The Beginner's Guide: To Experiencing A Walking Simulator

Time to Beat: 110 Minutes

There has never been an instance on Awkward Mixture, where writing a game review required more time than completing the game. But concluding The Beginner's Guide required less than an two hours, and could probably be finished in less than 90 minutes if the player moves with purpose.

The Beginner's Guide is narrated by the designer, Davey Wreden, better known for his first game, the ironic, quirky walking simulator, The Stanley Parable. The latter was published in 2013, and I was mildly satisfied after investing four hours. Released two years later, The Beginner's Guide employed the exact same mechanics, but with a different tone. In this sparse game, the player can only walk, interact with a limited number of predetermined objects, and listen to the narrator or other minor character. For this reason, it would be incorrect to claim that one beat or won the game.

Davey Wreden explains how 2009 he met fellow game designer Coda at a video game design conference in 2009. Observing Coda's short games he was enthralled and they remained in communication after the event. Over the next few years Davey repeatedly asked to see Coda's new games and Coda dutifully send them along for review. At the beginning of the The Beginner's Guide, Davey explains that Coda produced a collection of games between 2008 and 2011 before stopping. What Davey doesn't explain is why Coda quit his former hobby. Instead Davey claims he took Coda's games, compiled them together, made The Beginner's Guide with the hope that Coda will receive the critical reception he deserves and return to game design.

The Beginner's Guide, therefore, is a tour through Coda's games, narrated by Davey. Made with the Source Engine, they are initially simple and dull but the visual effects develop as the game progresses.
All sixteen short games, and one epilogue, share a number of characteristics.

They are incredibly short.
None of them are really games.
Davey talks to the player about the experience, but sometimes in game characters speak as well.
They are all first person walking simulators, and most don't tell a cohesive story on their own.
Yet Davey tries to weave together themes, thoughts, and lessons, searching for features beyond the basic visuals.

Throughout The Beginner's Guide Davey analyzes and critiques the short entries. Though the narrator states his purpose at the beginning, the designer's true intent is shrouded in mystery. Is The Beginner's Guide a critique of over-analysis? An insight into a game designer's mind, with Coda as a proxy for Davey? Random musings with little purpose? There are odd connections between the games such as three black dots in a design which appears repeatedly. Is there an analogy or a secret message hidden in the episodes?

The answer to all of these is: not really...

Another question which developed in my mind, which I can answer more conclusively is, does the
game change from episode to episode. That is, does it develop into something unexpected. The answer: no!
Throughout The Beginner's Guide, Davey weaves the episodes together thematically, linking a diverse range of related topics. Communication, loneliness, fate, a lack of freedom, imprisonment, validation, invisible forces beyond one's control, pointlessness, nihilism, suicide, friendship, the impossibility of knowing another person, and death of the author, are all subjects well knit into this short experience.

Which may leave the observant reader noticing that little has been revealed about the plot (aside from the introduction). They may ask: What is The Beginner's Guide about?

In reply, a hint: What is The Beginner's Guide a beginner's guide to? To game development? Friendship? Communication? Even if I could conclusively answer, I wouldn't, but if these hints sound enticing consider playing.
If the reader feels anxious that Davey offers no answers, feel comforted that this is not true. The last episode conclusively answers at least the obvious story questions, with a sorta-ish reveal. It's another thing I won't explain here, because doing so would ruin the experience.

In conclusion, The Beginner's Guide will satisfy those who enjoyed The Stanley Parable, or possibly other games of the same genre like Gone Home. But it wasn't as good as The Stanley Parable, regardless of the intention of the developer. It's also incredibly short, and that factor should be considered before purchase.

Like The Talos Principle or The Swapper, it is difficult to know if The Beginner's Guide is insightful and witty, or is trying to hard to be, but if even if it comes across as too heavy handed on some aspects, it conveys engaging set pieces on numerous topics.

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