I understand that and I'm glad that you seem to understand why I and people like me enjoy it.
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Did you enjoy Gone Home? (spoilers)
- Thread starter Kater
- Start date
I understand that and I'm glad that you seem to understand why I and people like me enjoy it.
I went in after hearing so many people gush over how amazing the story was. Within about 10-20 minutes I pretty much knew how the story was going to play out, and was just going through the motions for the rest of my ~3 hours. The exploration interface was well-designed, but I was hoping the story was going to go the horror route, whether paranormal or criminal. In the end it just felt like a lot of examining every tiny detail with very little payoff. And the main storyline ended up being the least interesting part. The mom and dad's histories were more interesting, though they still didn't really seem to come to any satisfying conclusions.
In short, I kept waiting for some horrific twist, but it never happened. The unfortunate side-effect of a game that can't be properly described without spoiling it.
In short, I kept waiting for some horrific twist, but it never happened. The unfortunate side-effect of a game that can't be properly described without spoiling it.
The main character is still Sam, the family around her are just pawns to get her story moving, that's why they weren't fleshed out.
No, not really. I appreciated the intense attention to detail in a small chunk of real estate (reminded me a lot of Shenmue), and the story was very original as far as games go, but I need some kind of risk/reward and/or some kind of puzzle-solving or strategy-finding and/or reflex-testing to keep me engaged.
bananafactory
Banned
When I try to evaluate it like a typical game, I don't find it really does anything exceptionally well in terms of visuals, gameplay, etc.
But playing through this game in the middle of the night in one sitting is an utterly unforgettable experience that put me on a rollercoaster of emotions and nostalgia. I will never forget the day I played Gone Home.
Growing up in the late 80s/early 90s definitely is a factor for me, there was so many incredible things in the house that I had completely forgotten about since my childhood. I also thought the way the family's story was told through the combination of diary entries and observational clues was clever and engaging.
In short - yes, this is one of my favourite games of the past few years.
But playing through this game in the middle of the night in one sitting is an utterly unforgettable experience that put me on a rollercoaster of emotions and nostalgia. I will never forget the day I played Gone Home.
Growing up in the late 80s/early 90s definitely is a factor for me, there was so many incredible things in the house that I had completely forgotten about since my childhood. I also thought the way the family's story was told through the combination of diary entries and observational clues was clever and engaging.
In short - yes, this is one of my favourite games of the past few years.
Prototype Viktor
Member
I enjoyed Jim Sterling enjoying Gone Home
princemarth23
Member
Not really. It was mildly interesting but didn't live up to the hype at all and I didn't find the story satisfying.
m_shortpants
Member
It was a one of a kind experience. Don't think I'll play anything like it ever again. I thought it was amazing, puzzling together what transpired was incredible.
bananafactory
Banned
The Iron Yuppie
Member
I liked it. Enjoyed the atmosphere, all the nods to 90's pop culture. The VHS recordings of X-Files were a nice touch. I went in blind and loved the story, even if it as fairly cliche.
All that said, I completed everything in about an hour plus 45 minutes and for $20 that felt a little light. I'm not one to quibble over length and pricing normally but any reasonable person would agree two hours is a very short game this day and age. $20 is asking a lot for a two hour story, a good story no doubt, but also one that doesn't lend itself to much replayability.
Edit:
I had most the story beats called long in advance. The tension leading up to going into the attic and what you might find in there was well done even if it worked well because it leans on a unfortunate trope in LGBT stories. The side stories involving the family were also very good, maybe made more enjoyable because you had to work to piece them together yourself.
All that said, I completed everything in about an hour plus 45 minutes and for $20 that felt a little light. I'm not one to quibble over length and pricing normally but any reasonable person would agree two hours is a very short game this day and age. $20 is asking a lot for a two hour story, a good story no doubt, but also one that doesn't lend itself to much replayability.
Edit:
Someone asked about her reasons for stealing stuff and leaving the home. I do remember in one of Sam's monologues she came out to her parents, the mother cried and rolled out the old "You haven't met the right boy" excuse and the father never said anything. So the folks weren't particularly supportive, it makes understanding her choice to run easier.
Loved the story, I didn't enjoy the gameplay as much. I felt this disconnect with the incredibly touching story and the creepy, going through my mom's sock drawers gameplay.
Good game none-the-less, but I think the gameplay itself could have been adjusted in a way to make more contextual sense with the tail they wanted to tell.
Good game none-the-less, but I think the gameplay itself could have been adjusted in a way to make more contextual sense with the tail they wanted to tell.
ToyMachine228
Member
I went in knowing nothing at all about the game. Bought it during the Steam sale. I was blown away. I thought it was incredibly well done and deserving of praise. One of my favorite games of the year.
I can only speak for myself, but it definitely spoke truly to a lot of the despair and triumph intrinsic to being queer in a place that doesn't accept it.
Dr Campino
Member
My girlfriend is playing this right now for the first time, and after
, she figured out the main story bits.
She very much loves this game, though. She also adores Journey and Flower and Flow, so this is right up her alley.
