nrvalleytime
Member
I'm just a little ways into it at the moment, and it's wrecking me. Just absolutely emotional in ways a game has never made me feel.
Review embargo has ended.
Review embargo has ended.
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Without breaking the review embargo, anyone else playing That Dragon, Cancer?
- Thread starter nrvalleytime
- Start date
dugdug
Banned
I imagine you're already kinda breaking it by posting this, so, I'll just ask: how much religious content is in it? I'm apprehensive to play, just because I know it'll be devastating, but, I'm worried the religious stuff might turn me off a bit.
Nothing wrong with him being unashamed of his faith, I just don't agree with it, so, I'm worried it'll take away from my experience if it's heavy.
Nothing wrong with him being unashamed of his faith, I just don't agree with it, so, I'm worried it'll take away from my experience if it's heavy.
SuitedforGaming
Member
Never heard of it before right now. I guess ill have to check it out.
KenzinFive
Member
Giving possibly one of the most intensely personal games ever made a freaking review embargo seems....really off to me.
"This man made a game about his young son dying of cancer."
"That's so sad. ...So what did it get on MetaCritic?"
"This man made a game about his young son dying of cancer."
"That's so sad. ...So what did it get on MetaCritic?"
nrvalleytime
Member
There's no embargo on general discussion. I'm just wondering if anyone else is playing it and if they're experiencing it in a similar way.
Also - my outlet doesn't give scores, but impressions.
And to answer your religion question, I'll wait until the game's been released to follow-up there. It was part of the demo experiences of the past, so you can draw your own conclusions from there.
See above.
nrvalleytime
Member
There's actually a reason for this - the release date was announced not too long ago, and I imagine the press they've been receiving from sites like Wired this week are making the reviews go a little later.
I can understand a site working on a long piece and then realizing their introspective thoughts don't matter since everyone's reviews are suddenly available. Seems courteous for both sides.
It's certainly not an easy experience. But it's the kind of intimacy games have lacked for a long time - some stories deserve to be shared. That's humanity.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Um is there where I can find the hidden negro presets?
Vipershark
Member
Is this still coming out for the Ouya?
nrvalleytime
Member
This is no way violates that embargo. I'm asking if others are experiencing it the same way I am, and looking for general reactions from those lucky enough to have early access.
Nothing spoiler related or even close to what would be un-kosher.
giant_frying_pan
Member
Will play once I get my Kickstarter key.
dave is ok
aztek is ok
As someone with a 1 year old son, no fucking way am I playing this game.
Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
I played a demo of this at PAX a little over a year sgo.
The bit I played was incrediably emotional and I remember after I played it, the developer (father) asked me what I thought. Talking with him, it was obvious this was a deeply personal game. I didn't know at the time it was a game he and his wife there had made as an expression of losing their 5-year old to cancer. I think having briefly met them will make playing this harder for me, but I'm in.
The bit I played was incrediably emotional and I remember after I played it, the developer (father) asked me what I thought. Talking with him, it was obvious this was a deeply personal game. I didn't know at the time it was a game he and his wife there had made as an expression of losing their 5-year old to cancer. I think having briefly met them will make playing this harder for me, but I'm in.
User 479360
Banned
I wish that I could play it, but also know that it would probably be very emotional and hard for me due to personal circumstances.
The game seems like a very strong and memorable experience, but I don't know if I can run it.
The game seems like a very strong and memorable experience, but I don't know if I can run it.
dugdug
Banned
Looks like embargo's up.
Doesn't seem like the kinda game that will get an OT or review thread, but, here's a couple reviews out there:
Eurogamer: Recommended
Destructoid: 7.5/10
Polygon: "It may change you."
The Verge: "a fearless reveal of the private moments of a family, one grappling with the unimaginable."
Feminist Frequency: "a deeply moving new game about grief, hope, and love."
Pixel Dynamo: 8.3/10
Doesn't seem like the kinda game that will get an OT or review thread, but, here's a couple reviews out there:
Eurogamer: Recommended
Destructoid: 7.5/10
Polygon: "It may change you."
The Verge: "a fearless reveal of the private moments of a family, one grappling with the unimaginable."
Feminist Frequency: "a deeply moving new game about grief, hope, and love."
