Thoughts On: Actual Sunlight.

Part of me has always been fascinated by the depiction of depression in various forms of media, especially when considering how personal and unique it is for each and everyone who has been unfortunate enough to have suffered from it. In the years that I've visited mental health support groups on the web and the countless websites offering help and advice, I've realised how personal an individuals life with depression can be, it's a condition that never manifests itself the same way for each and everyone that faces it. Yes there are some standard symptoms but on a mental level I think we all experience depression in a very different way from each other. Through all this I think I've found the way video games portray depression the most interesting of all. The latest experience I was forwarded to is entitled Actual Sunlight and is a short interactive story of love, depression and the corporation. Written by Will O'Neill, it has recently launched a beta version of a 3D reworking of the game using the Unity Engine. which is free to check out for yourself. A 2D version is also available for $5.

Actual Sunlight is an interesting experience to say the least, much of it's content can be a little tough to take in if you've never experienced the pain of having anger issues, feelings of worthlessness and depression in the general sense, but much of what the tale of Evan Winter covers is something all human beings experience. It's clearly written by someone who hasn't just faced depression first hand, but still battles with it each and every day. At times the story is subtle, leaving you to put the pieces together yourself and it never feels particularly preachy either. That said it's one of the more interesting takes I've seen that covers these inevitable difficulties we face in life, whether we want to or not.

There are parts of Evan's story that will touch a nerve and the developer is forward in telling you that it covers many mature subjects which some might find difficult. There is an auto-biographical tone to Evan's story which might rub some people the wrong way to, especially when you consider what I previously said about life with depression being such a personal experience, I couldn't imagine being able to tell my story in the same manner. Some will find it's tone and tale a little rough and overly negative and I'd understand a dislike for Actual Sunlight, but I'd argue that that isn't the point, it's not a tale of total rehabilitation, it's a tale of one guy's struggle through life and in that regard I found it a rather fascinating experience.

We're not dealing with a self-help guide here folks, more like one guys experiences with mental health issues and how he perceived the world around him, and most importantly himself. From an outsider looking into the life of Evan Winter things can seem overly negative and downbeat, but if you've ever dealt with depression than that's exactly how it feels. The sky is continually grey, you never stop telling yourself that you're a worthless piece of crap and for some, suicidal ideation is an all too familiar neighbor. It's no fun and in my personal opinion that's what Actual Sunlight captures so well. It's an interesting insight into another individuals battle with depression, loneliness and struggle to cope with modern life.

It won't be for all tastes, yet there's part of me that smiles in the knowledge that games like these are still developed because there just another fine example of how varied and captivating the video game format can be in regards to telling a story or getting your message across. It's an often forgotten area of video games we all to often choose to ignore, however they continue to linger and for good reason because at the end of the day, it's games like Actual Sunlight that help many sufferers get their experiences across in a way they feel truly expresses the battlefield that is modern life. If I've at the very least captured your interest, then please check out the Actual Sunlight website where you can download the Actual Sunlight 3D open beta or choose the original 2D release available for $5. The game can also currently be found on Steam Greenlight, liked it why not show your support for the unique title.