The Night Fisherman
- June 29, 2020
- de Fault
Get on SteamThe English Protection Group keep a watchful eye on the Smuggler's Run, a renowned crossing for vessels bound from Calais containing illegal immigrants. When faced with an armed man, his voracious appetite for conversation, and nobody else for miles, can you safely get rid of him? This is a single, film-like scene. You direct the fisherman's actions, as well as directing the camera shots bet…
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Reviews
- The Night Fisherman features beautiful artwork and a striking visual style that enhances the atmospheric experience.
- The game presents a thought-provoking narrative that tackles complex themes such as immigration and moral dilemmas, leaving a lasting impact despite its short length.
- Players appreciate the innovative camera angle feature that allows for a unique perspective on the unfolding story.
- Many players feel that the game is overly short, with a playtime of only 5 to 10 minutes, leaving them wanting more depth and content.
- Critics argue that the choices presented in the game do not significantly affect the outcome, leading to a sense of inevitability and lack of meaningful interaction.
- The game has been criticized for its heavy reliance on the opening scene of Inglorious Basterds, with some reviewers labeling it as plagiarism rather than homage.
- story67 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by its brevity and a lack of meaningful player choice, often leading to a sense of frustration among players. While some appreciate the beautiful art and masterful execution of themes like suspense and social commentary, many feel the narrative is unoriginal, heavily borrowing from existing works without offering significant reinterpretation or depth. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a compelling yet limited experience that fails to fully explore its themes or provide impactful player agency.
“The storytelling in 'The Night Fisherman' is masterfully executed, weaving together elements of suspense, drama, and social commentary.”
“Beautiful storytelling and amazing artistry.”
“A really neat story with an interesting ending based on your decision; I'm kind of shocked at what decision led to which ending and excited to check out more of the franchise.”
“The story is as simple as a fisherman having to deal with an English officer tasked with catching illegal immigrants, which he does from the barrel of a shotgun, and is very ruthless.”
“The only minor nitpick of mine is that even though the responses are different depending on your choice, the outcome of the story's ending is borderline the same, with very minor differences.”
“Lack of ways to influence the story would be fine, but the text makes it appear as if your choices (of text or of camera angle) would result in a different narrative.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their stunning and atmospheric art style, featuring a striking color palette and moody lighting that enhance the storytelling. Reviewers highlight the unique and vivid visuals, often comparing them to the works of famous artists, and appreciate how the graphics contribute to the overall emotional impact of the narrative. While some mention that the graphics are merely "okay," the consensus leans towards a strong appreciation for the beautiful artwork and its effective integration into the gameplay experience.
“Visually, the game is stunning, with its atmospheric art style and moody lighting perfectly complementing the dark, atmospheric setting.”
“The visual art style is beautiful and the color palette is striking.”
“The scene is set within a highly stylized seascape consisting of low-poly models and made up of bright colors, dark shadows, and high contrast visuals that are simple but effective.”
“What about the visuals?”
“The scene is set within a highly stylised seascape consisting of low-poly models and made up of bright colours, dark shadows, and high contrast visuals that are simple but effective.”
“Even so, a small thumbs up for the art style, having its heart in the right place and paying some attention to the refugee crisis that is still a major issue today.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many reviewers praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the emotional experience. While some found it to be a standout feature, others noted that it could be inconsistent, with moments where it felt more intrusive than supportive. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the overall ambiance and storytelling.
“I enjoyed being able to control the camera angles as the conversation in the scene proceeds, and the music and sound are well designed and timed.”
“The environment is further brought to life by the sound of the waves and the subtle but atmospheric orchestral soundtrack that manages to build tension in an unobtrusive way.”
“A short but moving tale of a night fisherman uniquely told through your choice of cinematic camera angles on the backdrop of a mesmerizing art style and soundtrack.”
“There's no voice acting, and if it wasn't for the music playing in the background, the game would be dead quiet.”
“Relatively average art and soundtrack.”
“And the moment the music came in to try to tell me what emotion I should be feeling, I felt more annoyed than tense.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its stunning visual art style, moody lighting, and evocative sound design, creating a captivating blend of relaxation and intensity. The neon sky and water backdrop enhance the immersive experience, while the unique camera control adds depth to the overall ambiance. Players find the combination of visuals and subtle orchestral music to be both moving and tension-building, making for a memorable short experience.
“Visually, the game is stunning, with its atmospheric art style and moody lighting perfectly complementing the dark, atmospheric setting.”
“I love the neon-esque sky and the backdrop of the water just makes the atmosphere relaxing; it meshes very well with the intense conversations you have.”
“The environment is further brought to life by the sound of the waves and the subtle but atmospheric orchestral soundtrack that manages to build tension in an unobtrusive way.”
“The atmosphere is both light and intense.”
“I love the control they gave the player with the camera - I haven't seen any other games do that, and it really adds to the atmosphere of the game.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised as amazing, though some users express concerns about a flawed camera angle switching mechanic that the developers acknowledge but do not fully remove. This inconsistency raises questions about the necessity of the mechanic in the overall gameplay experience.
“Amazing gameplay.”
“There's a mechanic where you can switch to different camera angles.”
“The developers acknowledge the flaws in the mechanics and have made adjustments, which shows their commitment to improving the gameplay experience.”
“There's a mechanic where you can switch to different camera angles, but it feels unnecessary and poorly implemented.”
“There is a part where the developers acknowledge how flawed the camera mechanic is, yet they choose to fix the camera instead of removing the problematic mechanic altogether, which makes me wonder why it's still in the game.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of games varies significantly; while some players find certain titles lacking in character development and emotional engagement, others praise short experiences like "The Night Fisherman" for delivering a powerful emotional punch in a brief timeframe. However, there are concerns about the portrayal of sensitive topics, such as the refugee crisis, which some feel may manipulate emotions rather than foster genuine understanding. Overall, emotional resonance in games can be both profound and contentious.
“For an experience that can be completed in under 10 minutes, The Night Fisherman certainly packs an emotional punch.”
“I'm struggling to think of another game that made me feel so much in such a short amount of time.”
“Everyone lives, a very wholesome game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that effective optimization can significantly enhance the overall experience of a game, as demonstrated by the impactful opening scene of ig b*******, where strong acting elevates the narrative and prevents it from feeling shallow or juvenile.
