|
SerenaSerena is a short indie title in the vein of classic point-and-click adventure titles, however, there is no inventory to manage, puzzles to complete, epic story line to follow, or locations to explore. Instead you find yourself fading in from black with no fanfare or credits. Melodic piano music begins to play and you find yourself in a cabin with no clues to guide you in figuring out how to navigate the world or what you're tasked with. Your character simply states that he misses Serena and needs to find her. The game is short but laden with heavy emotion and the story that begins to unfold encapsulates the man's memories of his wife Serena and follows the tragic rise and fall of their marriage. For such a brief title the game expertly manipulates the players emotions and you'll walk away from Serena disturbed at what you have uncovered. Fans of adventure games or those who are interested in interactive stories and independent titles that stray far from conventional computer games will have a thrilling time with Serena even though the game can be completed in about an hour.
Score: 7/10Developer: Senscape
Released: 2014 Genre: Point and Click Adventure, Interactive Story, Independent Official Website: Serena |
Graphics:
For the price of free on Steam, Serena is actually graphically impressive. You'll only be exploring one small set here but the developers have taken their time crafting the decrepit cabin that you'll be searching. Everything is coated with a sepia tone that creates an atmosphere that is full of mood, dreariness, despair, and loneliness. In a game whose story is at its most basic one of entropy, things going from order to disorder, the visuals are exceptionally adept at creating the right mood. This is a place that used to be happy and full of life as evident in the colorful throw rug at the foot of the bed and the books and cozy chair in the far corner of the room, but is now crumbling as time and neglect have destroyed any shred of hope of rekindling this place. Little details are strewn about this once happy retreat of a loving couple: salt and pepper shakers by the place settings on the dining room table, clothes neatly folded and stashed away in drawers, and a few pieces of artwork on the walls. As you roam around the empty cabin you get the overall sense that this was probably once a rustic little lovers hideaway that has been left to rot.
The overall look of the game is consistent; a deary, forlorn place that has been left to the elements for far too long allowing the rot of time to set in. The graphics overall aren't spectacular but the developers have taken great care to keep the look consistent and up close the textures of the game don't get grainy or pixelated. While you're basic task is to repeatedly look at the same interactive objects over and over to continue the story, the overall graphic theme is so laser focused it becomes more comforting to know what is familiar than have everything suddenly change. You don't get to go outside even though you can see hints of a world out there through the grimy windows, but somehow staying inside the cabin in Serena is better than knowing what lurks in the exterior world.
Thankfully the game is short so by the time you feel the single set piece is going to drive you batty the end of the story comes around quickly. There is no HUD or user interface to mar your view of the game. You only have a hand cursor that you use to move through the cabin and open up drawers and look at the various interactive objects. The overall look of the game is that of an old memory, something you would reminisce on but that has been washed out by the ravages of time. Everything is bathed in a sepia color scheme that evokes feelings of nostalgia but also decay. The graphics are so finely tuned with the atmosphere of the script that trying to separate the two is impossible. The visuals compliment the writing and the writing compliment the graphics in a perfect marriage of two important game mechanics. Since they're both the main aspects of Serena it's an excellent pairing that shows how the developers are expert manipulators of their craft.
For the price of free on Steam, Serena is actually graphically impressive. You'll only be exploring one small set here but the developers have taken their time crafting the decrepit cabin that you'll be searching. Everything is coated with a sepia tone that creates an atmosphere that is full of mood, dreariness, despair, and loneliness. In a game whose story is at its most basic one of entropy, things going from order to disorder, the visuals are exceptionally adept at creating the right mood. This is a place that used to be happy and full of life as evident in the colorful throw rug at the foot of the bed and the books and cozy chair in the far corner of the room, but is now crumbling as time and neglect have destroyed any shred of hope of rekindling this place. Little details are strewn about this once happy retreat of a loving couple: salt and pepper shakers by the place settings on the dining room table, clothes neatly folded and stashed away in drawers, and a few pieces of artwork on the walls. As you roam around the empty cabin you get the overall sense that this was probably once a rustic little lovers hideaway that has been left to rot.
The overall look of the game is consistent; a deary, forlorn place that has been left to the elements for far too long allowing the rot of time to set in. The graphics overall aren't spectacular but the developers have taken great care to keep the look consistent and up close the textures of the game don't get grainy or pixelated. While you're basic task is to repeatedly look at the same interactive objects over and over to continue the story, the overall graphic theme is so laser focused it becomes more comforting to know what is familiar than have everything suddenly change. You don't get to go outside even though you can see hints of a world out there through the grimy windows, but somehow staying inside the cabin in Serena is better than knowing what lurks in the exterior world.
