One of the biggest challenges of parenting is knowing when to let go.
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Hopefully by this point you’ve finished ‘A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986’ as well as 'Saving Face', the kind of person who isn’t bothered by spoilers, or are just deciding to gather more ammo before purchasing the film or the game.
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I heard about the game from a viewer of 'Saving Face', and initially thought it was a game released in 1986. It wasn't until I saw the trailer from the studio (and read the reviews!) that I realised the game was released in 2020.
I know! I didn't play the game but watched the whole thing (the one that included the ending that had Michelle and Sam end up together) and one thought I had was: Whoa...that's amazing that the recording comes out as clear as this!
(Of course...it didn't occur to me that I was looking at a widescreen version of the game...and not a letterbox version....which was prevalent during that time period)
I did notice mention of the comparison to 'Saving Face'. I guess there is a bit of a parallel, in a sense that the Protagonist is not so assertive compared to her love interest? Plus, there's the fact that Wil doesn't deliver any low blows (except that cheeky dig about heels during the first Planet China scene). The biggest difference is this one is more drama.
(Though I do recognise that I'm once again...choosing the moment of levity during a certain part of the climax as the highlight for this post. But I think once Michelle's mother had the clarity that it was Sam...she still would ask the same thing: pertinent information about the person so she can relax and know that her daughter will be safe and cared for.)
Another thing the two titles have in common is the moral of: leading with the truth.
The dialogue for this game is probably the weakest point (You'll see it even clearer if you compare it side-by-side with 'Saving Face'). Even then...somehow the visuals, story structure, and score make it easy for it to not stick out as much. For example: The biggest surprise for me was when we got the reveal (1:04:43) Sam actually stayed. Now that's good story structure (in terms of set-up and payoff)! Because it makes sense...yet it was unexpected (at least for me...since I rarely try to predict what's going to happen next...unless a specific thought pops up when I put together timestamp commentaries.).
PS: While I might have gone with different choices, I didn't feel like I could invest the time in exploring the game (I mean...I already watched more than 5 hours of gameplay! Now that's a LOT!), so I don't think I would be playing it in the future (unless its specifically for research...)
PPS: If you want to watch the same gameplay I did...head here:
Part 1 (Act 1 - Inciting Incident)
Part 2 (First clash between Protagonist and Antagonist)
Part 3 (The boundaries of the Protagonist are tested)
Part 4 (Michelle tries to understand Sam's actions)
Part 5 (Michelle plans to end contact with Sam)
Part 6 (
Part 7 (
Part 8 (
Part 9 (
Part 10 (
Part 11 (Climax and Resolution)
PPPS: If you're wanting to make sure that this game is appropriate for your kids, then I must tell you. There is definitely 'MA' content. Could it be more on the 'R' side? Not sure...I'll leave that for you to decide.
(The good news is...apparently those sections of the game are available as an add-on. I like this! It would be great if there would be a possibility to filter out specific content. So...if I wanted a 'G' film...I'd be interested to see what scenes are left! But I guess that would be challenging...because again...it's a matter of perspective)
As for discussion? There's something to be said about consent. If you've seen the 90-10 rule applied in 'Hitch', then you'll be scratching your head (or maybe having an interesting discussion with other parents who have either played the game or watched most of the story). Maybe it's also a nod to the year the game was set in?
The good news though...is....Sam does pivot in the PG sections but in the 'MA' ....well....lets just say my biggest worry was that Michelle would see the whole thing as something she doesn't have a say in.
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HIGHLIGHT:
Michelle: How can you use my father to guilt me like this?
Mrs. Cheung: Guilt you? Isn't it the truth?
Michelle: I've always been a good daughter. I've been diligent in my studies and I've always given my best effort at my work. I've done everything to make you and father proud of me. How can I be happy when you're like this? When you're suspiscious of everything I do?
Mrs. Cheung: Your happiness? Why should you be unhappy? I'm the one hurt by you. You're still hiding something from me right now.
Michelle: Why can't you just trust me? Why do you have to control what I do?
Mrs. Cheung: Not when you're behaving like this.
Michelle: The way you are is suffocating me.
Mrs. Cheung: Huh? Suffocating? How dare you talk back to me! You think by being with a man for a night you can suddenly talk back to your mother?
Michelle: What!? Why do you keep insinuating this? If you want to know so badly, yes! I was with someone!
Mrs. Cheung: Tell me. Who is he? What's he like? Is he educated?
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My verdict of the film: 6/10 (The humour was a surprise, as well as the writing not veering into melodrama)
Link to the timestamp commentary: Maybe? (Not sure how I could do a timestamp commentary on a game...)
A Formal Review of the game: None (You can request sure! But I feel like there is more than enough content about what makes it special)
My Thoughts about the creation and development of the game: None (I do have links to the Cambridge/SF/Toronto startup scene...but...unless I'm specifically asked to weigh in on the writing...)
More of my comments about the game: None (Though you are certainly welcome to DM me ideas!)
Instagram Entries: TBA? (Not really sure how this would fit in my Instagram feed...Maybe if Tida gave me the go-ahead to use a number of her high resolution images she made for the game that didn't make the cut...so I could put music in the background as the images cycle through)
This album was such a pleasant surprise. I really didn’t know what to expect of it, being from a label I’d never heard of and same for the artist. A rather strange album cover too, I really didn’t have any idea what this project would sound like.
Pleasantly ambient, but by no means boring. There’s very few slow, ambient Vaporwave albums I enjoy, and this one really hit it out of the park for me. Spacey, dreamy, but not boring. It’s honestly criminal that I’ve never heard of glaciære because this is honestly one of the best ambient Vaporwave albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to.
Strangely enough glaciære doesn’t seem to have a Bandcamp. I found a, old reddit thread but it didn’t do much for me to find out exactly what happened.
Favorite Tracks: Take some time (to show some love), Ready?, Carbon neutral barbecue, Looking out the hotel window, Last beach party of the summer, Drinking organic beer at the drum circle, Summer memories
