Gris – Game review

HI beautiful people! My name is Sky Bambie and I am a part of the Hubient Talents. 

Today I will be doing my first ever game review!! Gris is the most beautifully captivating games I have ever played. I am now left with a hole in my heart, the same feeling that comes from finishing your favourite tv show.

I wish I had played this game sooner and would love any game recommendations of similar games!

Synopsis

The game is named after a girl called Gris, a girl who is going through the emotional aftermath of a painful experience. Whilst she has lost her voice you can also feel her fear, pain, and sorrow through the visuals, colour and soundtrack of the game.

You first meet her filled with colour, life and song that unfortunately fades away from her whilst a stone statue holding her in its hand crumbles from underneath her. She gracefully plumets to the ground with her colour and strength leaving her. You can feel her loneliness and pain with even her first steps of the game showing little strength and a heaviness trying to pull her down.

As she walks through you discover constellation like stars that help unlock new paths and abilities. The game manifests her fears and pain into the shape of ink-coloured birds that try to terrorize and deter her from continuing but you learn strength and courage through every step.

You will lead her through her journey out of the darkness and help reclaim her song.

Game play

Gris is a single player platform adventure game. It displays almost no text par from controls when a new ability is obtained but lead by a forward momentum with patterns and subtle visual ques that give guidance.

Most game play includes light puzzle challenges that evolve with each level.

The environments start from a windy desert to a forest that feels like you have walked into a studio Ghibli film then luminescent underwater caves and finally a sky castle.

Graphics

Be prepared for stunning visuals of a water colour oasis. The game starts off with a 2 toned colour palette that evolves with every level. You start off with red then green, blue, and finally yellow.

With each level passed you get a breathtaking visual of exploding colour accompanied with a slight emotional growth and strength from your character.

It was not only the graphics of this game that stole my heart but also the soundtrack. The only voice you hear in the game is when Gris gains back her song. But the lack of voice or text is not missed as the game is filled with a hauntingly beautiful piano-based soundtrack that gives emotion of melancholy and evolves along side her journey.

My final thoughts

A metaphorical game that explores the journey from grief and fear to gaining your strength and voice back.

The simpleness of the characters personality allows room for the player to project themselves on to the avatar and go through their own journey of healing.

I felt a lot of peace with this game and was left yearning for a sequel. It took me roughly 4 hours to complete, yes it is shorter than a lot of games but I still highly recommend you check this out!

Awards

Nominated – 19

Won- 8

Availability