It's also interesting watching someone else's first playthrough.
the audio diary involving hair dye and the note on Katie's door
She very much loves this game, though. She also adores Journey and Flower and Flow, so this is right up her alley.
It's also interesting watching someone else's first playthrough.
Muscle Wizard
Banned
I liked how they handled the substory where you find out the dad was molested by his uncle when he was young and he's been struggling to come to terms with it.
One element of the substory I really liked since I know someone in real life who has gone through the same shi*. The dad was quite an interesting side character.
DICKS AHOY
Banned
My problem with that is in comparison to other side-plots like
the father's failed book writing career
SPOOKY GHOST UNCLE
Sam's discovery she's lesbian and her parents subsequent discovery
Having a character come to grips with their sexuality doesn't mean you're damning it, but especially given they're a teenager Sam just felt to almost instantly accept she was gay and moved on instantly, which I don't really buy given how socially anxious and awkward everything else seemed to be about her from what you discover. So then you figure the parents finding out will have led to something interesting, but while them simply dismissing Sam's coming out as 'a fad' is realistic, having them immediately afterwards go on a marriage retreat and effectively leave the plot also felt... Weird. You find the books early on about dealing with teenagers and other tons of hints her parents are having major issues connecting with Sam, so them just leaving after she comes out to them, whether they accept it or not didn't gel with what had been set up beforehand. Again, felt like Fullbright didn't want to potentially offend people, this time with characters more brazenly homophobic.
Like I said earlier though, I feel the way the game TELLS you all this is really effective and I quite like the game overall, even if I feel its progressive elements aren't as strong as a lot of reviewers made them out to be.
Sounds like me, honestly. If you discover that you are gay you don't panic, but you maybe say "Hey, I guess I'm gay!". And of course her family denies it since they are, as I already said, very conservative and they want her to be just like them. Bad parents.
NotoriousPUG
Member
I'm glad I played it. I would never give it GOTY due to having non existant gameplay, but as an experience it's pretty top notch.
I guess when it comes down to it, I echo your sentiments. I feel like if the game didn't approach this specific social issue with its story, it would have been largely overlooked and/or forgotten.
Basileus777
Member
It was ok, but not worth full price. The game is better conceptually than in practice because the writing isn't particularity good. The game is little more than a novelty at present, maybe someone will take the concept and put a better written story and characters into it and do it justice.
DICKS AHOY
Banned
Oh totally, but especially given the '95 context (didn't Fullbright say they chose this year since they felt it was the last year before the internet made everything far more hyper connected?) you'd expect Sam to have way less of a potential support network somebody coming out nowadays would.
Maybe that was her friends work, I don't know.
Lonnie probably helped her get comfortable with herself like my first ex-friend did.
By just telling her that it's okay.
I thought it was great, but definitely not life changing or anything. The hype train got out in front of it and elevated it to heights that expectations couldn't match for some people.
I really enjoyed its length, more and more games throw in a bunch of padding, seemingly to check a box of some sort. Short games aren't bad.
I really enjoyed its length, more and more games throw in a bunch of padding, seemingly to check a box of some sort. Short games aren't bad.
OneEyedKing
Member
It was the second best game of last year in my opinion.
Made me cry so hard at the end
Made me cry so hard at the end
So, you completely already knew how the game's story was going to play out, yet you assumed a zombie or a ghost or some crap was going to pop out and murder you?
To me that would be an indication that you did not in fact know how the game was going to play out.
i loved it. it was beautifully designed. lots of really bold and elegant choices that came out of the resources available. gone home doesn't try to be more than what it is, and i can really appreciate it for that.
regarding the story elements, i think there was at least one person in there to relate to. sam's struggle isn't really about
there's a lot of dealing about acceptance and what that means from person to person. it's something i could relate to more than a story about the bonding between a man and his surrogate daughter (or something). i could see myself more in these characters.
regarding the story elements, i think there was at least one person in there to relate to. sam's struggle isn't really about
being gay and finding acceptance more than it is about her finding out who she is.
renegade_dewitt
Member
Nostalgia paired with an emotionally charged story made it very memorable to me. The detail that the devs put into each object also added to the realism and sense of immersion for me. Great game with great pacing. I loved it!
Actually, I thought it was clever that the way they told the story was interesting even with the audiolog format. The journal entries exist diegetically, but the way they are presented to us in a non-diegetic way. Presumably you could play the game without audio logs and you might still be able to piece together what happened between Sam and Lonnie, but if not, basically all the audiolog entries still exist in the attic (i.e. the last item you interact with that ends the game) to fill you in. You are still getting the general idea of their relationship even just through the artifacts you interact with (e.g. their back-and-forth notes, etc.), though I'm sure the audiolog recording/diary entry serve mostly as context for the artifacts.
Also regarding Sam's plot, I would argue that even if Fullbright didn't have LGBTQ characters as part of that plot, it would've been interesting to everyone nonetheless. I think there's something more elemental to the two of them that definitely transcends sexual orientation. You don't have to be a teenage lesbian girl to not relate to Sam. Sure, I might not have fully understood all the implications of that (except the obvious broad strokes) but there's definitely themes than anyone else can relate to, that people would have likely experienced in a relationship that mirrors the one Sam and Lonnie went through, especially during their teenage years, even removed from all the 90's nostalgia.