Thankfully the game is short so by the time you feel the single set piece is going to drive you batty the end of the story comes around quickly. There is no HUD or user interface to mar your view of the game. You only have a hand cursor that you use to move through the cabin and open up drawers and look at the various interactive objects. The overall look of the game is that of an old memory, something you would reminisce on but that has been washed out by the ravages of time. Everything is bathed in a sepia color scheme that evokes feelings of nostalgia but also decay. The graphics are so finely tuned with the atmosphere of the script that trying to separate the two is impossible. The visuals compliment the writing and the writing compliment the graphics in a perfect marriage of two important game mechanics. Since they're both the main aspects of Serena it's an excellent pairing that shows how the developers are expert manipulators of their craft.
Sound:
The sound effects of Serena aren't anything spectacular. There is a generic footstep sound that plays as you transition between points of interest and other stock sounds such as the rustling of papers in a drawer or the tick-tock of the wall clock by the bed. The sound effects are minimal and ultimately forgettable as you navigate your way through the game. Where the game really stands out in the sound department is the surprisingly good voice acting.
The script is read with a conviction that you don't come across in many games, especially ones from small developers. You can hear the desperation in the narrators voice as he begins to unravel the mystery of why he can't remember his wife which turns to outright seething anger as he slowly uncovers the downfall of their marriage. For those YouTube junkies out there you'll recognize the voice of game reviewer PushingUpRoses reading the part of Serena and she actually does a surprisingly good job of conveying Serena as a character. Both characters are read and portrayed as convincing humans as opposed to empty vessels that only carry the story. They're nuanced and articulate and the emotion of the script is evident in each line read. Desperation, loneliness, despair, heartbreak, anger, guilt are all expressed within the voice acting in such a natural manner that you can't help but feel the tug as you uncover the story behind the confusion.
The music is also applause worthy in Serena. The game opens with a simple piano melody playing that is equal parts beautiful and tense. You can sense that unfortunate things are lurking behind the veil of serenity as the music calmly plays on. As you begin to uncover the mystery of your seemingly imprisoned state the music begins to get darker, ominous, and oppressive, finally reaching an eerie crescendo when the truth is finally uncovered. The music drips with atmosphere that perfectly matches the decaying look of the cabin and both the audibles and visuals weave together to create a space that is cohesive in its presentation and projection. This is a prison, a confinement that you want to escape but can't. All you can do is push closer to the truth no matter how awful it is. The simple controls ensure that as you play you're focused on the story, creating a connection between player and narrative that is not bogged down by complicated controls and is heightened by the dreary graphics and somber score.
The sound effects of Serena aren't anything spectacular. There is a generic footstep sound that plays as you transition between points of interest and other stock sounds such as the rustling of papers in a drawer or the tick-tock of the wall clock by the bed. The sound effects are minimal and ultimately forgettable as you navigate your way through the game. Where the game really stands out in the sound department is the surprisingly good voice acting.
The script is read with a conviction that you don't come across in many games, especially ones from small developers. You can hear the desperation in the narrators voice as he begins to unravel the mystery of why he can't remember his wife which turns to outright seething anger as he slowly uncovers the downfall of their marriage. For those YouTube junkies out there you'll recognize the voice of game reviewer PushingUpRoses reading the part of Serena and she actually does a surprisingly good job of conveying Serena as a character. Both characters are read and portrayed as convincing humans as opposed to empty vessels that only carry the story. They're nuanced and articulate and the emotion of the script is evident in each line read. Desperation, loneliness, despair, heartbreak, anger, guilt are all expressed within the voice acting in such a natural manner that you can't help but feel the tug as you uncover the story behind the confusion.
The music is also applause worthy in Serena. The game opens with a simple piano melody playing that is equal parts beautiful and tense. You can sense that unfortunate things are lurking behind the veil of serenity as the music calmly plays on. As you begin to uncover the mystery of your seemingly imprisoned state the music begins to get darker, ominous, and oppressive, finally reaching an eerie crescendo when the truth is finally uncovered. The music drips with atmosphere that perfectly matches the decaying look of the cabin and both the audibles and visuals weave together to create a space that is cohesive in its presentation and projection. This is a prison, a confinement that you want to escape but can't. All you can do is push closer to the truth no matter how awful it is. The simple controls ensure that as you play you're focused on the story, creating a connection between player and narrative that is not bogged down by complicated controls and is heightened by the dreary graphics and somber score.
