Locations and settings are important to video games: they determine the atmosphere and guide choices like language and music. Some of the biggest and most popular games are set in a dystopian future or feudal Japan, but not many are set in a Russian monastery in the late 18th century.
Indicawas developed by Odd Meter and published by 11 Bit Studios, and released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 2. It is primarily narrative-driven, meaning players follow a storyline rather than deciding for themselves what to do.
The protagonist is the titular Indica, a young nun who has monologues and conversations with a voice in her head. When the game begins, it's not clear who or what that voice is, or if it's just a voice in her head or a malevolent force.
After playing for a while, I've summarized my experience and why below. Indica Might be worth a try.
Arthouse Gaming
On first impression, the most intriguing aspect is the artwork chosen for the cover and promotional materials: the poster depicts a veiled old woman laughing maniacally at a young woman, with yellow accents in the background.
It's an intriguing film that feels straight out of a Russian or Eastern European movie from the 1950s or 1960s, which was no doubt the intention of its creators.
Game cover or poster art is usually pretty simple: if the game is set in space, you can expect to see spaceship battles and guys floating in zero gravity, if the game is set in the streets of a big city, you can expect to see cars, guns, and all kinds of quirky characters.
IndicaThe artwork in is a perfect complement to the gameplay experience, with many unexpected choices in camera usage and focus – a tried-and-true technique in film but rarely seen in games. This, mixed with the eerie setting and intriguing conversations about religion and the meaning of life, makes for a densely storytelling adventure.
Unconventional
It's story-driven, so gameplay is about enjoying the story, not making a huge impact. That said, it's not like you're watching a movie play out while occasionally typing in commands. Quite the opposite.
Indica Gameplay is not one-size-fits-all and ranges from old-school pixelated levels to chore simulations. In some levels, you have to travel to another fractured universe and the only way to get back to the real world is to pray.
That being said, the various stylistic changes are fun and keep things fresh, but nothing particularly revolutionary – they're there to serve the primary purpose of moving the story forward. Experienced in isolation, they're nothing special, but taken together as a single game, they make for a cool and unique experience.
verdict
There's a lot of innovation in gaming, and it's always fun to play new groundbreaking games that offer leaps in graphics and mechanics, but what keeps players coming back is the strength of the story.
Games with great stories don't always come from AAA studios – some of the best story-driven gaming experiences have come from indie studios over the last few years. Indica I like how they manage to combine different methods to deliver an interesting story.
This is a game with adult themes. Conversations and encounters can lead to death, and some even make you question the purpose of life. For adult gamers who want a game that doesn't require too much input, but still has a fun and unusual experience, Indica Let's try it.
Updated: May 31, 2024 6:02 PM
