Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between Reviews

I tried to like this, but it felt like what a teenager would think was profound.

i had one story. I could really feel it on an emotional level

[h3]A true masterpiece.[/h3] In of itself the game is art, which is hard to quantify in one's mind when you're wanting to know whether to play it. However, if you give this game the time and attention it deserves, and yes, that means eliminating all distractions for at least an hour, you may just find yourself in a magical, otherworldly experience that gives you the sort of vibes you won't find in many other places. [hr][/hr] [h3]Important:[/h3] One thing to note however is that it doesn't necessarily conform to the traditional ideals of a video-game. What I mean by that is that navigation is limited, your dialogue choices don't have any immediate impact and there isn't a whole lot to interact with. Despite these points, if you think of it as somewhat of an interactive movie, or something akin to a reflective journey - rather than a game in the conventional sense - you’ll find meaning in its quiet moments. Let's take the train segment for example; your dialogue choices don't drastically change the course of events, [b]but that's not the point[/b], because after you've had your conversation you get to sit alone in a quiet carriage to dwell on the ideas you just explored. It's the practise of giving purpose to these topics and intentionally engaging with them through thought that brings this game to life. If you play it as any other video-game, merely attempting to tick the boxes or complete the objectives (though there are none), then you are doing yourself a disservice, as you're not playing the game with the spirit it was created for. [hr][/hr] I can say with certainty that this game is one of my favourites of all time, if not at the very top of the list. Though I can understand some of the other reviews that refer to this game as talking to their "16 year-old self", or to a "Philosophy 101 student", I don't believe it's entirely fair. The topics explored in this game— [spoiler]accessibility, the nature of art, personal growth, love and friendship, privacy, the existential weight (or lightness) of life [/spoiler] and more—are deeply real and worth reflecting on at any stage of life; dismissing these themes as juvenile or overly simple assumes that these questions should only be asked once, rather than revisited and reinterpreted as we grow. I truly believe that if you can open your mind before you engage in this experience, and offer yourself to the in-game conversations in an intentional manner, you will come out of it a more thoughtful person in the very least. Be ready to put down that damn phone, challenge your presuppositions, and sink into the depths of this game. [hr][/hr] This review is not structured in a way that I am satisfied with, and I attribute that to how much the game rocked me. My mind is bursting with ideas and thoughts relating to everything covered in the game, and I can't quite seem to form a coherent layout for this. As such, I will simply end with: [b]Experience it for yourself.[/b]