The Life of One Dog
- October 3, 2018
- BrainStorming Team
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"The Life of One Dog" is a wordless, interactive adventure following the life of an ordinary dog from birth to death. Experience a heartwarming story through simple gameplay, standard RPG Maker graphics, and linear progression. With no text, the game relies on visual storytelling, accompanied by pleasant sounds and music, and featuring several mini-games.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features cute dog designs that some players found appealing.
- The music in the game is nice and adds to the overall atmosphere.
- Some players found the story to be touching, despite its dark themes.
- The game is extremely short, lasting only about seven minutes with minimal gameplay.
- There is a lack of interactivity, as players mostly watch a scripted story without meaningful choices.
- Many players found the content to be distressing and not enjoyable, describing it as heartbreaking and cruel.
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a short, heartwarming yet sad narrative centered around an abused dog, but it lacks depth and player engagement, as all choices lead to the same outcome. Reviewers express disappointment in the linearity and brevity of the story, feeling it resembles an interactive movie rather than a game, with minimal emotional involvement and no meaningful consequences for player actions. Overall, while the premise has potential, the execution leaves much to be desired, making it feel more like a brief experience than a fully realized story.
“The game presents a really sad story, and even though it has a sweet yet morbid meaning behind it, it feels incredibly cute.”
“Maybe the creator lost a dear dog and wanted to share a heartwarming story.”
“This is a nice story of a dog, but it feels more like an interactive movie than a game.”
“Just a sad story of a dog being abused; no matter which puppy you choose, it's the exact same story.”
“It feels like you are watching an interactive movie, but no matter what you do, your decisions and movements don't have any consequences for the story.”
“You simply can't change anything and just watch the story unfold, but because it is so short, you don't even feel emotionally involved.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed reactions, with some players finding it touching and heartbreaking, while others criticize its brevity and lack of emotional attachment to the characters. Many feel that the rapid transitions hinder the ability to connect with the story, leading to a disjointed experience that fails to evoke the intended heartwarming feelings. Overall, the game's emotional impact is seen as inconsistent, with some players feeling deeply affected and others left unengaged.
“Some transitions are a bit short, I think, but overall this game is, in all its shortness, quite touching.”
“Maybe the creator lost a dog dear to him and wanted to share a heartwarming story.”
“I have absolutely no clue what I just downloaded as a cheap game on my computer; literally, the first I'd say about 3 minutes of this very short game was actually heartbreaking.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its lack of mechanics, with many users noting that it consists mainly of minimal interaction, such as walking across the screen, and is largely devoid of engaging content. Overall, players find the gameplay experience disappointing and unfulfilling.
“Things that would make the game better is to start with having game mechanics.”
“Barely any gameplay, just one short cutscene.”
“There's literally no gameplay besides walking across the screen.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been positively received, with users highlighting it as a standout feature. Many appreciate the quality and pleasantness of the soundtrack, considering it the only redeeming aspect of the game.
“The only positive thing I can say about the game is the music, as that is nice.”
“At least the music is nice.”
“Nice music, though.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players praising the vibrant visuals and detailed environments, while others criticize the character models and occasional texture issues. Overall, the aesthetic appeal is noted, but technical shortcomings detract from the experience for some users.
