I remember when the idea of videogames telling well written and heartfelt stories was seen as laughable. Now though we are treated to some many wonderful stories, amazing writing, performances, etc that we should feel spoiled. Fall of Porcupine is another in that list.
So, here I am again telling you about a game with a fascinating story that I don’t want to spoil. Thus, I won’t touch on any of the story content at all. As you need to discover it for yourself. But here is the brief intro…
You take on the role of Finlay, the newest junior doctor in the town of Porcupine. You meet a varied cast of characters, some lovely locations and be part of an evolving story that involves discovering some hard truths about the health industry and the people you meet along the way.
There is a lot more to it of course, but I feel you need to find out through your own experiences what happens and how it all intertwines.
If you’ve played games like Oxenfree an Night in the Woods, then you’ll feel familiar enough with aspects of the gameplay. Walk around, meet new friends, have conversations, learn new things, move the story forward. With that though, you as a doctor also need to deal with patients, again finding out what is wrong in conversations. However, you do then need to treat then, which is done via various mini-games.
Now, I can hear the groaning from here. I did the same at the though of mini-games in what is an emotional journey. But Fall of Porcupine actually does a good job of making the mini-games feel like they belong and also fell in context with the game.
Fall of Porcupine is a cozy and wholesome game, there is no denying that. However it does touch on some sensitive subject matter, as well as make statements about our own world. This could come across as preachy, even if you agree with the message. Thankfully though, here it is done well and shows that you can write ‘divisive’ content well. Look, I only say divisive, because some will see it that way.
Interestingly, I played Fall of Porcupine like it was an episodic game. Getting to the end in about twelve 45 minute – 1 hour sessions. It does a really good job of giving you points in which you feel comfortable quitting for the day before picking up again.
Also, the art direction and soundtrack in Fall of Porcupine are wonderful. There is a sort of papercraft mixed with pastel drawing look to the game, which makes every scene and every character come alive. Everything just pops from the screen. Whist the soundtrack provides amazing atmosphere, acting as the ribbon that ties everything together perfectly. So much so I stumped up for the ‘Save the World’ edition to get the artbook and soundtrack.
I’m not going to tell you that Fall of Porcupine is the best game of all time, heck, it’s not even the best game of the year. But it is a game that I feel everyone should try. It is far from unique, but it plays to its strength incredibly well and it is a game that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
