so, I just played this game. it's called 'Loved' by Alexander Ocias
and...honestly, this is one of THE most deepest games i've ever played.
but HOLD ON
before you play this game, be very careful. it's intense. it’s amazing. but I wouldn't suggest playing if you have a past history of abuse or manipulation
LINK: http://ocias.com/loved.php (please tell me immediately if the link is broken!)
(fyi this is not an advertisement or anything of the sort. i just wanna share my thoughts on the game.)
so for those who don’t know, this game is a platformer in which you play this little creature
this game plays on obedience
the narrator of this game begins by asking your gender, regardless of what you choose, it will misgender you for the rest of the game. (if you're sensitive to misgendering then don't play :0 ) then it asks if you need the to know the controls of the game if you answer
Yes: "You are not deserving of it."
No: "You will fail."
then the narrator starts ordering you to do tasks.
when the orders happened, I felt such a weight with it. It’s heavy. I am really gross playing keyboard games, so I failed lots of times and at some moments I started panicking. the further I went, the more anxious I became.
In the beginning, when you disobey, it’s easy, but you’re consistently insulted. you get called horrible things by the narrator like, i.e, ‘horrible creature’, ‘disgusting’, and the like. The game progressively gets harder the more you disobey. the world becomes more vague. you begin seeing blocks of color and certain things began unidentifiable on the formerly black and white pixelated world. it's unsettling.
Defiance becomes a challenge, and you’re berated horribly when you do defy.
I played through and disobeyed every task asked of me, and it was incredibly difficult.
"Why do you hate me."
"I loved you."
However, obeying in the beginning is rather difficult, given there are more barbs and obstacles. one of the orders basically tell you to kill yourself, too
But by the end, the game is much easier if you simply obey. and instead of insults, you get praise. the world is more clear and detailed. and at the ending (if you choose obey them), the narrator again asks if you're a boy or a girl
Boy: "No, you're a man"
Girl: "No you're a woman"
"I loved you, always."
my theory is that the game is a representation of an abusive relationship/parents but i want to hear your guy's thoughts first
again, It’s a strong game, so be careful.
I promise, though, the messages of it will stay with you for the rest of your lives
so...