Video games as a medium differ from other forms of digital entertainment in their interactivity. Being able to take on the role of a character and perform tricks that we would normally find impossible is what makes video games unique. However, there are some genres that don’t necessarily follow this tradition, such as titles that prefer to focus on a different and interesting story instead, in a way that replaces the ingenious mechanics of the games with this evolved narrative. Armature Studio is an excellent example, and after spending a few days with it, I have feelings of all kinds.
The story is about Whit through key moments in his life, but it doesn’t start like that. It begins with a severe storm that reopens a huge hole in the family’s ranch and their dog falls into it, so that Whit has to decide whether to risk his life to save the loyal animal or to let fatal fate instead. When he decides to save her, Whit plunges into the depths of the hole, and then the action follows Whit as he climbs to get out as we travel through memories of his past along the way.
Since Where the Heart Leads is a head-to-toe narrative adventure, the story is told through text and dialogue. You, who will be playing as Whit, will have to complete a variety of small tasks and explore short but varied levels to unlock the next dialogue, although it doesn’t turn out like a platformer. The intervals between new stories are short: you may need to go to the other side of the ranch or town, or even do an activity that prompts you to hold down a button to help build. The thing is, if you’re not a fan of reading, or if slower games don’t catch your eye, then Where the Heart Leads certainly isn’t for you.
However, this does not mean that the game is bad. Where the Heart Leads is a compelling story full of tension and intrigue. The connections between the different characters, the way they express and process the challenges and difficulties they face, all of this is incredibly interesting. Being in Whit’s shoes and having to make decisions about how to react to the ups and downs of the various characters’ lives is fascinating, and you should keep playing to see where the next chapter Whit and his loved ones leads to on theirs Life path.
Besides the fantastic narration, the design of the levels is really beautiful. Each of the locations is beautiful and brings a lot of character to the game. Whether we’re talking about the lush green fields of the ranch in the summer or looking at the deep mahogany orange of the fallen leaves of the trees in the fall, the design of the levels makes you want to explore the places just to appreciate their beauty. The Whit camera angle makes it a little tricky, though, although it helps accentuate the beauty of Where the Heart Leads.
This is mainly my biggest complaint about the game as it often doesn’t feel like it is a game. Between the lack of interesting mechanics and the awkward camera angle, which often makes it difficult for the player to develop a bond with Whit, one has an experience that in part suffers from a minor identity crisis.
I really enjoyed “Where the Heart Leads” and it has proven to be fascinating throughout, but it’s the kind of title that would fit the Nintendo Switch perfectly, like a game made for 30-60 minute intervals in the public transport is maintained. because it doesn’t need constant attention to be able to enjoy it. However, it’s a PS4-exclusive game, which means you have to sit in front of a monitor or television with the controller in hand to experience the “Where the Heart Belongs” experience. And for me personally it was often difficult to find the reasons for playing this and no other more interesting and interactive title than now.
All you need to know about Where the Heart Leads is that you will feel right at home if you are looking for an incredibly relaxing game that demands little from you as a gamer. If not, this game is not for you, even if the narration is interesting from start to finish and the level design is incredibly beautiful. Hopefully in the future we can see its debut on Nintendo Switch or even Xbox so we can take advantage of cloud portability and enjoy Where the Heart Leads more freely … wherever our hearts take us.