Gameplay:
Serena is not the typical point-and-click adventure game that tasks the player with collecting seemingly random objects, environmental puzzles to ponder over, and endless NPC's to strike up conversations with. The game puts you in control of an unnamed protagonist and your sole purose is to obverse the contents of the cabin to figure out where your wife is and why you're alone in your summer cottage. The only actions available to the player are one to move and one to look. It's the simplest condensation of adventure game concepts but as the game is more of an interactive story they're the only two functions you need. They're simple and effective and keep the player focus on the story as opposed to figuring out the right combination of items to initiate or complete a puzzle.
The controls of the game are reminiscent of Myst where you click when the hand points in the direction you can travel and the game transitions to the next slide. Your character is cemented in place in each slide but the player does have the ability to pan the camera in 360 degrees to observe the cabin. It's an old control technique that pays homage to Myst in an obviously transparent way. Even in terms of player information the game resurrects Myst. You're dropped into the game with no fanfare, explanation, or information and you must figure out what to do and how the game works. It's simple but the first few seconds are disorienting and really create a feeling of tension and atmosphere; "Why am I here and what am I doing?" You'll quickly discover the picture on the table in front of you with the blurred-out face of a woman. Once you examine this photograph the game prompts you to remember Serena and as you do, by examining the remains of your cabin, the picture slowly fills in to reveal her face. As you continue to explore you'll realize that the same objects that brought back happy memories become tainted and the more you look at the same possessions the more you discover that Serena and the player become objects of hate. The story is gripping though short and repeatedly looking at the same junk over and over is monotonous, but the superb writing and convincing acting make the process bearable.
The game is simple to control and it's barely interactive in the video game sense but the script is enough to keep you focused on your task of discovering why you're trapped alone in a crumbling cabin. The game tackles human situations such as relationships, deception, betrayal, grief, guilt and a slew of other emotions that are fired at the player like a Gatling gun. At first the game appears to be happy, joyful even, as the player fondly remembers his wife but once he does the tone suddenly takes a dark turn and his wife becomes something he reviles, a force that has destroyed his life. The game takes on themes of nakedness and sex in the writing which may shock some players who recoil at such subject matter but it ultimately has a point to the story and is not included for anything gratuitous. Overall the theme of entropy pervades the entire game; things going from order to disorder, from happiness to complete despair. The game handles all these topics with ease and doesn't shy away from raw human emotion which really adds a punch to an otherwise short, barely interactive game. As a nice touch, as you near the end of the story, the objects you can view deactivate alerting the player that the finale is near.
Serena is not the typical point-and-click adventure game that tasks the player with collecting seemingly random objects, environmental puzzles to ponder over, and endless NPC's to strike up conversations with. The game puts you in control of an unnamed protagonist and your sole purose is to obverse the contents of the cabin to figure out where your wife is and why you're alone in your summer cottage. The only actions available to the player are one to move and one to look. It's the simplest condensation of adventure game concepts but as the game is more of an interactive story they're the only two functions you need. They're simple and effective and keep the player focus on the story as opposed to figuring out the right combination of items to initiate or complete a puzzle.
The controls of the game are reminiscent of Myst where you click when the hand points in the direction you can travel and the game transitions to the next slide. Your character is cemented in place in each slide but the player does have the ability to pan the camera in 360 degrees to observe the cabin. It's an old control technique that pays homage to Myst in an obviously transparent way. Even in terms of player information the game resurrects Myst. You're dropped into the game with no fanfare, explanation, or information and you must figure out what to do and how the game works. It's simple but the first few seconds are disorienting and really create a feeling of tension and atmosphere; "Why am I here and what am I doing?" You'll quickly discover the picture on the table in front of you with the blurred-out face of a woman. Once you examine this photograph the game prompts you to remember Serena and as you do, by examining the remains of your cabin, the picture slowly fills in to reveal her face. As you continue to explore you'll realize that the same objects that brought back happy memories become tainted and the more you look at the same possessions the more you discover that Serena and the player become objects of hate. The story is gripping though short and repeatedly looking at the same junk over and over is monotonous, but the superb writing and convincing acting make the process bearable.
