The Great Palermo

Instant gratification seems to be the leading trend in almost everything out there, especially when it comes to video games. There are many counter-examples as well, such as point-and-click adventure games and RPGs, but even these are sometimes forced to implement some kind of QTEs, or an engaging combat system to keep the players from whining about a dull experience.

The Great Palermo pays no mind to what the majority wants and it features an almost indescribable experience, with a thick atmosphere that takes you places from the first few seconds. It may not make too much sense at first, or it may never make complete sense at all, but the game is most certainly worthy of multiple playthroughs, if only to experiment with different choices.

As the name practically gives it away, the story takes place in the city of Palermo, Italy. You play the role of a kid trying to play soccer and have a good time, but his mother sends him to the market every day in order to buy eggs. It’s the journey to the market that changes each time, since you are allowed to make different decisions when it comes to the route you take.

Since it wouldn’t be in the spirit of the Italian culture without at least some mention of food, The Great Palermo leans pretty hard on various culinary themes. The main character is offered a variety of interesting foods by the people he meets in his trips to the market, and these treats actually have the power to transform the little boy into something else, such as a mighty king.

The greatest thing about the game is definitely the artwork, because there’s nothing quite like it out there. Even the transitions from one scene to the next are fascinating, and they work wonders for the atmosphere. On top of it all, the soundtrack is wonderful as well, which completes the experience and allows you to fully immerse yourself in a different world.

In the end, The Great Palermo is a one-of-a-kind experience, and you should give it a try whether you are a visual novel fan or not. It’s wonderful to see something different in a video game for a change, and We Are Muesli appears to be the kind of studio that does things according to its own rules, which is great.