The Path

[rajpoot]

I've been looking into this since a few days now, but haven't decided as to what to do yet.

There is a playable 'demo', labeled the 'Prologue', which I downloaded but it did not run on my PC, everytime I started it, my system would just crash

Anyway, the game has very vague reviews....They're all calling it a work of art and saying that it's like nothing else that has been before.

I want to buy it, but I'd rather have a little more solid info on it, so incase anyone here has played it, or the demo, I'd be grateful if they'd provide some insights.....

[Fragony]

Heard a lot of good about it, but it's not really a game, more like interactive fiction. Looks like great creepy fun.

[Kekvit Irae]

It's the best rape simulator since Virgin Roster!

[rajpoot]

It's the best rape simulator since Virgin Roster!

Err......seriously? You've played it?

[frogbeastegg]

According to the developers everything depends on your interpretation of what happens when you wander off the path.

[Kekvit Irae]

Err......seriously? You've played it?

Yes, I did play it. And I'm thankful I didn't spend a single dime on it. Like Frog said, it's all based on interpretation. You have several girls to play with, each with their own... story. I guess you could call it that, because you are given jack in terms of in-game story or narration. Except for maybe a paragraph (at most) of backstory for each girl, you are left to wonder what the fates of each girl are.

Let me come out and say this right now. THE PATH IS NOT A GAME. It never was a game, it never will be a game. It's more along the lines of philosophical discussion of art and society. While the fates if some girls are obvious (the one who likes wolves, and the goth girl), the rest are completely up to you to determine what happened. You are given absolutely NO instruction (except stay on the path), and absolutely no indication of any goals (except get to Grandma's house).

That said, the controls stink, and the only redeeming feature of THE GAME (you lost it) was the uninstall button.

[Xiahou]

THE PATH IS NOT A GAME

I can't really agree with that. It is a game, just a very non-traditional game. Nor would I lump it in with something so perverse as Virgin Roster.

Really, I think the game is best explained as (from Wiki):

According to the developer, the game is not meant to be played in the traditional sense, in that there is no winning strategy. In fact, much of the gameplay requires the player to choose the losing path, in order for the sisters to run into encounters which they (and hence the player) are meant to experience. Even the story narratives are not typical for a game, as explained by the developer, "We are not story-tellers in the traditional sense of the word. In the sense that we know a story and we want to share it with you. Our work is more about exploring the narrative potential of a situation. We create only the situation. And the actual story emerges from playing, partially in the game, partially in the player’s mind."

I spent some time playing it- and when I did, I knew virtually nothing of the game. So, first time thru, I stayed on the path as ordered.... surprisingly uneventful. Next time, still not knowing what to expect, I decided I needed to wander off the path. As you lose sight of the path in the woods and darkness closes in, I found it to be creepy as hell. Later after reading more about the game and how it worked, I kind of lost interest and never came anywhere close to "completing" the game. But, for the first hour or so it was fascinating.

I think of it as sort of a video game version of a "concept car". It's very slick and cutting edge, but on the other hand, it doesn't work well on some levels and it's probably not ready for mainstream consumption. It's more a show piece than a mass-marketable game.

[rajpoot]

All right.......it is different than the usual run of the mill adventure games. OK.
But the horror aspect? What is it like? I haven't played many horror games recently, and the last one I remember playing was Doom 3 with sudden jumps all over the place....
This game they say has less horror but more 'suggestion of horror'......?

And if someone could just tell me if it's actually worth 6 bucks? That's like Rs. 300 here and I could go get a nice shirt if I don't buy this game

[Kekvit Irae]

All right.......it is different than the usual run of the mill adventure games. OK.
But the horror aspect? What is it like? I haven't played many horror games recently, and the last one I remember playing was Doom 3 with sudden jumps all over the place....
This game they say has less horror but more 'suggestion of horror'......?

And if someone could just tell me if it's actually worth 6 bucks? That's like Rs. 300 here and I could go get a nice shirt if I don't buy this game

The horror part comes from the general atmosphere once you delve off the path. It's about as scary as a haunted hay ride on halloween. What the true horror aspect of the game, however, is how you mind sees and interprets what happens to the girls when they meet "the wolf".

Honestly, I'd grab the demo first. It gives you a general feel of the atmosphere, but without any "wolf" interactions.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I think I got it in a Steam indie mega-bundle. Haven't tried it yet.