Developer: Arbitrary Metric
Publisher: Arbitrary Metric
Release Date: September 6, 2018
Steam Page: Paratopic
Paratopic is a short, atmospheric game with PSX era graphics that presents more questions than answers. From the very beginning, the player is enmeshed in a haunting mystery—one that is riddled with death and malevolence alike. The root cause of all these problems seems to lie within mysterious, banned video tapes. These tapes are the only form of pleasure found in this broken-down, pitiful world, but it comes with the price of corrupting mind, body, and soul.
One of the main strengths of Paratopic is its ability to create an unsettling stage for which each scene plays out. From distorted voices and faces to an eerie landscape, it easily succeeds in increasing the player's apprehension. Multiple instances of waiting idly during scenes also contributes to this. These suspenseful moments include little to no player interaction, leaving time to wonder if something is lurking around the corner. However, they can sometimes feel a bit overdone, such as in the notorious long driving sequence which repeats over the course of the playthrough. It certainly adds to the narrative, but it is a slight hindrance for the player. In most cases, time slowing to a crawl in these scenes enhances the experience, as long as you have enough patience to endure them.
Besides the atmospheric touches, the progression of the story also adds to the intrigue. Although there are dialogue options sprinkled throughout the game, the story is a straight line, with a non-linear chronology, leading the player to a single ending. What makes Paratopic unique, however, is how the scenes are presented. They are spliced together with no transition whatsoever, giving only vague hints of where they fit together in the overall plot. It is up to the player to unravel these threads, piecing them together to create a coherent representation of the timeline. The way the player is dropped in carelessly emphasises the ennui of this grimy, desolate world. Such a subversion challenges the expectations that modern games have adhered to, making Paratopic stand out from the crowd.
Who should play this game: Fans of cult classic cinema and gamers with an open mindController Support: Yes
Steam Achievements: Yes; 20
Steam Trading Cards: No
DLC Available: Yes; Paratopic Soundtrack