The video game industry in Europe continues to surprise us year after year, and today’s video game is just one more example of the talent that resides in our country. Hand in hand with Selecta Play and Calathea Game Studio, comes this first-person narrative adventure that fully immerses us in the life of Henry, a forest ranger with Alzheimer’s disease. Throughout the adventure, Interior ashes presents us with different puzzles with which Henry will have to reconstruct his memories.
We could compare this video game to experiments like that of call of the sea, at least when it comes to the artistic and playable section. Although, of course, in Calathea they managed to give it enough personality. Our colleague Kevin has already been able to taste it in the Tenerife GG, leaving it with a very good taste in the mouth. In my case I must say that I also liked it, and although it does not reach the levels of other titles in the international scene, it is undoubtedly a very pleasant game and of a fairly long duration contained. Stay and I’ll explain why!
The weight of the story
From Interior ashes It is an experience supported entirely by the story that Calathea intends to tell us. And the truth is that it suits him very well given his message and the (to a lesser extent) playable part. The Spanish studio focuses the first-person adventure on Henry, the aforementioned forest ranger, who must gradually regain his memories due to the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. With him, The objective is to offer the player a vision as close as possible to what would be the daily life of those who suffer from this disease..
During Henry’s career, we will discover other characters, such as Enid (his daughter), or Joseph, a collaborator who will become one of his main supporters. The game also delves into the complicated father-daughter relationship, as well as Henry’s past. For this, dialogues between the different characters are used, reinforced by comic-style vignettes in some cases. At other times, these dialogues unfold as we explore the sets.
But that’s not the only way Calathea immerses us in Henri’s life. Cleverly, many other messages are integrated following articles, letters and brochures. Some of the latter have to do with the treatment of disease, while the most symbolic are the typical notes written on “post it notes”. A daily resource for those beginning to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, offering extra help in remembering those little day-to-day things.
Inner Ashes bets on simple mechanics
Henry’s adventure begins in his own home, where we will be able to interact with various elements that will provide information to the player as the story progresses. The axis of all this is the book that Enid gives to his father, and which is in the office of the house. Following this, we will travel to the settings in which Henry must find his memories.
The controls appear at all times in the upper left part of the screen, so in this sense it will not be a problem for those who are not used to playing video games. Even so, the interaction is limited and the mechanics quite simple. We can pick up objects hidden in the environment and examine them, while the rest consists more of what is commonly called a “walking simulator”.
Once the initial puzzles of each scenario have been solved, scenarios which also have their own symbology, we will finally arrive at each memory of Henry. By following a kind of luminescent orbs, called “forget-me-nots” (like the flower), we will manage to access each memory, and this will be where we take one last step before we get the memory. This last straight line consists of solving one last enigma in the strict sense of the term, since it involves fitting pieces of different shapes into the assigned spaces.
In short, it’s a fairly affordable experience for all types of gamers that focuses more on reaching the player through storytelling rather than complex gameplay. Of course, I would have liked the “sprint” for Henry to be included, because he’s not the most agile around.
A dubbing more than worthy of our country
If there is something that stands out in Europe at the audiovisual level, it is the fantastic work that is done in terms of dubbing. Video games were not going to be less, and in the case of a “made in Europe” title, it must be emphasized. Certainly, the voices are at the height., either in the protagonist or in the case of secondary characters. With the exception of some dialogue where the sound effect seems a bit clunky, these feel well integrated when playing.
On the other hand, the soundtrack of Interior ashes It fulfills its function to accompany us at all times and to bring its grain of sand to the decor. It is present from the start menu, and is not necessarily too noticeable. The notes of an acoustic guitar are more than enoughpartly reminding me of game music like life is strange. For the rest, do not expect a too deep sound section, because Interior ashes neither do you need it to achieve your goal; Tell your story and raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.
That’s why you should play it
Interior ashes It is a very original proposal in terms of theme. Never before, at least to my knowledge, has a disease as severe as Alzheimer’s been treated with such delicacy and good taste. The good people of Calathea not only emphasize the protagonist, but also remind us of the damage generated around the sick. Details such as post-its as a reminder, or brochures and letters informing about the evolution of the disease, help even more to situate the player.
It is a fairly simple game, with a contained duration, so if you are also one of those who have little time to play, this will be useful for you. Simple gameplay, very neat narration and its art section are more than enough arguments to give it a chance, as well as a reduced price (which also helps). I wish the game had a graphics option, or at least it was a bit more polished in terms of the controls, because it feels a little rough in that sense.. Even so I have to say they don’t weigh down the experience too much, for what you get with it I think it will more than live up to expectations.
Interior ashes
Pro.
- Fantastic dubbing in our language
- Simple and intuitive gameplay, depending on what the experience offers
- A neat story to deal with a subject as sensitive as Alzheimer’s disease
Contra.
- Clumsy controls
- There’s a pretty noticeable blur effect, missing a bigger video game polish in that aspect.
I’ve traveled to worlds you’d never believe, only to end up with enemies that defy mysticism. I felt my pulse quicken with each battle, and the sigh of someone who knows they will have to get back up. There’s always a villain waiting and an adventure around the corner.
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