Port of Call

Port of Call is that kind of game that’s small in stature but can leave a rather big footprint in your thought process. It’s a short narrative that takes place from a first-person point of view and touches a complex subject in a simplified but effective manner.

Port of Call begins like all good narrative focused games should, without you having the slightest clue about what’s going on or where you are. This way, the game purposely forces you to interact with other characters in the hope of finding out more, which is the premise on which the game is based.

Your job throughout the game is to talk to the several characters you’ll meet in the attempt of finding out who you are, why you’re there and what’s happening. A conversation can take multiple paths depending on the questions you ask or the details you request on a particular subject. The good part is that each one is strange and in a lot of cases, new information can derail your train of thought.

In Port of Call, you will get to explore the notions of neglect, depression, and different forms of death as well as what consequences can mean for each of them. The game might look simple in design, and to be fair it is, but it has a lot of depth.

Port of Call touches sensitive subjects from an unexpected point of view, that of a trapped spirit. The game features good writing, and a well thought out story delivery sequence, the kind that piles up slowly and comes to fulfillment in a few seconds.

To end, Port of Call is a nice game even though it offers only a few minutes of enjoyment. However, games that make you think about the value of life and the consequences of our actions, like this one does, are always welcome.