Dare you enter the void?
The Void is a game which is very difficult to compare to other titles, but it's a sort of puzzle adventure like Myst mixed up with the creepiness of things like Phantasmagoria. It's a very beautiful game, that's quite arty but features some intriguing gameplay which makes it worth a look if you want something unusual. It is a game best suited to adults however, as there is a lot of nudity, but it's mostly not gratuitous. The game finds you in the role of a soul who has died but who has gone to the Void, a sort of netherworld between the lands of the living and the dead. It's a difficult place to survive in and to do so, you need to seek out the Color, the only food of these lost souls. This involves exploring the world, occasionally engaging in combat, although this is best avoided, and solving drawing-based puzzles, which is the game's key mechanic. It's a difficult game to convey effectively on the page, and is just as difficult to play, at least initially. Many things are left deliberately vague, and it's up to you to discover the story and the mechanics yourself. This might put many players off initially, as it can be frustrating when you start, but persevere and you'll find a highly rewarding and quite mesmerizing game. The visuals are very impressive, with some atmospheric environments and character designs to explore, and there's a genuinely unsettling feel to the gameworld, which is also aided by the effective sound design. This isn't going to be for everyone, but if you want to be challenged and like unusual games, then this is a worthy addition to your collection.
