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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