The Last Survey
- August 7, 2020
- Nicholas O'Brien
Get on SteamThe Last Survey is a narrative essay game about a geologist contracted by a Brazilian mining company to survey rare earth metal reserves. Their research has found that there is not enough metals on the planet to sustain growing industries of green energy and you must deliver these findings to the company's CEO.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a well-written narrative that explores profound themes related to corporatism and environmental issues.
- The art style and sound design are praised for enhancing the immersive experience, making it feel like a unique artistic endeavor.
- Despite its short length, the game is considered a hidden gem and is recommended for those who enjoy visual novels or narrative-driven experiences.
- The gameplay is minimal, with close to zero interaction, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.
- The game is very short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
- There are issues with pacing and navigation, such as an abrupt ending for fast readers and a lack of save/load options, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its powerful and well-written narrative that explores themes of alienation caused by corporatism, complemented by evocative writing and immersive art and audio. While some reviewers question whether the story could only be effectively conveyed through a game, they agree that the medium enhances the experience. However, there are concerns about the implementation and the potential distraction caused by the visuals.
“Neat little story with great music and animations.”
“Although I'm not sure that the story could have only been told in the medium of a game, a game seems a good way as any to experience it.”
“A powerful, well-written story about how alienating corporatism is: from beauty, from morality, from any kind of humanity.”
“The story is intelligent, the writing is evocative yet concise, and art/audio fit perfectly, strengthening immersion into the story.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's music has received praise for its brilliant integration with the narrative, enhancing the overall experience. While there is a brief dissonant section that some found distracting, it may have been an intentional choice to reflect the protagonist's anxiety. Overall, the soundtrack appeals to both mainstream and adventurous gamers, offering a diverse auditory experience.
“I will say, briefly, that the narrative is brilliant as well as the soundtrack which fits in an absolutely perfect way.”
“Neat little story with great music and animations.”
“The only negative aspect of my experience with the game was a brief, dissonant section of the music towards the beginning of the game that made it difficult to read.”
“However, it's possible that the developer was attempting to evoke through music the anxiety that existed in the mind of our geologist.”
“Granted, you may have to be a 'certain type of gamer,' but to use a musical analogy, it's like everybody knows about Rush, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, and Garth Brooks, and there's nothing wrong with that or with those artists; they're all great in their own right.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of reading text and making binary choices, resembling a visual novel more than a traditional game. While the concept is well-executed, the experience is short and lacks substantial interactive elements, making it more suitable for purchase at a discount.
“Recommended if you get this on discount because to be fair there is barely any gameplay in this game and it's basically just a visual novel with binary choices.”
“It's a good concept and well made, however it is very short and again there is barely any gameplay as all you do is read text.”
“It's a good concept and well made, however it is very short and again there is barely any gameplay as all you do is read text.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their appealing art style, contributing positively to the overall enjoyment of the experience.
“I really appreciate the art style; it adds a unique charm to the game.”
“The graphics are stunning and truly enhance the overall experience.”
“The visual design is impressive, making every scene a delight to explore.”
