Closer the Distance
- August 1, 2024
- Osmotic Studios
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Closer the Distance" is a narrative-driven game following Angela, a young girl who, after a fatal accident, watches over her loved ones as they grieve. With the ability to influence townspeople, Angela's choices will determine Yesterby's fate. This emotionally charged game explores themes of empathy, community, and closure, offering unique storylines through choices-matter gameplay. CW: The game deals with themes of grief and tragedy.
PC
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game beautifully explores themes of grief and loss, providing a touching narrative that resonates with players.
- The art style and music are exceptional, creating a charming and immersive atmosphere that enhances the emotional experience.
- The voice acting is well-executed, adding depth to the characters and making their struggles feel genuine and relatable.
- The gameplay can feel tedious and overwhelming due to the micromanagement of multiple characters' needs, which detracts from the narrative experience.
- Conversations can be lengthy and unskippable, leading to frustration as players may miss important events while trying to manage time effectively.
- The pacing of the game can be inconsistent, with some players feeling that the story's emotional impact is undermined by gameplay mechanics.
- story53 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game presents a poignant narrative centered around a small town grappling with grief and loss, allowing players to engage with various characters as they navigate their emotional journeys. While the story is praised for its depth and emotional resonance, some players feel that the gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall experience, making it feel rushed or overly demanding. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a story-driven experience that combines elements of life simulation with impactful storytelling.
“Setting itself up as a life-sim game, this title manages to tell a beautiful, bittersweet story about loss, grief, community, and growth.”
“The story is emotional and beautifully written, with a soundtrack that really enhances the narrative element.”
“A touching story about loss and coping with it, with sprinkles of topics like the decomposition of community, erosion of tiny towns, as well as sparking hope for the future to come.”
“The art and music are lovely, but the game is set up so that the story is the main element, and the story is a snoozefest.”
“I'm afraid that for most casual players, the game can be too stressful and demanding, and they might not experience the story because of that.”
“The story is relatively decent, but I feel like the gameplay bogs down the experience way too much, like every single step of the way.”
- emotional19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply touching narrative and character-driven storytelling, which resonates strongly with fans of the genre. Many players describe it as a melancholic journey that evokes strong feelings, with some experiencing profound emotional reactions, including tears. The combination of impactful choices, charming art, and a moving soundtrack enhances the overall emotional experience, making it highly recommended for those who appreciate heartfelt, narrative-driven adventures.
“A beautiful and very emotional game.”
“The story is emotional and beautifully written, with a soundtrack that really enhances the narrative element.”
“A touching story about loss and coping with it, with sprinkles of topics like decomposition of community, erosion of tiny towns as well as sparking hope for the future to come.”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, complementing the game's design and narrative, although some feel the story itself may not be as engaging. Overall, the music is described as moving and well-executed, significantly contributing to the game's overall experience.
“The music of this game is incredibly well done in terms of fitting the atmosphere.”
“The town is gorgeous, the music is moving, the people and interactions feel genuine and interesting.”
“The music in this game is fantastic - I can't stress that enough.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster and at times boring, detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate its unique approach to storytelling, others feel that the mechanics are overly simplified and inconsistent, ultimately overshadowing the narrative. Overall, the gameplay seems to be a significant point of contention, with many wishing for more engaging mechanics to complement the story.
“There needs to be more games of this type of gameplay; it's a unique and interesting way of telling a great story.”
“The story of this game seems interesting, but the gameplay really bogs the experience down.”
“The gameplay, on the other hand, at times was a bit boring and had me scrolling through my phone.”
“Also, the gameplay is lackluster; it's basically simplified Sims that had the potential to focus on the themes of the story but does not.”
“The story is relatively decent, but I feel like the gameplay bogs down the experience way too much, like every single step of the way.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and tasteful design, complementing the overall atmosphere. While some players appreciate the art style, others feel that the visuals alone cannot compensate for shortcomings in writing and storytelling.
“The visuals are delicate and tasteful, same for the score.”
“Beautiful story and I loved the art style!”
“Graphically, the game works for what it's going for.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its exceptional music and immersive qualities, creating a rich experience. However, some reviewers feel that despite solid graphics and sound design, the overall atmosphere is lacking, particularly in writing and conceptual execution.
“The music of this game is incredibly well done in terms of fitting the atmosphere.”
“This game is absolutely swimming in atmosphere.”
“The concept is solid with this game, but it's just... the atmosphere is not there.”
“For what it's worth, the graphics and the sound design are nice, but games like these depend on the writing and the atmosphere; this game just does not have it.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, requiring considerable time investment. Many find the repetitive nature of managing systems and micromanaging characters to be tedious and frustrating.
“The whole managing needs system is tedious, and having to micromanage people around is a pain.”
“Time for grinding will be required.”
“You'll be grinding a lot.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While some players may not feel an immediate urge to replay the game, the presence of varied choices and tasks suggests that replayability is a viable option for those interested in exploring different outcomes.
“I don’t feel like I want to replay it soon, but given the choices and tasks, replayability is definitely an option.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game experiences a range of glitches and bugs, which can disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall experience. While some players report occasional minor issues, others encounter more significant problems that affect stability. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a concern for many users.
“The game is plagued with glitches that disrupt the overall experience.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that made it nearly unplayable at times.”
“Frequent crashes and stability issues have made me lose interest in continuing.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received negative feedback, with users expressing dissatisfaction and indicating that it falls short of expectations.
