It’s not a relatable story, filled with esoteric scientific and literary references, but the key themes of loss and regret pierce through the player with every step taken. The environments are breathtakingly expansive, backed by an atmospheric, wistful soundtrack that perfectly echoes the existential reflections of the narrator. The simplicity has led to many arguing that this isn’t even a game (except that it is, of course), and yet the simple exterior hides a deep and intricate set of systems that ensures the experience is a uniquely thought provoking one for every player.īecause even though Dear Esther is nothing but walking, it is captivating all the same.
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There are no people to talk to, no items to collect, no conflict of any sort and no written text. It’s a game with a dense, rich premise backed by incredibly simple gameplay. Things are just a little bit off: there are mathematical and scientific diagrams carved into cliff faces, pillars and trees seem a little too orderly for them to be naturally occurring and the protagonist narrates a vague backstory about some people he once knew, including the mysterious Esther.
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This is a game which requires multiple playthroughs and yet never tells you to do so it’s a game which invites itself into your mind and forces you to think about it, and I would wager that even people who have completed and enjoyed the game on first release might find something new in the Landmark Edition.įor those who aren’t familiar with Dear Esther, the title first saw light as a mod made from Half Life 2, featuring a lonely protagonist walking through a Hebridean island.
![dear esther limited run dear esther limited run](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1636/3569/products/Blasphemous_Original_Soundtrack_1024x.jpg)
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I’d done two runs of Dear Esther on PC before and yet, when playing through again and listening to the developer commentary on Dear Esther: Landmark Edition, it became readily apparent that I have not properly played Dear Esther. It is with these assumptions that I came to Dear Esther: Landmark Edition, seeing re-release on the PS4. Related reading: Our review of the PC release of the game from back in 2012. And as perhaps the first “walking simulator”, most players will likely write off this game as a cultural footnote compared to titles which have used ideas from this game to tell much more potent stories. Perhaps the game’s brevity and linearity fooled players to thinking it is much simpler than it really is.
![dear esther limited run dear esther limited run](https://www.supergabygames.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dear_Esther_03-1.jpg)
To everyone out there, have you played Dear Esther? I would assume most of you have – the prolific surrealist piece developed by The Chinese Room is still a free download on PC’s and almost necessitates a name drop in every “Games as Art” conversation.