Stories tend to be powerful because we fill in the gaps. Whenever there are mistakes, there is an opportunity to guess and create a purpose. Some of the most successful games understand this—Photo by Colossus is not only fascinating for its large beasts, but also for a story where nothing is completely explained. News and Smoke works on the same basis: Some of the best moments in video games are the ones we provide.
In News and Smoke, available now on PC and Mac, you play as a custom in a cave. A certain kind of crime has been committed, and you may be able to return to the community depending on what happened in the cave. The catch is that there is another person there with you: another. Who are they? Well, that is still unclear. Are they your best friend? Are they classmates? Is it just an experience? News and Smoke
What I love about it News and Smoke how it differs from experience from player to player. There's not much to do. You can wander into your small part of the cave and talk some more. Sometimes, apparitions seem like you can talk to them.
Depending on "gameplay," you go to select options for conversations about who you are and what you did. But I never believed that gameplay was about the actions the player got into. Our minds wander as we play games, and that's part of the gaming experience. Doing what is meant for understanding and emotional reactions is just as important as anything else.
Everyone has regrets. News and Smoke
Surprisingly, playing 20 minutes can provide me with a powerful and surprising experience, one with enough aggressive room to determine the specifics of my story. Games provide great landscapes and spaces for you to explore, which doesn't necessarily mean climbing all the mountains on Skyrim. Sometimes it is you and your shadow in the cave. Well done, that doesn't feel like the whole world.