Virginia Demo

A great atmosphere is what makes a movie or a video game unforgettable, because almost everything else is designed to help you get in the proper mood, including graphics, sound and story. Hence, greatness is achieved when you can think of a movie scene or game level and instantly know what kind of music was playing in the background and how everything looked.

Virginia is a very intriguing first-person adventure game in which you play the role of an FBI agent investigating the disappearance of a little boy. The game is designed to impress through imagery and atmosphere, which is why every scene has a unique feel to it. It’s actually amazingly well done, especially when you consider the fact that this is the work of an independent studio.

As it’s only natural, the game story takes place in Virginia, or more exactly in Burgess County, Kingdom. You play as a newbie FBI agent with a seasoned partner who has seen a lot throughout the years, so there are definitely some familiar ideas at work here. The plot starts with the investigation of a disappearance, but the story soon turns pretty weird and engaging.

It’s pretty obvious that Virginia was inspired by shows like True Detective and Twin Peaks, especially when it comes to how the town and the characters are presented. Every scene is carefully arranged and designed to rattle your emotions, and many of the sights are actually quite memorable. Granted, it’s difficult to give a definite opinion judging from the demo alone, but it would appear that the whole thing is one solid experience.

A lot of this is thanks to the exceptional use of the graphics engine, even if it’s not the most powerful one out there. In fact, the colorful landscapes are almost blocky sometimes, but the clever use of colors and lighting has you completely immersed in the atmosphere. The music is also exceptional, not to mention the post-processing effects added on top.

In the end, Virginia’s demo is a very enthralling experience, and one can only hope that the full game is going to be just as polished and engaging. Hence, if you like weird detective stories that slowly descend into madness along the way, Virginia might just be the thing you’ve been looking for.