I don't think I've walked this stretch of road before
- January 11, 2022
- -hexcavator-
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Get on itch.io Store"I Don't Think I've Walked This Stretch of Road Before" is a short, narrative-driven adventure game where you explore a dreamy 3D landscape and piece together fragments from your past. With no combat or failure state, this low-stakes game offers a low-poly, lo-fi psychodrama accompanied by a melancholic soundtrack. Immerse yourself in this personal reckoning inspired by the works of Jeff Nichols, Kelly Reichardt, and David Lynch.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Offers a unique and transporting experience, blending visual poetry with interactive elements.
- Evocative writing and sound design create a meditative atmosphere that encourages contemplation.
- Great retro aesthetic and atmosphere, making it a beautiful and intimate journey worth experiencing.
- The game feels more like a walking simulator than a traditional game, lacking depth and replayability.
- Some players find the narrative vague and confusing, with a lack of engaging gameplay mechanics.
- While the art direction is praised, the camera placement can be frustrating and detracts from the experience.
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their retro PS1 style, contributing to a nostalgic and evocative atmosphere that complements the game's sparse gameplay and writing. This aesthetic choice enhances the overall experience, creating a unique and meditative journey through the game's world.
“I really enjoyed the retro aesthetic and the sound design.”
“I like the PS1 style graphics.”
“The gameplay and graphics are sparse, but that just leaves room for the evocative writing to guide you down an empty desert road.”
“This is a wonderful meditation, realized through an aesthetic that is both nostalgic and impossible.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, blending low-fi sounds with retro-inspired visuals to create a unique experience reminiscent of intimate basement shows. This combination of audio and art evokes a nostalgic yet fresh feel, likening it to stepping into a 3D version of classic SNES games.
“The music and sound are all fantastic, just an absolute beauty of an experience.”
“A beautiful little game, full of atmosphere and great music.”
“Low-fi music and low-poly pixel art creates an alternate-retro vibe, as if old games had the music from an intimate basement show and you stepped into a 3D SNES game.”
“Low-fi music and low poly pixel art creates a sort of alternate retro experience - like what if old games had the music from an intimate basement show and you stepped into a 3D SNES game.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a focus on mechanics and completion, with a sparse design that prioritizes evocative writing and atmospheric sound over traditional active gameplay. This creates a meditative experience as players navigate a linear path, emphasizing presence rather than action.
“Most of the time, when I play a game, my thoughts are entirely occupied by performing the mechanics well and finishing it.”
“The gameplay and graphics are sparse, but that just leaves room for the evocative writing to guide you down an empty desert road.”
“There's a lot of textured sound that bleeds in and out as you walk the linear path, placing emphasis on presence and meditation rather than active gameplay.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its unique and poetic delivery, offering a great overall experience, though it remains vague and lacks depth in character and event details. It feels like a blend of a short story and a poem, leaving much to interpretation.
“Great experience overall, and a lovely story with a weird and unique delivery!”
“The story is vague, never naming names, and never going in depth about the events of this person's life.”
“Somewhere between the video game version of a short story and a poem.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its enchanting atmosphere and captivating music, contributing to an overall immersive experience.
“A beautiful little game, full of atmosphere and great music.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find the game's replayability lacking, with some expressing disappointment in its ability to provide a relaxing experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“I was looking for something relaxing with some replayability, and this isn't it, chief.”
“After finishing the game once, I found no real incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
