Night in the Woods Review
Games such as Gone Home and Kentucky Route Zero are great examples of how creative-types can use games as a unique way to express themselves, and their stories; one which is different from how traditional conventions (such as films or books) likely ever could. Their audiences are no longer confined by the stories told. They can poke, they can prod, and they can discover/interpret the messages these creators have buried in a multitude of different ways. Characters can react differently based on the scenarios the player puts them in, scenarios can change, and outcomes are influenced by player agency. Alec Holowka, Bethany Hockenberry, and Scott Benson have become masters of using games as a medium, and came out the other end with something special - Night in the Woods.
It isn't too often that you come across a game which has a strong blend of art direction, style (styyyyylllleeeeee), story, and characters - often times, it feels like having a surplus of one means a compromise in another. Night in the Woods (NITW) is overflowing with each, but never to the point of being overwhelming. I would go so far as to say that NITW takes most of these attributes, and proudly sits atop a proverbial throne among its video game peers.
The writing manages to be clever, quick, cerebral, witty, and the exact-right-kind-of dumb all at the same time. It is funny, but it is affecting; it makes you think, but it makes you shake your head at its absurdity. You always want to know what happens next, because each character feels fully realized. You care about what your friends have to say; how they will react with what you say to them; if you can repair some friendships; if you can charm the quiet guy into being open; what happened in your character's past; et cetera. NITW never lays out its story in a way where you can intuit what is being hidden, and that is to its credit.
I won't spoil any part of the story here, because that is 90% of the reason to play Night in the Woods. The short, spoiler-free version is that you play a college dropout named Mae, who has come back to her hometown to try and figure her life out. You spend your time with her figuring out what it means to cross into adulthood, reconnecting with old friends who may have moved on from you, and encounter a few mysteries along the way. Oh, and all of the characters are anthropomorphized animals; but, for all intents and purposes, they may as well be regular ol' people. I don't want to give anything more than that; but I will say that the last act-or-so of NITW is extremely strong. It does not overstay its welcome, and its emotional last hour had me completely glued to the game.
I cannot express just how much I am in love with NITW's art style. This goes for the character art, and doubly so for the environments. There are dream sequences which use a colour palette which is among the most striking visual design I have ever seen. It conveys everything it needs to, and does so in a way that left me taking screenshots to send to people accompanied by incoherent messages basically trying to say "LOOK AT THIS!!!" The sound acts as a perfect counterpart to this beautiful art, with the soundtrack making itself known; but never taking center stage (apart from the rhythm game minigames, and certain parts of the dream sequences). It has a certain lo-fi quality that I love, but branches out to something more produced and polished in the appropriate moments.
There is one slight caveat for my love of Night in the Woods. Though I know this game as a perfect fit for me, I am also cognizant that it may not be so great for everyone. For one, it is a very slow-paced game. There are no platforming sections with intricate timing, there aren't really systems in place for intense combat, nor are there any explosions. It is a very chill game which is best served by exploring - finding all of the possible scenarios you can encounter, and exploring them to their fullest potential. It's the talking parts of Mass Effect distilled down to their essence. Again, I know that that may not hold appeal for everyone; but it was exactly what I was hoping for.
The number of games I can think of which made me rethink parts of my own life can be counted on one hand for me; but I count Night in the Woods among them. There are few greater pleasures to be had than having someone's writing make you think "huh... I'd never thought about that." NITW aims to challenge you, but is never preachy about it. It wants to entertain you; but it also wants you to feel at home with its fantastic world, and unique characters. This game is completely worth your time, and I am extremely excited for what is next in store for developers Infinite Fall.
Eeeeeeels.