Pixel Dynamo: 8.3/10
"A vividly beautiful renactment of a dying childs life cut short by an impossible and eventual illness... seven point five out of ten"
Piston Hyundai
Member
anyone else having trouble with
at the end
Seriously, though, I didn't realize there was anything going on with religion in this game. I may have to check it out.
the boss fight with the dragon
Seriously, though, I didn't realize there was anything going on with religion in this game. I may have to check it out.
Thanks. I read the reviews from Eurogamer and Polygon.
The Polygon review was actually really well done, I recommend reading it.
malboroking
Banned
The guy who made this game had a son who had cancer. The game was developed as a sort of catharsis, and to express the feelings that he was going through. It wasn't like they were brainstorming ways to make us cry and decided to go with a kid dieing from cancer.
FriedConsole
Banned
What is the stance? Like most people I only consume media I agree with.
Already Torn
Banned
That's super weird
That "8.3" seems like a punchline after all the other pull quotes haha
meltingparappa
Member
"An honest, gut-wrenching experience that may serve as equal parts catharsis and harrowing frustration on what life chooses to give and what it choose to take."
Messofanego
Banned
Thanks for reminding me to buy it.
diablos991
Can’t stump the diablos
I'm eager to play it.
I don't mind the religious narrative as much because this is the story of a family and that family's journey. If religion happened to play a role then so-be-it.
In the end I just hope the work is something Joel's family is proud of and hopefully it helped them cope with their loss. Thankfully that family is kind enough to let me share that experience.
I don't mind the religious narrative as much because this is the story of a family and that family's journey. If religion happened to play a role then so-be-it.
In the end I just hope the work is something Joel's family is proud of and hopefully it helped them cope with their loss. Thankfully that family is kind enough to let me share that experience.
nrvalleytime
Member
Adding to OP.
I understand how this is a coping mechanism for the parents by remembering their son by creating something beautiful in his honour and I hope this does not come across in the wrong way but its an experience I never EVER want to partake in.
Dont get me wrong im not being cold, I was welling up after watching the trailer as a father of a 3 year old boy and now a 5 day old baby girl. I feel terribly for anyone that is forced to deal with situations like this and it seems like it is downright impossible to cope. I admire the strength for them to even attempt to make this but for me to play this would be downright torture and it would not make me feel any better/worse for the family because I already know how much of a nightmare it would be for them.
Dont get me wrong im not being cold, I was welling up after watching the trailer as a father of a 3 year old boy and now a 5 day old baby girl. I feel terribly for anyone that is forced to deal with situations like this and it seems like it is downright impossible to cope. I admire the strength for them to even attempt to make this but for me to play this would be downright torture and it would not make me feel any better/worse for the family because I already know how much of a nightmare it would be for them.
nrvalleytime
Member
Congrats on the new one. To be honest, the shared community we have with these creators as parents might be exactly why we should play these games. We know what it means to love something beyond ourselves, and it's that love we experience in TDC.
I really can't recommend it enough, but it will make you evaluate your life.
The polygon review addresses the religion part of this game, I would recommend reading their review. But essentially it boils down to the wife finding solace in it, and the father struggling with it. They say that it doesn't come across as preachy/trying to convert you, more like this is how these two people handled their grief and pain.
The review embargo is already up. We're tracking it on OpenCritic: http://opencritic.com/game/2126/that-dragon-cancer
7 reviews in, though more than half aren't scored.
7 reviews in, though more than half aren't scored.
Messofanego
Banned
I love this website.
It's so exciting to see thoughtful projects like this rising to the surface.
Exploring real-world humanity with an unflinching eye is so refreshing for this medium.
I want to take this game on, but I really need to be in the right head-space.
Either way, I'm so happy it exists.
Exploring real-world humanity with an unflinching eye is so refreshing for this medium.
I want to take this game on, but I really need to be in the right head-space.
Either way, I'm so happy it exists.
Ditto.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
Looks like an incredible production, but my son is two years old and is the most precious thing in my life. I don't think there's any way I could make it through this game.
A coworker told me about this game last week. I was surprised I hadn't heard about it, as he's not a big video game player and I'm, well, on NeoGAF right now. Anyway, I watched the trailer on mute (at work) that day. It got to me without even having sound. I'm not sure I want to play such an intimate, heartbreaking game. But I will.
Rated-Rsuperstar
Member
Played through it last week. Get ready for a lot of pancake parties.
dugdug
Banned
This makes me feel better about it. I'm not religious, so, I was worried it could sour my experience. Thankfully, it doesn't look like it will.