Gris (2018) - review
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The art and design of Gris is unique in that it invites the gamer to develop empathy for the hero without relying on constant dialogue or exposition that might otherwise over-explain the story. Developed by Nomada Studio, this 1-player side-scroller achieves something similar to what a lot of anime achieves in films and tv series by offering to the gamer a main protagonist that can create a sense of sorrow through stillness that many realistic 3-D characters struggle to express.
In a way, Gris often embodies traits associated with what anime characters can have; the character design is striking against layered and detailed backgrounds emphasizing her delicate albeit swift movements across the screen. There were some moments here that the digital and hand-drawn aesthetic felt similar to Miyazaki's first attempt at doing this in his feature-length anime film "Princess Mononoke". i.e. there is certainly that "Ma" that exists here in Gris as well. (japanese word meaning the moment existing between action) As a gamer, you're curious about it's message hidden beneath the softness of it's melancholic red-and-black color palette that has you anticipate blue tones to transport us into more detached realms. The traditional drawing of the character mirrors a sort of detachment from the world by default. The environment consists of mostly colorful flat shapes, rendered in digital software and these imperfect, hand-drawn cycles provide so much contrast.
The game evokes a slow, introspective tension, inviting reflection rather than providing neat conclusions. Gris isn't your typical, side-scrolling protagonist. Seemingly damaged both on the interior and exterior, the game's heroism is pronounced ultimately through internal battles, because the levels she ventures on through and successfully completes feel like inner journies of the soul, encouraging the gamer to introspect its meaning.
Traversing through eccentric levels in order to cope, everything but mostly her in the entirety of the game is digital which, makes the game's thesis point to something more interpersonal. Gamers feel the character's strength of coping without having to waiste any time heeaing any dialogue that may be too overt. What they feel as they go along doesn't effect their anticipations of in-game predicaments, for each layout is cohesively meditative. The gamer can calibrate this relaxingly, because there is hardly any obstacle prompting immediate action.
An impressive gaming score composed by Berlinist complements the visual storytelling with a carefully synchronized score that enhances the visuals' emotional impact. This level of cohesion ir rare in side-scrollers when sensitivity and artistic ambition sets a game apart from so many that try to cohere to traditional gameplay conventions.
Graphics - 10/10
Story - 8/10
Overall - 10/10
References
(2018, 14 Dec) [Image] Wikipedia
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/GrisCoverImage.jpg/250px-GrisCoverImage.jpg
Figure 1: Poster of Gris (2018)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/GrisCoverImage.jpg/250px-GrisCoverImage.jpg
The art and design of Gris is unique in that it invites the gamer to develop empathy for the hero without relying on constant dialogue or exposition that might otherwise over-explain the story. Developed by Nomada Studio, this 1-player side-scroller achieves something similar to what a lot of anime achieves in films and tv series by offering to the gamer a main protagonist that can create a sense of sorrow through stillness that many realistic 3-D characters struggle to express.
In a way, Gris often embodies traits associated with what anime characters can have; the character design is striking against layered and detailed backgrounds emphasizing her delicate albeit swift movements across the screen. There were some moments here that the digital and hand-drawn aesthetic felt similar to Miyazaki's first attempt at doing this in his feature-length anime film "Princess Mononoke". i.e. there is certainly that "Ma" that exists here in Gris as well. (japanese word meaning the moment existing between action) As a gamer, you're curious about it's message hidden beneath the softness of it's melancholic red-and-black color palette that has you anticipate blue tones to transport us into more detached realms. The traditional drawing of the character mirrors a sort of detachment from the world by default. The environment consists of mostly colorful flat shapes, rendered in digital software and these imperfect, hand-drawn cycles provide so much contrast.
The game evokes a slow, introspective tension, inviting reflection rather than providing neat conclusions. Gris isn't your typical, side-scrolling protagonist. Seemingly damaged both on the interior and exterior, the game's heroism is pronounced ultimately through internal battles, because the levels she ventures on through and successfully completes feel like inner journies of the soul, encouraging the gamer to introspect its meaning.
Traversing through eccentric levels in order to cope, everything but mostly her in the entirety of the game is digital which, makes the game's thesis point to something more interpersonal. Gamers feel the character's strength of coping without having to waiste any time heeaing any dialogue that may be too overt. What they feel as they go along doesn't effect their anticipations of in-game predicaments, for each layout is cohesively meditative. The gamer can calibrate this relaxingly, because there is hardly any obstacle prompting immediate action.
An impressive gaming score composed by Berlinist complements the visual storytelling with a carefully synchronized score that enhances the visuals' emotional impact. This level of cohesion ir rare in side-scrollers when sensitivity and artistic ambition sets a game apart from so many that try to cohere to traditional gameplay conventions.
Graphics - 10/10
Story - 8/10
Overall - 10/10
References
(2018, 14 Dec) [Image] Wikipedia
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/GrisCoverImage.jpg/250px-GrisCoverImage.jpg
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