The Wake: Mourning Father, Mourning Mother
- May 6, 2020
- Somi
- 5h median play time
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Get on itch.io Store"The Wake: Mourning Father, Mourning Mother" is a narrative-driven game and the final installment in Somi's "Guilt Trilogy," following "Replica" and "Legal Dungeon." Players attend a three-day funeral and delve into the psyche of a man examining his family's generational curse through a simple substitution cipher. The game explores the roots of guilt, memories, and emotions, as players uncover the contradictions that define the protagonist's life.
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Reviews
- The background music is beautiful and enhances the overall experience.
- The story is deeply personal and emotionally engaging, leaving a lasting impression.
- Puzzle-solving elements provide some enjoyment, especially for those who appreciate trial and error.
- The interface is poorly designed for English, making reading difficult and frustrating.
- Puzzle mechanics are often too simple or unintuitive, leading to reliance on guides.
- The game lacks a save feature, which can be inconvenient for longer play sessions.
- story15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story is often described as beautiful, personal, and deeply emotional, focusing on themes of family and connection, though some find it short and simplistic. While the narrative is praised for its relatability and depth, the puzzle-solving elements and interface are criticized for being underwhelming, suggesting that the story takes precedence over gameplay. Overall, the game appeals to those in a reflective mood, particularly regarding family dynamics.
“A deeply personal story about a disjointed family reconnecting over a funeral as told in broken puzzle bits and literary pieces.”
“All in all, it's really the story that should be the focus if you're interested in picking this up. If you're in a melancholic mood about family, I say get this game.”
“I liked the relatable, down-to-earth story and the piano music!!!”
“The puzzle-solving process was way too simple and a bit rough, which made it feel more like a bland short story than a puzzle game.”
“The story was a bore, weighed down with daddy issues.”
“Quality of puzzle is not keeping up with dramatic story.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around challenging puzzle-solving mechanics that some players found difficult to grasp initially, often requiring external guides. While the gameplay may not appeal to everyone, many enjoyed the trial-and-error approach and the integration of the storyline, suggesting that the narrative holds significant importance alongside the puzzles. Overall, players experienced a learning curve but ultimately appreciated the depth of the gameplay.
“I've seen some people complain about the gameplay, but I think the cipher parts and discovering things with trial and error were enjoyable.”
“By the midpoint though, I really started to grasp the mechanics and never needed to refer back to the guide for later levels.”
“Love the puzzling gameplay and storyline.”
“Gameplay mechanics and the puzzle solving were difficult.”
“As for the puzzle mechanics, I surprisingly took a little while to fully understand what to do (even through the tutorial) and needed to reference a guide for an early chapter or two.”
“This is not a game for everyone; I can even say the story told is more important than the gameplay itself.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional resonance, particularly the piano compositions, which enhance the storytelling experience. However, some players noted that the background music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and atmosphere.
“The story and music were beautiful, but the interface doesn't lend itself well to English.”
“The background music was beautiful.”
“Great game, great story, fantastical music.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be highly emotional and engaging, with many expressing strong feelings, particularly during the impactful conclusion that ties the narrative together.
“I cried at the very end, when all the dots connected.”
“Very emotional and engaging game.”
