N/A: Gris

I love arty emotional indie games.

There are so many reviews online already about how beautiful and perfect this game is, I'll keep this short. Gris is beautiful, visually and audibly. It's beauty is always evolving and growing, so expect to be awestruck in every moment.

I didn't realize until halfway through the game that the stages are based on the stages of grief. You know, anger, depression. I'm pretty sure the epic and moving conclusion is acceptance.

Gris is largely a pretty puzzle-platformer. I only found one area frustrating--the improbable scale puzzle in the crystal cavern--but other than this, Gris is a casual joy to play. I love this game. I love the watercolor effects, and the surprises awaiting each new area, such as making a forest friend, swimming from an eel, or simply sprinting through stunning scenery. It's like if Ecco the Dolphin were pretty and interesting, instead of pretty and eternally frustrating.

The game's narrative relies on symbolism. It's up to you to fill in the blanks on the story. You've lost your ability to sing, so the Goddesses who rule this realm crumble into ruins at the loss of your song? Or the other way around? I don't know. But the imagery is strong, so the theme of loss and grief resonates throughout, especially at the end. Stories are allowed to be abstract. In this case, a surreal fairy tale. A short one, too, somewhere between three to five hours to complete. I appreciate short games.

I loved the ending so much, I went back and replayed the conclusion a second time. And I used to think Sonic 2 has the best game ending. Well, I still do, kind of. But Gris is freaking phenomenal.

I recommend Gris to anyone who wants to play a beautiful, breezy, and moving platformer.