Translated by
Microsoft from Russian
Microsoft from Russian
Product received for free "Never Ending Night"-amazingly stylish, conceptually fragmented and playable broken project people with a great sense of taste, but slightly kryvorukimi in the use of available resources. It is Difficult to say exactly what to think about this game because of its balance in all aspects, but I will try to put everything on the shelves.
The First thing to note is the obvious – a chic visual component. I Think there will be no controversy about the fact that with all the minimalist and abstract environment and appearance of the characters, the game looks great. Dark tones in combination with light of different colors create the necessary impression, driving the atmosphere of mystery and beauty. The Atmosphere is facilitated by sound. Suitable to the mood more calm music and pleasant sounds that do not cause complaints.
And What causes criticism is, of course, total non-observance of the atmosphere in integrity. Visual and sound design looks great, the plot is mysterious and symbolic, manages to present all new fascinating images. But, unfortunately, the characters here are also inclined to speak. I will Not lie, the game would have liked me much stronger, if all the actors were just silent, or dialogues were spelled out the appropriate literary language. But no, in dialogues and descriptions of objects there is a continuous Petrasyanschina: they often interrupt, speak slang or, even worse, memovym language, swear by a mat and joke below a belt. And I would not say a word, whether it is the quest of the early 90s, but here it literally destroys the whole atmosphere, creating the impression of a plitvatelskogo attitude. Of course, it is a taste, but nothing else hints here on the playful tone of the narrative. If The events were backed by a healthy share of absurdity, or at least thoughtful jokes, without the participation of black humor is not in the subject, I would understand and accepted, and so...
About The game process can be said the same. On the one hand, there are two types of gameplay. For the "bearing Lantern" and "Knight". The First is a contemplative platformer-puzzle with small elements of action, where you can illuminate the path and raise objects by force of thought. Here are dialogues in the theme, and bizarre characters, and unusual places. The Second-the purest platformer-action with elements of role-playing game, where you can find and buy items and abilities. In words not bad, in fact-the management and physics of objects killed, the pain is inconvenient, and platforming works through the Times, preventing the jump because of some surfaces. In General, all this is really interesting to play, but all these problems really prevent the game to enjoy.
And also there are strange bugs: with physics, with "not killed" opponents, with no prospect. I Will be honest, because of the strange glitch with the camera, I could not normally go through the history of the "carrying lantern", since, starting from the flying ship, the camera suddenly began to allocate such forteli that with great difficulty it was possible to understand what is happening at all. Then all the objects of the fog disappeared, and the camera focused on the background, although the cut-scenes were not, the camera will be right in the face of the character, and through a solid black completely invisible road. Just a few times it was also during the game for the "knight", but only in certain areas where it was not always necessary to go. In General, it is a mess and does not allow to hang in the game for a long time.
Anyway, "Never Ending Night" is really a twofold product. It has an atmosphere, but it is not respected in all aspects, there is an interesting and addictive gameplay, but the bugs and oddities of control do not allow them to enjoy to the fullest. However, even in this scenario, it is a fascinating experience that can be advised to experience. Probably, in the future will fix at least bugs, and then this product will definitely get out of the category "Well do not know..." In "rather yes, than not"...