Growing up is a very, very difficult process, sometimes forced, even painful or sad, but completely inevitable. The personality grows, goes through the thorny path of trial and error, joy and disappointment. For the first time he experiences the bitter taste of defeat and the sweetness of victory. Gaining any life experience makes a person more mature and focused on his own path of existence.

But what exactly is growing up?? What exactly makes an individual an “adult”? Where is the line that needs to be crossed in understanding life??

Everything is very individual, because different people can be influenced by completely different things or events, and also with unequal strength. The environment, your own outlook and life values ​​are important. All this can be “grinded” in a person’s head under the influence of various factors and incidents. Going through difficulties, solving various problems, a person not only becomes more adaptable and resourceful in this complex world, but also discovers a new self within.

But what if you don’t want change at all?? If at twenty years old you are completely satisfied with a quiet, measured life with understanding parents in a remote town where absolutely nothing happens? When you have already made an attempt, you got out into the big world, but the changes brought only pain and disappointment in yourself. Isn’t it easier to continue hanging out with your best friends, not think about work, and occupy your time with entertainment and pranks, like once upon a time?? After all, only then do you feel calm, all familiar things and people are nearby, you don’t need to worry about anything. It’s just that you won’t be able to “preserve” forever in peace and comfort. Nothing moves around you alone, everything improves, paves the way forward. And wouldn’t it be scary to stay in your cozy little world, but alone??

Today’s game will tell a story close and familiar to most people about the difficulties of growing up, soul-searching and the fear of moving forward. It is permeated with many serious and everyday topics for reflection, the spectrum is truly huge. From discussions about God, the universe, the meaning of the universe to discussions of horror films and typical teenage problems that seem unimaginably complex and insoluble.

Let’s observe the path of maturation and development of a young man who, at twenty years old, remained a pubescent teenager.

"Night In The Woods" – an indie quest game with stylish art and an amazing soundtrack has hit PC screens February 21, 2017 through the efforts of a Canadian development studio Infinite Fall and publishers from Finji. The game began its journey with promotions on Kickstarter to raise funds for its creation and development.

Apparently, investors were so attracted by the dynamic, richly rendered trailer that the required amount was collected within a few days, so the development was in full swing. Initially the release was planned for 2015, however, the release was postponed several times, because of this the game had the status of a “cold indie game” for some time. But it finally came out, and he made a huge contribution to the creation and implementation Alec Holowka – Canadian game developer. He not only worked closely on the script, but also developed character designs and wrote the soundtrack. Through the efforts of this talented and persistent person, combined with the well-coordinated work of the studio, this fairly well-known and rightfully well-rated game was born.

For me personally, in contrast to the deeply pleasant emotions after the passage, the news about Kholovka’s passing was shocking August 31, 2019 after allegations of sexual harassment against his colleague. The Internet community believes that they are baseless. However, due to outside pressure and the termination of his working contract with Infinite Fall, Alec Holowka committed suicide. Perhaps this fact is darker than all the Easter eggs and hidden meanings of the plot of “Night In The Woods”.

At the center of the story is a twenty-year-old cat Mae Borowski, returned to her small childhood town – Possum Springs and wandering through dark wooded areas on the way to her parents’ house.

During a short walk along broken roads and even power lines, through monologues, the player gets to know the heroine and reads her thoughts about everything that comes along the way, as well as numerous memories of old times.

So, we find out that May studied in her third year at the university, but flew out of there. The cat brags to her acquaintances and friends that she herself dropped out because she considers her studies to be lame and useless, and therefore does not want to waste any more time on it. However, later we understand that she made a rash, drastic decision, the discussion of which puts the heroine into fear and irritation. She does not explain to her parents the true reason for her arrival for quite a long time and brushes them off. May behaves like a typical teenage maximalist: having made a controversial decision, she runs as far away from the consequences as possible, desperately convincing herself that everything is under control, as it was intended. This is how we get to know the character and his surroundings.

At first, nothing interesting happens in the abandoned tiny Possum Springs. Every day the animals wander from work to home, communicate with each other, and visit almost the only few eateries in the entire district. And even though the city council is working on innovations and improving infrastructure, young people still flee to the big world, leaving parents and old people to lament the once bright days. So in more famous cities, Possum Springs is inexorably considered a hole.

