Strider Hiryu

Yea, it pretty much is. All it really gives you is cutscenes and a few pictographs while you're traveling with a basic premise (I've read a plot synopsis from the developers so I know what they're trying to say through the game but it is pretty much up to your own thoughts on it). It's roughly a 2-3 hour playthrough by what I've read (if you only plan on playing it once, I'll probably play this multiple times just because the soundtrack is awesome and as I said it's a very relaxing game). Even though I haven't beaten it I fully understand why this game was so well received when it first came out.

So I beat it tonight after my curiosity got the best of me. I really do have to say this game is amazing and I plan on playing it through multiple times now that I've finally reached the end. It really is a deeply personal experience (evoking all sorts of feelings and thoughts, I honestly found it to be a greatly moving game to the point I had a tear in my eye when I reached the end) and while there is a plot there you really do make meaning for yourself while you play through the game. You get to meet a variety of people playing through the game (I played through with 6 different people in my one play through playing with the last person for the last half of the game) and though you can't talk (every character has a unique tone that you can use to get their attention but that's about all it's useful for) you still get a sense of camaraderie while you journey with them. The soundtrack, as I said is amazing, really does set a tone for each stage/level you progress to getting serious when it needs to and uplifting when it needs to. There are points where the game gets rather tense (I won't say what they are so you can surprise yourself as it's part of the experience) and points where it's downright goofy (meeting the cloth whale was probably the strangest thing I found in the game).

Overall this game deserves all the praise it's gotten and more. This game has more to it then most AAA titles on the market today and did so with a relatively small team and a simple idea. I can't stress enough how much everyone should give this game a try and while I admit it's not for everyone I'm sure even those who dislike it for what it is has something they found enjoyable about it. I really wish big name developers would look at these indie studios and take notes on what a game should be and not what they want it to be.

Awesome. This game is next on my to play list.