The game centers around two characters, a boy and a girl with supernatural powers, and the romantic relationship between the two. It is set in the 1990s and tells a story about overcoming anxiety and depression. This is clearest in the combat that is obviously meant to be a simple tool for certain scenarios where you have to resort to violence, even when it feels like Atma would probably try to talk a situation out. A Space for the Unbound is an atmospheric exploration game that features a pixel art style. 2 Through the powers of a red book that Atma finds, he gains the ability to 'space dive' into people's minds and help fix their problems through puzzles that the player completes. Sometimes the game’s adventure mechanics expertly highlight narrative beats, like a series of Spacedives that take the form of courtrooms and change gameplay to something like Ace Attorney, while at other points it feels like the game is trying to force a different style of gameplay it cannot itself support. 1 The player controls Atma, an Indonesian high school student who is getting close to graduation with his girlfriend Raya. They also often try to tie story elements into the gameplay to mixed results. These parts might be the weakest element of A Space for the Unbound, but the puzzles mostly strike a good balance of not being too obtuse while also being difficult enough that you feel smart solving them. Here, you’ll solve puzzles and occasionally engage in the game’s combat, which is just hitting directions and face buttons before a bar empties, and then blocking at the right moment. When Atma ‘Spacedives’ into people's minds, these themes are interwoven into puzzles, a la Psychonauts. Related: Little Gator Game Review - Lil Gator, Big Heart One character is given surprisingly little development considering their actions cause most of this pain, but the game goes to great lengths to remind you that while everyone is worth saving, some people simply don’t want help. For the most part, it’s a nuanced and deeply personal portrayal of flawed characters fighting to function when they clearly need help. It paints characters trying to enjoy idyllic life while dealing with their own personal demons expertly. Thankfully, unlike some other video games using trauma for controversy and excitement, it gives them the weight they deserve, slowly building through dialogue different characters' anxieties, neuroses, and personal issues. It even opens with a content warning for abuse, violence, and suicide, leaving the question, ‘How does Space For The Unbound handle these topics?’. A Space for the Unbound is more than just a beautiful game it is also an emotionally charged narrative full of wit and heartfelt moments that will leave you thinking long after your journey ends. Going much further into story details would ruin pretty much everything that makes this game great - but it is worth noting it’s extremely focused on some intense themes.
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