Dear Esther Review (PC)

By Will Harlan

Dear Esther is in the uncanny valley of video game nominalism. It is debatable whether or not it constitutes an actual ‘video game’. As a fair warning to the “die hard gamers” out there, Dear Esther is a story-telling game. There are no achievements to win, puzzles to overcome, enemies to blow up, or other players to teabag — there is nothing outside of the text.. er, story. As such, Dear Esther might not be for you so feel free to stop reading this review now.

 

Prepare yourself for a unique experience with Dear Esther (photo credit:PC Advisor)

When a game challenges the definition of what a ‘video game’ is, it usually is a key indicator that some exciting experimentation with the medium is happening. Dear Esther is an experimental story-telling adventure game. The term adventure is to be used lightly, as Dear Esther does not simply let you endlessly free-roam around with no holds barred. However, Dear Esther is not meant to be approached with a simplified concept of a “rail-roading” game. While sure, the majority of the game does guide the player along a pretty designated path there are avenues to explore which add to Dear Esther’s atmosphere, story, and aesthetic. The game is not trying to be a game to rapidly draw the player to an end, rather it is a game of means and process. Dear Esther brings out empathy, melancholy, and sorrow through the atmosphere it expresses. As such, the way to approach Dear Esther is not to try and rush through to the end of the game. Rather, the process of reaching the end should be slow and ponderous. The game compels players to think and feel — not blindly run through the levels without taking moments to sit and receive the aesthetic brought on by the music, dialogue, and visuals.

Should I Play It?

    The game is beautiful. Its story, music, and (definitely) its visual design work flawlessly to produce a very memorable experience. I do not wish to go into much detail of the story, or how the designers’ aesthetic choices perfectly mirror the story’s direction. To do so would risk ruining an incredibly breath-taking, emotional experience which is not to be found in many other places. Dear Esther is for those who are patient and willing to have gaming conventions challenged, and who long for a game that provokes feeling on a level comparable to Eliot’s Prufrock. It will not be a favorite of many ‘hardcore’ crowds of gamers looking for a challenge, and it doesn’t need to be. If you’re willing to take an experimental plunge, however, Dear Esther is going to be for you. My only criticism is that it is a bit pricey ($10), but the actual look and feel of the game shows you exactly where that $10 went.

Though I’d like to refrain from posting a numerical score to represent its experience, I understand certain things are necessary in a review. Keep in mind this ‘number’ comes from an obvious fan of experimental gaming.

9.0/10