Nevertheless, this is where May runs away from her problems, because here are her favorite friends with whom she can hang out and relax at any time. But she didn’t take something into account – adult life overtook everyone except May herself. Each of the gang got a job in an attempt to collect enough money and leave to look for a better life. For Borowski, this becomes the first blow and a personal conflict about his own precarious position in life without definite goals and aspirations.

The everyday idyll of daily hangouts with best friends and wanderings around places of childhood is diluted by an unusual find that does not fit into the sleepy atmosphere of the town at all. Everyone is confused, but soon returns to their business, only May remains in an overexcited, excited state. Strange incidents in the city and the deteriorating emotional state of the heroine, associated with her restless dreams, turns a lazy, calm quest into an adventure of personality development, filled with subtexts, numerous experiences of the heroes and their small stories, through which the author conveys his thoughts about life’s things to the players.

Having completed the game https://21grandcasino.co.uk/mobile-app/ to the end, you can understand that it tells something more than the story of a cat in a small town.

Game structure

The biggest semantic load in the game comes from dialogues with various characters, the main character’s exploration of a vast area and visits to every corner of the city that you can stumble across. The very meaning lies in May’s daily life, where every day follows an already established schedule: getting up, playing the bass at will, morning conversation with her mother, going to see one friend and choosing who to hang out with. And late in the evening, the father of the family will invite his daughter to watch a comedy show together for a while, and then go to the land of dreams, where sometimes surreal movements take place, to which we will return later.

If you wish, you can completely ignore everyone except the main secondary characters and follow the straight line of the plot. But, of course, I couldn’t help but talk to everyone every day and go to side places where a lot of interesting things also happen. For me, the game, in its calm flow, reveals itself to the maximum, deeply plunging into the inner world of the heroine and letting you feel the atmosphere of a sleepy city, as if frozen in time.

Users had mixed reactions to the game, allegedly it was completely different from what was presented in the trailer. There, May briskly jumps along the wires, vandalizes with might and main, and the plot energetically moves forward. In fact, everything is so, only with great dilution with everyday life and dialogues. That is why the project was called “deceiving expectations”. It seems to me that many people simply expected too much more from the gameplay, rather than reading pages of texts. Be patient and the game will reward you for it. No, the ending will not change in any way if one day you don’t talk to a minor character, or you immediately run about your cat business, leaving mom in the kitchen alone to read a book. Don’t limit yourself to visiting only three key people. After all, through conversations with sidekicks, not only Possum Springs is revealed, but also Mae Borowski herself. Small and sometimes sad stories of residents are kept in this quiet, routine place. It is obvious that a city reveals itself better than its landscapes through its citizens. If you spend a little more time daily exploring the nooks and crannies of May’s homeland, then it may sparkle in front of you with new, albeit not the brightest, colors.

Let’s get acquainted with the main characters who are trying to get out of the routine of the old city with all their might.

Mae Borowski – as we already know, May impulsively dropped out of college and fled to her home, hoping to find support and refuge from her own failures from friends and family. From communication with townspeople, parents and acquaintances, one can understand that May left the impression of a rebel and a difficult teenager, whose deviant behavior was constantly manifested. That it is difficult for her to control negativity – she often says harsh things, without thinking at all that such behavior could hurt loved ones. Borowski has a low self-critical personality assessment; she doesn’t have exact ideas about what she wants from life, preferring to stagnate more.

by luxjii (tumblr)

by luxjii (tumblr)

When you first meet her, the image may represent an infantile teenager who does not want to accept responsibility and adult life. She can be childishly offended by things that she simply refuses to understand. Sometimes too stubborn. Realizes the situation after making hasty decisions. However, in the future one can see her sincerity, devotion and determination in helping important people. She may feel awkward and may not always be able to find the right words in a tense situation, but she gives herself over to the dialogue and is never indifferent to her interlocutor.

In order to cope with anger, he even keeps a diary, where he writes down his thoughts and makes funny sketches. Flipping through her entries and viewing new, seemingly insignificant ones, is very soulful.

Based on Borowski’s actions and behavior with other characters, one can judge her impartiality, naivety and delaying the moment of growing up as much as possible. Many situations seem simple and easily solved to her, although everything can be much more serious.

Contains many personal questions and interesting conflicts that must be dealt with together with the player.