The game is simple to control and it's barely interactive in the video game sense but the script is enough to keep you focused on your task of discovering why you're trapped alone in a crumbling cabin. The game tackles human situations such as relationships, deception, betrayal, grief, guilt and a slew of other emotions that are fired at the player like a Gatling gun. At first the game appears to be happy, joyful even, as the player fondly remembers his wife but once he does the tone suddenly takes a dark turn and his wife becomes something he reviles, a force that has destroyed his life. The game takes on themes of nakedness and sex in the writing which may shock some players who recoil at such subject matter but it ultimately has a point to the story and is not included for anything gratuitous. Overall the theme of entropy pervades the entire game; things going from order to disorder, from happiness to complete despair. The game handles all these topics with ease and doesn't shy away from raw human emotion which really adds a punch to an otherwise short, barely interactive game. As a nice touch, as you near the end of the story, the objects you can view deactivate alerting the player that the finale is near.
Final Thoughts:
Serena isn't so much a game as it is an interactive story book. The narrative is strong and so well written and presented that the barely-there controls and lack of mechanics so deeply embedded in video gaming that calling it a game is a bit of an overstatement. With only two basic mouse controls the game is so condensed that it's almost not a game at all. Thankfully a fantastic script, great voice acting, and complimentary music all weave together to create an experience unlike most you will find in video games or, rather, electronic entertainment. Calling Serena a video game is a bit of a misnomer but what you get is savory and worth your time to listen as two people go from loving couple to reviled enemies in the span of about 45 minutes. It's the human experience distilled into a story that is riveting if short.
If you're the kind of person with a weak stomach for talk of sex, hate, anger, or the overall darker side of humanity Serena is probably something you should avoid. The story does not shy away from some truly horrifying subject matter. The player, as the husband, will read lines along the effect of "I hate to so much-" and "I should have shoved this salt down her throat until she vomited..." The script is unapologetic and raw and captures the utter disdain people can feel towards each other as a relationship deteriorates.
In totality Serena is a title you should certainly check out especially if you're into the macabre or enjoy good writing, storytelling, or have a penchant for literature. There's a lot to dissect and discuss after playing this compact title. It's a shame the game is so short; it's long enough to explain the story and bring about a satisfying conclusion, but a little more interaction and a little more explanation wouldn't have killed the mood. But as it stands the only thing you'll lose to Serena is time as the game isn't asking for any money before playing. If you enjoy the game, though, you should consider making a donation to the developer or supporting them by buying their other titles. There is greatness at work here but without support the seeds of far greater titles will wither and die. If you have an hour to spare Serena is certainly worth a play through and you'll quickly find yourself immersed in its atmospheric setting and engrossed by its captivating story that will lead you to the darkest places of the human psyche.
Serena isn't so much a game as it is an interactive story book. The narrative is strong and so well written and presented that the barely-there controls and lack of mechanics so deeply embedded in video gaming that calling it a game is a bit of an overstatement. With only two basic mouse controls the game is so condensed that it's almost not a game at all. Thankfully a fantastic script, great voice acting, and complimentary music all weave together to create an experience unlike most you will find in video games or, rather, electronic entertainment. Calling Serena a video game is a bit of a misnomer but what you get is savory and worth your time to listen as two people go from loving couple to reviled enemies in the span of about 45 minutes. It's the human experience distilled into a story that is riveting if short.
If you're the kind of person with a weak stomach for talk of sex, hate, anger, or the overall darker side of humanity Serena is probably something you should avoid. The story does not shy away from some truly horrifying subject matter. The player, as the husband, will read lines along the effect of "I hate to so much-" and "I should have shoved this salt down her throat until she vomited..." The script is unapologetic and raw and captures the utter disdain people can feel towards each other as a relationship deteriorates.
In totality Serena is a title you should certainly check out especially if you're into the macabre or enjoy good writing, storytelling, or have a penchant for literature. There's a lot to dissect and discuss after playing this compact title. It's a shame the game is so short; it's long enough to explain the story and bring about a satisfying conclusion, but a little more interaction and a little more explanation wouldn't have killed the mood. But as it stands the only thing you'll lose to Serena is time as the game isn't asking for any money before playing. If you enjoy the game, though, you should consider making a donation to the developer or supporting them by buying their other titles. There is greatness at work here but without support the seeds of far greater titles will wither and die. If you have an hour to spare Serena is certainly worth a play through and you'll quickly find yourself immersed in its atmospheric setting and engrossed by its captivating story that will lead you to the darkest places of the human psyche.