![]() ![]() Edward conveys a wide range of emotions, especially towards the latter half of the story. Lissie, in particular, is a standout performance that's equal parts comforting and slightly unhinged. The game is carried by some excellent voice acting through our two central characters. These multi-layered narrative-driven video games are in short supply, which is why Draugen boldly stands out. Your focus on unraveling the mystery of your sister's disappearance remains so clear-cut, that it effortlessly interweaves its true intentions into the narrative without you noticing until the final moments. The slow, unnerving descent into a certain mindset is also quite Lovecraftian in concept, but Draugen never fully embraces its more horrific elements - and it really doesn't need to in order to get its message across. Several plot developments fondly reminded me of games like Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and Dear Esther. Several plot developments fondly reminded me of games like Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and Dear Esther.īest of all, Draugen treats its risque themes and underlying tones with great care and attention. After completing the short four hour journey, I had to sit back and really ponder the greater themes that the game was trying to convey. For the majority of your time in the village, you're constantly exploring, unearthing twist after twist until a climactic third act that left me speechless. Draugen's greatest attributes comes from the unknown. You're never quite sure where the story might go, and by exploring Graavik and its vast mysteries, you're constantly left with more questions than answers after each passing day. There's a calm to the scenery, but the complexities of his character build the foundations of the game with a remarkably effective paranoia. There's an uneasy feeling of emptiness and underlying darkness that permeates throughout the experience - one that gave me chills, but emotionally hooked me in ways few games rarely do.Įdward is a complex, unreliable protagonist that obsesses over finding his sister, yet remains oddly disjointed from the world around him. Draugen takes its time to reveal the world, characters, and plot through the player discovering clues and making choices that steers the direction of the story. It's a perfect introduction as it not only immerses you completely in the characters and their personalities, but also sets up the pacing and tone of the entire game. You begin a slow boat ride to the village of Graavik, with nothing but Lissie's conversation to hold you over as you bask in the tall, snowy mountainous views around you. There's an uneasy feeling of emptiness and underlying darkness that permeates throughout the experience.ĭraugen's strengths lie in its immersion. As the narrative slowly unravels itself, you learn more about the dark history of the village, its former inhabitants, and ultimately, yourself. ![]() You're accompanied by a companion named Lissie, an energetic and bubbly ward who serves as your only source of conversation and seeming normality for most of the game. In Draugen, you play as Edward Charles Harden, an American traveler who arrives in a quaint village in the Norwegian countryside in search of his missing sister, who he believes has been kidnapped. Although, their eye-opening narrative adventure tells a deeply complex tale set amidst the backdrop of Norway's disturbed beauty. Red Thread Games' Draugen caught my attention for this very reason. ![]() The majestic, snowy mountains looming overhead the greenery layered across endless miles of land the quiet calm that comes with being surrounded by nature and the breathtaking landscapes just on the horizon all paint a picturesque feeling of serenity. I've always found the Norwegian countryside to be among some of the most beautiful locations on Earth. ![]()
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