REVIEW! Always Sometimes Monsters

Before i begin reviewing this i feel like i have some explaining to do (If anyone even reads my reviews). Ok so i was going to review Game of Thones at first and that took a while for me to get up to date but i realised that the narrative was way too complex to even comprehend explaining or even reviewing (Good series though). then there was the matter of Christmas, new years, my anniversary and getting ill. But i'm back now and this time it's a game review !



Always Sometimes Monsters

Always Sometimes Monsters is a decision based game. Every decision you make effects the next part of the story, i personally have always liked these kinds of games because i enjoy being able to play again and again and it will feel like i'm playing an entirely different game. recently i have been told that the game is unfinished and originally was supposed to go in much more detail which would have been nice. Anyway! Time to explain the plot!

SPOILER ALERT!!

Plot

We start our story in Larry's (A recruiter for a writing company) flat where he and the player will agree on a contract as he has faith in your writing skills. Before we go into the story i should explain that the character you play is dependant on who you (Playing as Larry) choose to toast with. Once Larry has agreed to toasting you are now the character (This is so confusing i know!). Ok as the new character you ask if he will wait while you go get your other half on the balcony. You go out on the balcony and can talk to (Almost) anyone out there. immediately they become your love interest. I cannot name the main characters you receive because you pick their names yourself. next up we skip to one year later.

One year later it turns out your life is a mess, you have not payed your rent, your landlord is keeping your things hostage, you never finished your book, your partner left you and you are now living on the streets. On top of all of this you just received a wedding invitation from your ex! Life is not good but you're determined to get to San Verdano to attend their wedding. On your way you encounter many game changing decisions, breaking the law, doing what you can to get by and again sleeping on the streets. At then end your actions determine what ending you get. so lets review the endings i have received so far.

MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!

My first ending:
I don't even know if this is a good or bad ending!

In my first ending i gave my old roommate my journal to pay off her debt to the casino. Told Larry (the scum sucking back stabber!) it was mine. Objected the wedding and from there on things got confusing. The homeless person we see at the beginning is the ex roommate. I chose not to shoot her. Then you see her signing books titled Always Sometimes Monster. This confused me, did she get off the streets? Is that My characters journal she's selling? Did her book deal fall through and now she's on the streets? how confusing!? anyway, after this me and the love interest go home and there is nothing i can do but play games.. End of the game? no idea. I didn't find this ending very satisfying.


My second ending:

I again gave the ex roommate my journal because i didn't earn enough money to pay off her debt. I stayed quiet during the ceremony and it turns out I was the homeless one. Again, not a satisfying ending.

My third ending:

I PAID OFF HER DEBT BY MYSELF! (I was so happy about this) So i didn't give the journal away. Objected the wedding, got the love interest AND the book deal! Still don't know if i'm fully satisfied with this ending because the ex roommate STILL ends up homeless!

Honestly i get that they are trying to portray that there is no such thing as a happy ending but i'm say here like.. WHY CAN'T LARRY END UP BEING HOMELESS?!


My review

Okay, well i enjoyed this game other then the unsatisfying endings but as i stated earlier i like a game i can play again to discover different narratives. I enjoyed the narrative. BUT! this game had SO much potential! I wish it was a longer game, there could have been so many different cities to visit before getting there and so many more plots to follow! I was told they never finished the game but why not? did they lose interest? motivation? money? gosh darn! Another complaint i have about this game is the warehouse part when you're putting boxes in the van. HOW MANY?! i did 99 on my first playthrough and he still complained! in my other playthroughs i just did 20 because no matter what he still complains. My honest opinion is the game was a bit pretentious at times. enjoyable on the first playful but playing it a second time makes me kind of feel like the creators had an axe to grind with society and a pretty grim view on people. Maybe they were just being imaginative or kinda... Deep?

I would give this game..
***
Three stars!!!

Quick question. Did anyone else think Markansas' girlfriend was a stripper? because i did! Even bought a VIP ticket to see if she was back there.

Until next time, guys!