Condominium Story is a brief, cinematic recreation on Steam that feels at first like a life simulator, however corrupts the home fantasy with a risk, an intruder, and a gun. It begins out all enjoyable and video games as I assume the function of Arthur, a man with no plans for the day and no cash in his checking account. As Arthur, I discover my house, which is a comfy little place, and notice I’m hungry.
I’ve only some must handle: Thoughts, Starvation, Hygiene, Sleep, and Rest room. Taking good care of all these wants is easy. I put together myself bowls of cereal, smoke weed, and jerk off. Sometimes, the telephone beeps with some new message about Arthur’s monetary scenario, and sadly, it’s dangerous. So it’s an aimless, mildly anxious day. Then a pal gives to swing by and share a pizza.
It’s initially of day two when every part goes to hell; there’s a stranger in Arthur’s lounge, which is now completely trashed. Smoking weed and ignoring texts about my financial institution steadiness at the moment are among the many least of my worries; I’m locked right into a battle for survival.
Condominium Story is just not a horror recreation; it’s extra of a dramatic thriller. However there’s one thing profoundly unsettling about having somebody in your house who you don’t anticipate. The sport does have one thing in widespread with horror films: I discover myself annoyed with the protagonist. Hey, Arthur, lock your doorways! I really feel as if a giant chunk of this recreation might be prevented if Arthur was just a little extra security acutely aware.
For each second of motion, there’s an extended stretch of downtime. I can clear up my house, taking every DVD and placing it again on the shelf in painstaking order whereas I hearken to some music created for the sport by the artist TRAAPS. These gradual parts, mixed with the random assaults and the mounting narrative, give the sport a dreamlike really feel.
After working from dwelling for a number of years, together with throughout the pandemic, one thing in regards to the risk in Condominium Story caught with me. Arthur is a homebody, and having that sacred area spoiled by a violent intruder is an alarming idea. Whereas the sport feels a bit awkward, gradual, and plodding, the visuals and story stored me engaged — and grateful for my peaceable little house.
Condominium Story was launched Sep. 26 on Home windows. The sport was reviewed on Home windows utilizing a pre-release obtain code supplied by Blue Rider Interactive. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media might earn commissions for merchandise bought through affiliate hyperlinks. You could find further details about epicgamejourney’s ethics coverage right here.
