Way of Defector
- December 12, 2017
- Dev Arc
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Way of Defector" is a single-player strategy game offering 5 hours of playtime, focused on the true stories of North Korean defectors. Players must navigate through scenarios based on memoirs, making choices to overcome starvation, evade Public Security Officers, and reach South Korea. Create a unique escape story, as the scenario adapts to your decisions, providing a personalized and eye-opening perspective on the real lives of defectors.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and engaging concept centered around the journey of a North Korean defector, providing an emotional experience.
- Gameplay is straightforward and has a good level of challenge, with dice rolls adding an element of unpredictability that reflects real-life struggles.
- For its price, the game is considered a worthwhile investment, with many players expressing enjoyment and a desire for more content like DLC.
- The game suffers from repetitive gameplay, with many players finding the mechanics tedious and lacking variety.
- There are issues with the tutorial and overall writing quality, leading to confusion about game mechanics and a lack of immersion.
- Some players feel that the reliance on dice rolls for progression can be frustrating and unfair, detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a dice-rolling mechanic that introduces a level of challenge and unpredictability, making each decision impactful. While some players find it enjoyable and engaging, particularly when immersing themselves in the character's journey, others criticize it for being repetitive and slow-paced, with a cumbersome progression system that relies heavily on chance. Overall, the gameplay offers a mix of fun and frustration, depending on player expectations and engagement with the narrative.
“An amazing game! It is fun, and I really enjoy the gameplay. I hope they keep adding DLC characters and maybe a mode or new game where you escape a different country with this gameplay (like the Berlin Wall or Cuba). That would be cool! The gameplay is about rolling dice and seeing how the rest goes. One wrong mistake can cost the game, bringing a challenge to it rather than just winning all the time. I'm really happy with my purchase.”
“In fact, it's amazing how they've managed to abstract the mechanics in a way where it's easy to play yet you still really feel the desperation.”
“The 'game' is repetitive and takes on almost a D&D style of gameplay with the dice.”
“The gameplay itself is not complicated - you need to work to earn money, buy food, and collect information about the way to get from China (where you currently are, illegally) to South Korea.”
“The storytelling is so generic that the game might as well be taking place in Iran. The gameplay is quite slow, because first you have to listen to a tutorial repeating what you've already heard, then you click on how long you want to do something, then it's done while you wait. At some point, you roll a dice, but not before clicking on 'roll dice', and when this is all done, you've done something marginal like moved from point A to point B (but not before generic storytelling).”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story in the game is criticized for being generic and repetitive, with players feeling like they are on a never-ending quest to find a broker. The narrative lacks depth and originality, often overshadowed by slow gameplay mechanics that involve tedious tutorials and minimal progression. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the straightforward nature of the game, suggesting potential for improvement in future updates.
“Really enjoyed it; it's fairly straightforward. There are a few tweaks that could be worked out to clarify where the quest marker is, but for a 1.0, it's pretty good, and for such a price, it packs a good punch.”
“You seem to be constantly on a quest to find a broker; just when you think you have achieved it, bam, rinse and repeat.”
“The storytelling is so generic that the game might as well be taking place in Iran. The gameplay is quite slow because first you have to listen to a tutorial repeating what you've already heard. Then you click on how long you want to do something, and when that's done, you wait. At some point, you roll a dice, but not before clicking on 'roll dice.' When this is all done, you've accomplished something marginal, like moving from point A to point B, but not before enduring the generic storytelling.”
“The storytelling is so generic that the game might as well be taking place in Iran. The gameplay is quite slow because first you have to listen to a tutorial repeating what you've already heard. Then you click on how long you want to do something, and when that's done, you wait. At some point, you roll a dice, but not before clicking on 'roll dice.' When this is all done, you've accomplished something marginal, like moving from point A to point B, but not before enduring the generic storytelling.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful as it immerses them in the harrowing journey of helping a North Korean defector escape, evoking a strong sense of responsibility for the character's survival. The real-life inspiration behind the narrative enhances the emotional weight, making the experience resonate deeply with those familiar with defector stories.
“You are helping a North Korean defector escape through China, and together you go on an emotional journey where you feel responsible for this real-life inspired person's survival.”
“This game resembles a similar game concept I had in mind for a couple of years, touching the very same topic. Since I'm really into defector stories (I've read three books and watched, I think, every documentary about North Korea), I was thrilled to press the 'buy' button for just $1.50.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, leading to a frustrating experience.
“I've played this game only for a while, but it's just tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which makes it feel more like a chore than a game.”
