DONTNOD returns with an adventure of magical realism, where manners and mystery come together to narrate a melancholic earthly fable.
Direct heirs to the textual adventures of the 80s and 90s, the narrative adventures invite the player to participate in the making of the story through decisions. Rather than a textual interface, written with some literary intent, the narrative adventure features more elaborate graphics and a more dynamic audiovisual language. Like its older sister, the narrative adventure bases its gameplay on dialogue choices and the solving of very simple puzzles. In recent years, this genre has experienced new interest thanks to titles such as Life Is Strange, a magical realism title that mixed customs of adolescent life with a plot of mystery and alternative realities. DONTNOD, the creators of this saga, launched the second installment through fascicles that were published between 2018 and 2019. Today the first chapter of Tell Me Why (Windows PC, Xbox One), a new work that has several of the Life Is Strange ingredients. This time, the next two chapters will be released with a week of waiting between them. According to its own study on the official website of the game, the purpose is to give the player space to rest their own decisions and make their own guesses about the plot.
A bittersweet reunion
Tell Me Why is the story of two twin brothers, Alysson and Tyler Ronan, who meet again in Delos Crossing (Alaska) ten years after the tragic death of their mother. Together, they must return to their childhood home to close a painful episode in their lives and move on. However, new discoveries emerge on this visit, and together they will pull the thread to unravel an intrigue in which nothing is what it seems, and in which the apparent simplicity of an event hides a delicate complexity.
Over three 3-4 hour chapters, the two brothers will investigate a mystery in which happy and sad experiences are mixed. Despite dealing with violent issues, Tell Me Why stands out for avoiding effects and easy morbid. We will not find tensions marked by fast-paced action, but we will find very intimate and hard moments on an emotional level. Despite being a mystery story, the Ronan adventure delves into topics as earthly as trust, economic inequalities and, above all, the fragility of one’s memory and subjectivity.
DONTNOD also makes an excellent portrait of the characters, whom we know not only through their scenes, but also through their personal belongings. Photographs, letters and other belongings tell us a lot about the personality of each one. However, Tell Me Why behaves like any good work of magical realism, and within costumbrismo there is room for fantasy. First, we will see how childhood imagination has become an important pillar for the Ronan, to the point that many of the puzzles within the game are based on the fables that were part of the growth of the twins. Second, we will know the super power of the brothers: the Voice, the telepathic communication between them and that will be essential in some moments of the adventure. Likewise, young people can conjure memories before them, which take semi-tangible form and which provide them with information about past experiences, which will be key to uncovering some enigmas. And, although these mechanics are original, we do miss a greater application of these in terms of puzzles.
Weaving stories and unraveling mysteries
Tell Me Why, in addition, does not reduce interaction to decision making at specific moments. During our interactions, we will have the option to intervene within a limited time, which adds agility and naturalism to the dialogues. Similar to how it happens in Life Is Strange, the impact of our choices will affect how our protagonists perceive others and how they relate to us. The major events will be unalterable and with small changes in their nuances. On the other hand, the relationship between the two brothers is the most likely to be shaped, and the epilogue will depend on the emotional bond created between them and on some crucial choices. Of course, at the climax of the story we will face a final decision in which we know there are no perfect consequences, but it will stir us inside. And it is that, without reeling the details of the story, Tell Me Why challenges the prejudice of the player himself, as well as concepts about justice, ethics and the importance of memories.
Puzzles are a welcome element in the Ronan brothers’ adventure and, keeping complexity to a minimum, they know how to involve the player in seeking their conclusions. To solve them, it is necessary to be attentive to the readings that we find throughout the adventure and not only a superficial glance will suffice. In any case, if we have difficulties, our twin will provide us with clues that will not be too invasive. And, if this still does not seem enough, we can choose a more drastic way to get around the obstacle of the puzzle. It is also appreciated that each enigma has a different structure, even if the source of clues is the same in many of them: sometimes we must make use of reading comprehension, other times look at the same environment, and other times remember information.
Tell Me Why also allows the player to recreate the time they want during the exploration. Although progress will depend on the main interactions, finding certain objects and collectibles will provide us with extra information about the context and the characters. The control between Alysson and Tyler rotates depending on the story, without us feeling that one is a satellite of the other or vice versa. A special mention should also be made of the integration of certain themes without elaborate tricks. Tyler, as featured in the trailers, is a trans man, and while his identity is vital in the construction of his character, he is not the epicenter of the plot, and the young man’s role in the story is not limited to his gender. We also see within the story the inclusion of indigenous Alaskan characters, as well as others dealing with mental illness. DONTNOD has done a documentation work to deal truthfully with sensitive issues within the game, with which a more than elegant result is noticeable.
Enigmas between a beautiful stillness
On an audiovisual level, also, Tell Me Why is a precious delight. The surroundings of Delos Crossing are of a peaceful beauty that creates a very efficient contrast with the mystery and the uneasy stillness that is breathed within the town. As for the characters, details are appreciated that make us perceive them with great naturalism, such as the graduation of movement speed according to the situation, facial expressions and body language even within the exploration sequences. Of course, there is no shortage of moments of calm that DONTNOD used to us in Life Is Strange, but treated in a different way: sometimes, we will sit and contemplate the landscape while having a quiet conversation, while enjoying a contemplative moment .
The ambient sound is also part of a calm atmosphere, with a subdued soundtrack that guides us towards the quietest moments and prepares us for the most tense situations. The legibility of the texts contains different and commendable accessibility options, although it should be remembered that the localization is in Latin Spanish. With English voices and translated texts, we sometimes find overly literal translations that we think could be improved.
In conclusion, Tell Me Why is an adventure that involves the player beyond pressing a button to pass text and acquire the passive role of reader. A mystery story that, despite containing violence, is rooted in everyday issues that anyone can identify with. The fable and reality merge into a very authentic story that will leave us a melancholic and restless residue, while we evaluate our decisions, we ramble on other possibilities and we wonder if we have really done the right thing.
This game has been analyzed in its version for Windows PC, thanks to a copy provided by Microsoft.
CONCLUSION
DONTNOD offers us again an adventure of magical realism, in which manners and fantasy are intertwined. The reunion of the Ronan brothers, ten years after the tragic death of their mother, will lead them to a mystery that delves into everyday issues such as financial problems or the importance of memories. With mechanics as original as the Voice or the conjuring of memories, there is a need for greater involvement of these in the puzzles. On the other hand, puzzles involve the player beyond making a superficial and guided exploration. As in Life Is Strange, decisions shape the characters’ relationships, but do not affect larger events. All in all, it leaves a melancholic residue on the reliability of its own judgment and with doubts about what is correct.
THE BEST
- A beautiful story of magical realism
- Very authentic characters
- A well-paced guided mystery with very earthy themes
- The rejection of morbid and effectism
WORST
- Voice and memories should be more integrated into the puzzles.
- Some literalities in the location.
