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LONG BLOG

Thank you, for bringing me here, for showing me Home.

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Home starts by waking you up in a strange room in a stranger's house on a dark and stormy night, as many a horrific tale tends to. Turns out that stranger is a bit on the dead side, there's reasonably fresh blood in several areas of the house, and you don't recall how or why you're there in the first place. How convenient. Your investigation takes you through the rest of said house, some dubious underground tunnels that eventually link up to the sewer system, the factory where you used to work, a forested park, your old buddy Norm's shop and apartment, and finally to your own neighborhood and titular home itself, all the while collecting (or electing not to collect) clues that may help clarify what's going on. Of particular import are the discoveries of various murder victims and the weapons that likely murdered them, though it's mostly left up to the player to figure out who did the murdering. The game doesn't actually telegraph that very well, so there are bits where it seems like you're just doing busywork to proceed, and when the game's ending is wrapped more in the main character's reflection on events (and your input into his thought process) rather than any solid answers, it may seem like a disappointed when a lot of questions are left unanswered.

That is, until a post-credits screen pops up, inviting you to head to a special, "What Happened?" section of the main Home site, where you can share your thoughts as to what occurred in the game. That's when it clicks. That's when you realize that Home is the story you make it, and you weren't having your hand held through a thin, trope-ridden plot the entire time; rather, the gameplay was simplistic at times to let your imagination do the walking, to assemble the puzzle however you choose given whatever pieces you decide to pick up or leave, or even explore enough to find in the first place. Therein lies the brilliance of Home.



If you'd like to take a trip Home yourself, it's in the Indie Royale Halloween Bundle with a bunch of other great games until November 2nd, or you can get it on its own for a whopping $2.99 on Steam, either by looking it up yourself or via a link at the game's website. Or feel free to watch my playthrough above, if you'd rather not get your hands dirty. Either way, definitely check out the What Happened page linked earlier if you do finish Home in some fashion, as even if you'd rather not share your own interpretation, there's an interesting spectrum of views to weigh against one's own.
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About nekobunone of us since 5:17 PM on 06.29.2007

Hi, I'm Chris, though I've been going by nekobun and variants thereof for so long, I kind of answer to both anymore.

While I've kind of got my own thing going in the realm of indie coverage, at least in the form of playing through (and streaming) (and writing about) the huge backlog I'm developing of games gleaned from various indie bundles, I try to keep my more mainstream, game-related features here, as well as opinion pieces on the industry at large, out of mad love for the 'toid. When I'm not rambling here or trying to be clever in comments threads, you can catch me rambling on Facebook and my Twitter, and trying to be clever in the Dtoid.tv chat.

Now Playing:
360: Halo 4
PC: F.E.A.R.
SNES: Secret Of Mana

Promoted:
I suck at games: PEW PEW LASERS
Improving game communities: Collective consciousness
Nothing is sacred: These walls have torn my world apart
The wrong thing: Only cream and bastards catch them all.
Love/Hate: I love to hate -you-
Love/Hate: B(u)y the book
The Future: Is still what it used to be
My Expertise: Playing the race kart
Something about sex: Sex sells, but who's buying?
E3 Approaches: It's oh so quiet
Freedom: Together, we'll break the chains of HUDs
East vs West: We've got the empire
Handhelds: Graduating as 2000's Catchemaledictorian
Relaxation: Cheesy double Chief burrito
Online Passes: A spoonful of sugar
Peripherals: Many tentacles pimpin' on the keys
This is what MAGfest is all about
Beginnings: Put it on the pizza
Disappointment: Bad(vent) timing

Recap Topsauce:
It's Thinking: Could you quit playing with that radio, love?
Do the wrong thing: And do it right, for once.
Afraid to shoot strangers.
Not if you were the last junkie on Pandora
Is Jim Sterling servicing the video games industry?
Something About Sex: Unsafe at any speed.
Doing DLC right
Congress passes sweeping Elfcare reform bill
Bottom five healthcare systems in videogames.
Pushing my love over the quarter line.
When my life would depend on an eight point none.
Remember the heroes.
Every Journey begins with a single step.
It's all over now, bomber blue.
Being Social: We'll always have Rainbow Road
Labor Day: Of course you realize, this means wark.
Please, aim it higher.
There Would've Been Brawl: Show me 'round your eggplantcage.
Integration: A place for everything
Zelda Week: I guess this is growing up.
MAGfest: the (don't be an) idiot's guide
Promotions: The bees are alright
Now is the winter of on-disc content
This was supposed to be a dozen items about nekobun.
Without Slenderness, there's something missing.
Cheap tricks (and treats) don't come cheaper than free.
The legacy of the (unlikely) wizard.
Cheap Tricks II: Sugar rush boogaloo
Thank you, for bringing me here, for showing me Home.
Burnt flowers fallen: the tragic bitchotry of Lilly Caul
Red and blue, resolving into purple.
Xbox LIVE:nekobun
PSN ID:strictmachine
Steam ID:nekobun
Mii code:2610 8366 7890 1412


 

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