![]() The entire game is barely an hour long, and the experience as a whole leaves the player feeling more like a spectator than an active participant. In some ways, unfortunately, the small pricetag comes with a price of its own. Walking through Dear Esther is like walking through a work of art, and for a game that only costs $7.99, you have to wonder how The Chinese Room ever managed to pull it off. The turning of distant clouds, water dripping from stalactites inside of luminescent caves, and dreamlike waterfalls spilling into underground lakes are only a few of the lush and spectacular sights to see. The island setting may as well be a character itself, as each of its rocky shores and sprawling landscapes exude distinct and flavorful personalities. This is, in part, thanks to the game's brilliant sound design and captivating musical score, which begs to be experienced with a pair of quality headphones - but the environments deserve the most credit. Much to its credit, Dear Esther showcases some of the most beautiful settings in recent memory. If your everyday gaming fare consists of fast-paced action and things going boom, you may have a very different opinion about this game than players who enjoy titles like Firewatch. For those who don't mind a slow pace, Dear Esther will reward your patience with its beautiful environments and dreamlike atmosphere. It was the first game of its kind to force players to progress at its own pace. The best predictor of whether or not you will like this game is your answer to this question: "How do you feel about walking simulators?" That's because Dear Esther is the mother of all walking simulators - literally. If at the end of the game you're still confused like I was, optional commentary from the developers clarifies some of the more opaque plot points and adds some replay value. Dialogue is comprised exclusively of words from a nonsensical letter written by the narrator, whose ramblings become increasingly deranged as the story progresses. Nevertheless, the plot manages to pull itself together and conclude with a somewhat ambiguous, yet satisfying resolution. In the distance stands a radio tower, which beckons the player toward the game's endpoint. The plot of Dear Esther is rather simple: an unnamed narrator, controlled by the player, is stranded on a remote island off the coast of Scotland.
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