Awake

The woods have a weird way to make you feel uncomfortable after the sun sets, even if all the logical fibers in your body know that there’s nothing out there hunting for you. Hence, it’s no wonder that most video games and horror movies take place somewhere in the middle of the forest. On the other hand, you can also tell a creepy story without resorting to nature at all.

Awake is a point & click adventure game in which you play the role of a man trapped in a time loop in the middle of a forest, where he and his girlfriend decided to spend a while to relax. Hence, he always seems to wake up at the table near her, after he is abducted and taken in a trunk somewhere. Obviously, your job is to help him find a way to break the loop and save himself.

Although the gameplay mechanics should be familiar to everyone who’s a fan of point & click adventure games, there are a few subtle differences. The first one is that you can pick up most of the items you can interact with, and there doesn’t seem to be a limit to your inventory. Hence, your character can carry gas canisters, brooms, fishing poles and a couple of other items without breaking a sweat.

Since it would appear that the events keep repeating themselves forever as long as you let them, you have as much time as you need to figure what you need to do. Obviously, the best approach is to take it step-by-step, which means solving the puzzles as they come. Whether it’s to take the flashlight or something to help you untie the rope, you cannot figure out everything at once.

The graphics are actually quite expressive, even if they are in black and white. Most of the environments are very atmospheric, especially when it comes to the forest you find yourself in at the end of each loop. The music is very nice as well, although it might get repetitive after a while, but then again so does the gameplay.

All things considered, Awake is certainly a nice game, especially when you consider the fact that it was created in only two weeks for a jam competition. Hence, if you are up for something new, this can certainly provide you with a good time.