Avis sur Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End

One of my favorite game of all time

NOTE: this review encapsulates my thoughts on the series as a whole (succinct; light spoilers) Hello Charlotte is one of those games that finds you when you least expect it, or at least when you need it the most. It dives deep into the tresses of your mind and vice-grips your soul, pulling it out from the monotony of a mind that has been conditioned to live so quickly; so heedlessly. Taking on the role of a ‘Puppeteer’ in a fourth dimension, the player is made to fathom everything happening in this dystopian universe, witnessing countless injustices such as slavery, inhumane testing, careless disposal of life, bullying, self-harm, suicide, exploitation, mass murder, political upheaval, parental neglect, and the loss of free will. The game begins with an introduction to a tender young girl with an oddly strong sense of compassion and benevolence despite living in a desolate, lonely world. Her surroundings feel bereft, and the people around her appear strangely empty or harsh. It was as if her very own home were a laboratory-prison. The peculiar reality that she had a ‘puppeteer’ controlling her every decision was both disturbing and disheartening. Her bright personality was really the only thing that illuminated the darkness of such a setting. Everything was abnormal. the absence of parents; mention of a mother and father that never appeared; the ambiguity of her cohabitants was unsettling. The gruesome experiments and dissections carried out by doctor Huxley, Aiden’s shape-shifting, the basement, Felix’s insouciance, the hazmat-suited assistants, the brainwashing and kidnapping, the constant appearance of someone called the “umbrella man” with no fixed physical form… She is expected to follow rules implicitly, and appears to be unfazed by everyone's unethical antics. Anri, her only friend, exploits her kindness despite being the only outsider that showed any semblance of a genuine persona and physical distinction. The people outside were equally as unsettling. The rigid conformity–almost hive-minded state of the students, with dismembered, decapitated, or amalgamated sentient bodies making occasional appearances. I write this review on behalf of the entire series- From the first game to the last, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll end it with this. Hello Charlotte is a magnificently written game that exposes the harsh truth of what it’s like to live in the margins of life. It expounds the life of a young teenage boy struggling with mental illness and the implications of living with an unstable parent–an unstable sense of self. It brings to light the experiences of so many people struggling with autism, dysphoria, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety.. A lot of the battles we often cannot see. These invisible, silent struggles that so many people face.. It is so validating to see it expressed so rawly and artistically, and it’s hard not to let the characters pull on your heart strings. Did I mention that the art style is beautiful, too? The soundtrack is amazing, and with every demoralizing event comes very bleak humour that is sure to somewhat get your spirits up (hah).. But the tragic life of Charles.. It is so well told, and as Etherane had mentioned, this story is clearly a story she holds dear to her heart. I could especially understand as much when she mentioned it was largely based on her own experiences. To be lost in yourself, and to find peace through your own creations, it truly is a beautiful thing. “What kind of creation am I if I can’t ease your burdens?” -Q84