little bonus at the end of this review, if you end up buying and playing the game yourself share your own story below in the comments section. It is encouraged to do so at the end of the game, as there are a few branching paths and you must come to your own conclusion with all the evidence you found. Download it off of Steam and tell me what you think below.

Next game review: To The Moon
A fascinating tale following the adventures of two individuals as they grant the wish of a dying man.