Greggory Lee – young fox brawler, May’s close friend. They have known each other since their early school years and have experienced a lot together, so if he chooses to go through the “friendly route” with him, at the end of the vandal pranks there will definitely be a sincere conversation about the experiences and fears of this ever-cheerful little fox. At first glance, it may seem that Gregg is an uncontrollable teenage vandal, whose only thing on his mind is fun and parties. Partly yes, he doesn’t mind making some noise at all when the opportunity arises – for any movement. However, he is also worried, afraid of losing his beloved boyfriend; that frivolous behavior will scare him away. That is why he works on himself, even got a job at a local grocery store in order to save up to move to a more prosperous place to fulfill his dreams.

by littlerootveggie (tumblr), by astrafortune (tumblr)

by littlerootveggie (tumblr), by astrafortune (tumblr)

Very energetic, charismatic, has an inexhaustible supply of humor and enthusiasm, even if everything is bad. He is often rash and acts without thinking, but will do anything for the sake of his friends. Very loyal and brave, this bundle of pulsating tomfoolery never wants his friends to be sad.

Angus Delaney – a large bear in glasses, a sweater and a cute, strict top hat. The complete opposite of her boyfriend Gregg. He is quiet, courteous, polite, highly erudite. She prefers cozy reading evenings to her boyfriend’s vandalism. Suffers from periodic asthma attacks, fortunately this does not result in anything more serious. Loves astronomy and is deeply knowledgeable about the constellations, their meanings and history. He maintains a warm relationship with the main character; she can always visit him at the video rental store where he works. Towards the end of the game they will even let him go for a walk in the park. While playing a mini-game with stars, the bear will also talk about his difficult childhood, filled with beatings and indifference from his parents. As he later claimed, it was Gregg who helped him cope with all this burden, so he is very attached to him, although he does not outwardly show his love.

by etherealsaul (tumblr), by 0marm-alade0 (tumblr)

by etherealsaul (tumblr), by 0marm-alade0 (tumblr)

Beatrice (Bee) Santello – the most gloomy, apathetic and depressed member of this gang. Deep bruises from fatigue have settled under the eyes on the ever-brooding crocodile face. There is a fake cigarette in the mouth, helping to fight a bad habit. May and I are childhood best friends, although they had a big fight during middle school. Re-establishing relationships and making contact with Bee is the most difficult thing, she is the most difficult emotional character in the game. As the story progresses, they often argue and cannot find a common language; they have radically different points of view on topics in adult life.

by flowgence (tumblr), by jkatnay (tumblr)

by flowgence (tumblr), by jkatnay (tumblr)

Bi is very stubborn, often cynical and cold towards others. She is mired in her problems and is so confused that she can push away loved ones, even if they sincerely want to help. Ruts with her are walks along the blade between another quarrel and a relatively good evening.

Unlike the other three Persians who left the difficulties of the past, Bee is still spinning in them. She hates the family business, which she is forced to drag out as best she can in order to pay for the apartment and food, because her own father is not able to do this. Beatrice dreamed of going to college and moving to a bustling university town. But she remained confined to Possum Springs by family responsibilities. That is why he condemns May, because she so easily and carelessly abandoned what Bea could only dream of.

Positioned by the game as the most mature character, who should point out to Borowski his aimlessness in life and somehow bring him to his senses.

And now this gang of animals is involved in a chain of mysterious incidents that will sweep through the city like an invisible whirlwind, tearing fragile autumn leaves from the branches. But most of the time they solve personal problems, reconnect with each other and hang out, hang out a lot.

All the characters, from the main ones to the secondary ones, are written deeply and vividly, so together with them you feel as if you are even more alive. Do you think about your difficulties in life, experiences?. Getting to know these animals makes you experience the same emotions and feelings that are characteristic of all people.

Gameplay

The gameplay is not complicated at all. All that is required from the player is to move using the arrows and talk with local residents, sometimes picking up various items. There is also the opportunity to jump and climb to all sorts of places, exploring the city is really varied, although May Borowski’s autumn days are similar to each other. Although if the player shows a little patient attentiveness, he will notice changes in the sleepy city in small details.

In addition to wandering around the city, the game provides many mini-games that can be played both in the story and in side lines. They also have an interesting presentation. Here you can connect the stars, build something, fight with knives, hit targets, and so on.