Yes, thank goodness people are making that connection rather than jumping onto the "well I'm not a lesbian woman so ...?" train immediately.
Storm Breaking
Neo Member
I fell into the "not a fan" category. From a gameplay standpoint, I felt like it just retreads old the tried and true "pick up the pieces of the story" puzzle that you find in a lot of RPGs anymore. Stuff like the Randall Clark story in Fallout: NV is much stronger from a narrative perspective, and more emotionally satisfying, but thats just one example. Even games like Skyrim have little stories you discover from books and journals that are on par with what you get from Gone Home.
Before I move on, I have to admit that the atmosphere of the game is really good, even if it's a cheat of sorts because
. All the 90s references, with the VHS tapes and SNES cartridges add depth and realism to the house, and the secondary stories are much stronger than the main narrative, as you are actually forced to connect the dots and not just listen to a voice over narration explain what's going on.
Which, brings me to my other problem with Gone Home,
I hope that didn't sound like a rant, I didn't mean for it to.
Before I move on, I have to admit that the atmosphere of the game is really good, even if it's a cheat of sorts because
scary ghost uncle is just a red herring
Which, brings me to my other problem with Gone Home,
which was the LGBT story at the center of the narrative, that never quite clicked with me. You can't just put lesbians into a teenage love story and expect magic. Lonnie is not a well defined character. I suppose you're seeing this all from Sam's perspective, but not enough goes into making her interesting or three dimensional, which is a problem because because Sam, as we find out, runs away with this girl after stealing everything in the house that isn't bolted down and running off in her parent's car. I don't see the point of that ending, Sam throws her budding writing career away to be her girlfriend who technically went AWOL. The beauty of young, naive love? The best thing that happens to them is Kaitlin getting home early and discovering this mess, and hopefully finding her sister before things really get out of hand. Maybe this is a sign that I'm getting old, I'm siding with the parents against the love stuck teens.
There's also no indication that her parents are especially religious, or abusive. They are just in denial and distant, so it's hard to see Sam's only option as running away forever. It seemed silly, and if the ending in any way suggested that this is a foolish venture of young love, i would have appreciated it more. But the way it ends, it feels like it's really on Sam and Lonnie's side.
As has been suggested on this very topic, reverse Lonnie's gender, have her be a rebellious teenage boy who gets into fights and seems to perhaps be a bad influence on Sam, and I tell me the story would have still been considered great. It only works because there is a certain buzz around LGBT relationships right now, the game gets a pass that I don't believe it deserved because of this.
I hope that didn't sound like a rant, I didn't mean for it to.
I'm a big fan. I loved stepping through each and every new door, wondering what I'd find on the other side. I'm a huge sucker for "explore this mysterious old house" stuff. Really dug all the 90s nostalgia, too.
I was interested to read that so many people disliked the "is there something supernatural happening" vibe, which was actually one of my favourite parts. I loved the way the game kept making me second-guess myself. You never actually see or hear anything that couldn't be easily explained, but you still find yourself questioning it. Really clever, I thought.
I was interested to read that so many people disliked the "is there something supernatural happening" vibe, which was actually one of my favourite parts. I loved the way the game kept making me second-guess myself. You never actually see or hear anything that couldn't be easily explained, but you still find yourself questioning it. Really clever, I thought.
clifftrapremover
Member
I didn't like Gone Home at first. I'm not an 80s kid, not really a fan of the first person adventure game genre but after 10 minutes this game had me hooked. Sam was a breathe of fresh air and I related to her story on a more human level then a literal one. I rarely get so absorbed by a game but Gone Home pulled it off. It was a bit pricey but I'd buy it again.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
I was born in 1980 and was a 90-s teenager, so the nostalgia trip really hit home. I also felt the game was one of the very few games I've played with an actual meaningful and gripping story.
AcademicSaucer
Member
i played it on youtube, so i cant really tell, but as a story, it was fine i guess
revolverjgw
Member
The main story and its theme was good but I wasn't terribly affected by it. But I LOVED the atmosphere and exploration and sense of place and time, and the little glimpses into the various characters' lives. That alone made it a great experience for me. Now that I think about it I'd like to break into somebody's house and go through their shit, it would be fun.
definitely
I think it's alright, I love the attention to detail and I enjoyed exploring the house. I didn't get quite attached to the characters, it feels like I'm too busy stitching together the background story of the characters and the game is a bit short, so the story didn't really do much for me. The horror elements were a bit distracting at first because I didn't know what direction it was going to go. In short it felt like I was playing a character with amnesia.
Reading back through the thread, and I have the answer! I remembered this aspect of the narration pretty well, and she was indeed outed to her parents. They took it exceptionally poorly, telling her it was a phase and banning her from being together with Lonnie with so much as a room door closed. Zero respect.
Yeah, I haven't outed myself wrt to being bi yet, but things already kinda exist in an uneasy state of being trans and the subject of dating being a potetial minefield. Who is to disappoint the conservative-leaning parents of a trans woman more: dating a boy, or a girl?
