The Other Half

When I set my controller down as the credits started to roll, I felt...conflicted. Uncomfortable. Dissatisfied. It wasn’t until after I allowed the last third of the game to truly sink in that I was able to appreciate it for what it is, although I can’t say that I enjoyed it. That’s not to say The Other Half isn’t a good game. It is a good game. It’s an important game. It’s a game that tackles some fairly hefty themes that I as a woman was unsure I wanted to tackle. But I’m glad that I did, because in a world where a single mistake in one’s past forever defines them, a world in which no matter how sorrowful or remorseful a person is, forgiveness is forever withheld, we need games like The Other Half to tell us that we're wrong. I really don’t want to say more than that for fear of ruining the story, just know that this game is an experience. Whether it’s a good or bad one is ultimately up to you. [code][h1]Curated by: [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/330...

Well... that got dark. TRIGGER WARNING: That "Content warning: sexual assault" disclaimer is not a joke. No, there's no sexual assault in the game, but the topic is central to the plot. If you aren't comfortable with that, skip this one. If you can handle it, then full speed ahead. Here's my experience. I was looking for a fun and engaging top-down adventure game, and when I stumbled across The Other Half. It looked cool, and the price was right, so I decided to give it a whirl. I'm so glad I did, but not for the reasons I expected. I sat down to pay a few minutes, just to get familiar with the controls, and ended up playing straight through the game. That's a first for me. First of all, the game itself is really good. The play control is smooth and straightforward, and the combat demands focus and rhythm to get right. Also, it's staggeringly beautiful, not just because of the graphics style, but because of the way everything flows together. At first blush, The Other Half has all th...

I've requested a refund. From the beginning, it was indicated that this game deals with themes of sexual assault, and it does, but poorly. (mild spoilers ahead) Somehow, the narrative, while correctly asserting blame and fault, manages to center the perpetrator in such a way that the survivor is still just a prop to make you feel sorry for the perpetrator, who just didn't know any better. By owning these 'mistakes', things will be fixed??? Started out as a really strong concept where I thought I could feel the plot twist coming (between Daniel and Annalise), but then managed to screw things up anyway. Oh, I wonder if this was written by a man... Of fucking course it was. No offence, but I'd dare to bet money that the writer wasn't sexually assaulted. The graphically phallic references as you progress would be funny if the subject wasn't so dour and serious. It just made it feel like sexual assault is a joke. I don't get what they were trying to accomplish. This really wasn't "own...

Good combat? Check. Good narrative? Double check, underlined, highlighted. The content warning is very appropriate - once revealed, it plays a huge role in the story. Expect to feel uncomfortable. The game’s greatest strength is its story. In the beginning, it appears to be another take on a tried and true formula - a hero comes to rescue a town from a great evil. But soon the game drops hints that not everything is as it seems. Over its 2 hour run time, the game expertfully keeps you wanting more as the story takes a dark turn. When I reached the ending, the game’s story stuck in my thoughts for several more hours. The combat is simple and effective. You use the analogs to move around and control a flame that circles around your character. When facing opponents, you attack weak spots. “Perfect” dodges gives you a brief moment of invincibility. I would heartily recommend this game for all of the reasons above.

Very good little game. Only has about two hours of gameplay, so keep that in mind. Combat system is interesting. Simple, yet engaging. Really only three buttons: Move, fire, short sprint in one direction. Story is revealed through narration as you defeat demons. I can't give a full review without spoilers, but I highly recommend. Very informative. Take the "Sexual Assault" warning seriously.

Do not recommend. There's some going for it--the combat goes from simple, to tense, but unfortunately back to simple again once you realize the entire trick is a well-timed dodge. The atmosphere can be pretty creepy. The story...tries really hard. But in the end, it's short, the play is dull, the story is poisonously didactic, and the "Content warning" gives away the schtick right off the bat. "Obviously, all of this is metaphorical," I thought, after maybe 10 minutes in. Then it's a trudge that goes exactly where you expect it to. Then there's the message. I get it: respec wahmen. But all this can do is breed anxiety, neurosis, and self-loathing in people who are already bombarded with mixed messages about how to treat the opposite sex, and who is responsible for romantic and sexual signalling, and who is responsible for miscommunication. I wouldn't want my sons or daughter to play this. The story's "Degrassi Junior High" take on these issues is the most modern of pop psychology and ...

Refunded. I do not recommand this game just because it did not meet my expectation. In fact it is good enough as a two-hour game especially at sale. As there is no negative review now, I hope this can be a warning to those who may have similar expectation. +++ Good art style, narrations, music and metaphor. - The storyline is too simple. (But it will be acceptable if you do not expect that much.) - The combat lacks depth and the items do not make much sense. (Since all these elements are basically served for the metaphor.) - You have some choices in the game but there seems to be only one ending. * Warning: The "sexsual assault" content is real.

This game honestly just seemed like it was trying to build sympathy for a the perpetrator of sexual assault. I saw what they tried to do, but it came off as "I feel bad for assaulting someone, give me sympathy." Honestly a story that really didn't need to be told

I don't know about this one. Gameplay is mediocre but clearly not the center of it. While the game is about blame and guilt I don't know why they choose to build it around sexual assault... All in all it feels like it doesn't really have a point to it but rather likes to provoke (and no, not provoke thought)... So... Maybe pass...

This game was unlike any other top down adventure game I've played to date. Like another reviewer pointed out: The "[b]Content warning: sexual assault[/b]" is put there for a reason. I picked up this game as a recommendation, and went in not knowing what to expect; to just give it a couple of hours to see what I thought. Well, the game is easily completed in two hours, and is best played in one sitting, so make sure you skip the movie tonight and play this through instead. The developer's creative world provides a raw, compelling narrative that forces players to confront harsh realities about the people around them, and perhaps even themselves. If you liked Black Mirror on Netflix, you'll enjoy this. The game itself is simplistic in design, with primarily black and white landscapes, which makes the dynamic colors from the player and the enemies seem so much more vibrant. The combat itself was fairly simple, yet difficult enough to be engaging. There are small details interspersed ...