She Could Fly: Documentary Escape Game
- July 11, 2024
- Wowbagger Productions
Get on SteamShe Could Fly: Documentary Escape Game is a point and click game with looping levels, which features comics, documentaries and gaming to explore OCD and anxiety. You become trapped in a flat and are forced to figure out how to escape. In this lo-fi game your guide is narrator TIGER ORCHID - a Twitch/ YouTube style narrator who is with you all the way. Played by Shaniqua Okwok (Small Axe, It's a S…
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Reviews
- The artwork and music are exceptional, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game provides a unique and educational perspective on OCD, helping players understand the condition better.
- Voice acting and storytelling are engaging, making the experience immersive and thought-provoking.
- The game is very short, leading to a feeling of limited gameplay and replayability.
- Controls can be awkward, lacking free movement and making navigation cumbersome.
- The narrator's presence is often criticized for being annoying and detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed experience, with some players appreciating the interactive portrayal of OCD and the concise 1.5-hour duration, while others criticize the implementation of the clicking and dragging mechanics, which can lead to motion sickness. The balance between documentary clips and gameplay is noted, with some feeling the clips overshadow the interactive elements. Overall, the game effectively conveys the lived experience of OCD through its mechanics and narrative.
“I love how OCD is portrayed in a way that is easy to understand through interactive gameplay and through the voices of real people.”
“It's not draggy, and the gameplay is about 1.5 hours, which I think is just nice.”
“It is clear that people with a lived experience of OCD were centered through the production of the game - gameplay is a hauntingly accurate depiction of the condition.”
“The documentary clips were nice, and I was aware the game would have them in it, but I felt like the clips were much longer than the actual gameplay part.”
“The gameplay loop, puzzles, writing, and documentary aspects were all passable.”
“The gameplay style of clicking and dragging in first person on mouse and keyboard is really poorly implemented, leading very easily to motion sickness.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's storytelling is noted for its unique delivery through character notes, enhancing player engagement with the narrative. While some found the approach to mental illness problematic, others praised the rich, well-paced story and its clever integration of themes related to OCD and recovery, making it both educational and enjoyable. Overall, the combination of charming voice acting and vibrant environments contributes to a compelling narrative experience.
“The storytelling was really unique; a lot of it is told through notes that people send to you.”
“I really liked reading the notes and realizing what was happening as the story progressed.”
“But it tells a very important story in such a clever way that I learned so much more than I would have learning any other way.”
“This experience was atrocious; the delivery of the story was so bad it necessitated making fun of this mental illness.”
“It is less of a story than an experience of what it's like to have OCD and how to recover from it.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are highly praised for their exceptional artwork and unique art style, which effectively enhance the atmosphere and themes related to OCD. Players appreciate the integration of both familiar and new artists, contributing to a visually engaging experience throughout the levels.
“The artwork sprinkled into each level is great.”
“This game is so well made and the art style is amazing!”
“Also, the artwork on the walls is superb. I recognized some of the artists' names, but there are some new to me that I need to go and check out now.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, complementing the impressive artwork. However, some users noted that playing clips at faster speeds can lead to audio distortion. Overall, the music effectively contributes to the game's educational and entertaining aspects, particularly in illustrating themes related to OCD.
“The art and music in this game are both really good, which I'd expect nothing less from a game inspired by a comic book.”
“It's educational, it's entertaining, the art and music are phenomenal, and it has googly eyes!”
“The artwork, the music, and the varying atmospheres really helped illustrate the various ways OCD can and will come at you.”
“There's an option to watch it at faster speeds, which I ended up doing, but the music or something in the clips would make the audio sound a little bit distorted when watching at faster speeds.”
“The artwork, the music, the varying atmospheres really helped illustrate the various ways OCD can and will come at you.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; some players find it overdone and unfunny, particularly due to repetitive jokes and annoying delivery, while others appreciate the clever and lighthearted moments that provide comic relief amidst serious themes, enjoying the engaging narrator and whimsical elements.
“Knowing the serious subject matter of the game, I was surprised to be constantly laughing at the humor at every corner - whether that's from the great narrator presence to derpy knitted birds or fun meta acknowledgment of CGI water, I was grinning!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game's atmosphere is enhanced by its artwork and music, effectively illustrating the complexities of OCD. They emphasize the importance of allowing players to immerse themselves in this atmosphere, suggesting that a quieter approach can lead to a more satisfying puzzle-solving experience.
“Any game with puzzle elements, even as light as they are here, should know to shut up and let the player listen to the atmosphere for clues and come to their own conclusions so that puzzle solving is satisfying.”
“The artwork, the music, and the varying atmospheres really helped illustrate the various ways OCD can and will come at you.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short length, making it more worthwhile to purchase during a sale rather than at full price.
“It's not bad for its price, but if you're on the fence about it, I'd wait until there's a little bit of a sale, since it's a fairly short game and there's not a lot of replayability.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of different endings or significant choices really limits replayability.”
“I enjoyed the game, but after completing it, I found myself with no reason to play again. The linear storyline and repetitive gameplay make it hard to justify a second run.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a profound emotional impact from the game, resonating deeply with themes of OCD, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and depression. Many express that the experience elicited feelings they had never encountered in gaming before, highlighting the game's ability to connect with players on a personal level.
“There is a lot in here to take in, not just for people with OCD, but also those with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and depression. I had a very emotional response to playing, which I've never had to a game before.”
