The peaceful reflective nature of the premise is in stark contrast to the faulty action game it tries to be at other times. I’m impressed with how much Jason Oda was able to create on his own, but in this current state, the core concept is lost. It’s such a shame because with a bigger budget and a clearer idea of what sort of experience he wanted to present to us, Waking could have been something truly special.
Waking
Jason Oda · Jun 18, 2020
About
WAKING is an emotional action adventure set in your own mind as you lay in a coma. Will you give up to the forces of darkness and softly descend into death? Or will you prevail using the only weapons you have: your most treasured memories and the people you love?
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- 5.0Waking has almost convinced me that I’m not very good at reviewing games, because it is so difficult to convey what it’s about and how it plays. I’ve taken more time than I normally would thinking about this game and how I was going to explain and grade it. It’s definitely an unenviable, uncomfortable position that I find myself in because indie developers live or die by reviews.
- As long as you are entirely truthful and lay bare your soul to the title, Waking is by far the most deeply personal, deeply moving experience in video game history. It goes beyond other emotional games and explores tailor-made themes that are most important to each individual. Words do the experience no justice, and watching someone else’s let’s play means little to viewers. Waking is a game that must be experienced firsthand, so long as you are emotionally strong enough to handle everything it throws at you. If you are not currently depressed or suicidal, please play Waking.
- 6.0Perhaps with a couple of in-depth quality-of-life updates, Waking can be something special. For now, the reality is its unique narrative is held back by some fundamental design oversights.
- 4.5Waking genuinely feels unique, and I think that's pretty interesting. Not many games manage to hit this level of genuine innovation anymore. However, that doesn't mean it's a good game or that it's worth playing outside of intellectual curiosity. For all the things I liked about Waking, there was far more that failed to grab me.
- 7.0Waking is a game that attempts to be two very different things, and for the most part, it succeeds quite well. If you’re willing to devote a little bit of time to learning its quirky systems, you’re in for a potentially rewarding experience. An experience which encourages you to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and go back into your memories.
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