Koira
The Wood At Bay
For several days now, my group and I have been tracking that figure, accompanied by a young pup, through this vast forest. We're guided by sounds and scents, but there's something stirring in these trees, even if the others don't notice, too consumed by their thirst for blood. It's as if nature itself were trying to speak... So, when the moment comes will the shot hit its mark, or will it miss entirely?
†Into the woods, and through the trees, not to chase or not to flee, just to drink in the beauty of it all. Hand-drawn environments bathed in pastel hues wrap you in a gentle, soothing atmosphere. But the tranquility is sometimes disrupted when danger lurks, with the palette darkening to give way to palpable tension. It's a restrained approach, but remarkably effective at making you feel that contrast in mood. That same minimalism carries over to the characters. Reduced to simple shadowy figures, they assert their identity through nothing but posture and gaze. The spirit and the puppy, with their round eyes and innocent demeanor, in stark contrast to the hunters, whose angry stares and menacing bearing inspire a heavy sense of threat. And deep in the forest, it's hard to lose your way, because between the play of light and the details in the scenery that guide the eye, the path unfolds naturally; no need of a bloodhound's nose to find the way.
†Deep inside the forest, you'll hear the cuckoo bird... and all the creatures that dwell within it. In fact, while a piano accompanies our stroll with its soft and hushed melody, each creature has its own voice, or rather its own instrument, much like a Peter and the Wolf. Thus, the spirit is represented by a sort of pan flute, the puppy by the harmonica, the wild boars by deeper brass instruments, and even the flora takes part in this orchestration, with flowers and mushrooms responding with little bells. Being in harmony with nature has never made more sense than here, where music becomes a true language to converse with the forest. The hunters are no exception, as they are part of this ecosystem, but through their unnatural acts, they resonate in dissonance with everything else... which will eventually happen to our character as well.
+/- So this is a story of connection, filled with poetry and tenderness, but above all, it's a beautiful story of friendship between a spirit and his dog. Without ever a single word, this duo melts hearts as the little details keep reinforcing their bond, like the way they constantly search for each other's gaze, call out when they lose sight of one another, or simply play together whenever the chance arises.
However, the trail grows murky when it comes to the spirit's relationship with the hunters. Beyond the obvious ecological message about respecting nature, there is also a rather explicit theme about breaking the cycle of violence and not letting anger consume us. A commendable idea, but sometimes it left me perplexed. To my view, anger can be a legitimate, even necessary emotion in the face of injustice, yet certain scenes seem to guilt-trip the character for their outbursts, despite everything the hunters have put them through. Added to this is an abrupt ending that leaves our two protagonists in a sort of status quo, without any real resolution.
+/- As we make our way through these woods, a few small puzzles present themselves, always tied to the flora and fauna, without ever slowing our pace. There are also plenty of activities to enjoy with our beloved pup, from games to mutual aid where everyone pitches in paw to move forward together. While the whole affair is certainly charming, a certain redundancy eventually sets in, as these interactions evolve very little. This is all the more unfortunate given that the growing bond between the protagonist and his puppy paved the way for more varied forms of cooperation. Ultimately, these mechanics, though certainly coherent, are unlikely to leave their mark.
â On several occasions, they'll have to hide in the bushes to escape the dangers lurking nearby. Unfortunately, these stealth sequences lack consistency, as it is often difficult to understand under what circumstances the characters are spotted or not. The AI sometimes seems to have them in its sights for no apparent reason.
â We never get lost in this forest, that's for sure. However, finding your way back after a break is trickier, since the auto-saves never indicate when they trigger. You're left like a lost puppy, with no idea where or when your progress was recorded.
I turn back, I didn't stay true to my group, unlike these two beings whose friendship shot me straight through the heart, quite the irony for a hunter. And if this whole adventure, its gentleness will leave a lasting imprint that, this time, I'll choose not to track.
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