T
his is a game about being a
good friend, which at times
means being a slightly
annoying one. As an
anthropomorphic bunny named
Aaron, you’ve arrived at your friend
Zoey’s house to, well, keep her
company, as she’s clearly suffering
from depression and in no mood to
leave her bed, let alone the house.
A lot goes unsaid in this lovely little
adventure game, as you explore the
environs of your friend’s tiny
bedroom. You’re not there to have a
deep, intimate conversation with
Zoey – you’re there to briefly get her
out of her head, and the best way to
do that is to mess about with that
crystal thingy sending new age vibes
around her bedroom, nosey around
on her computer and games console,
and generally disturb her many
possessions in the cheeky manner of
someone that truly cares.
That’s not to say that glimmers of
backstory won’t come through as you
rifle. Investigate her console and
you’ll learn that she’s sold all her
games, seemingly as a result of her
depression. Log onto her PC and
you’ll find that she’s been playing a
puzzle game where the ultimate goal
is to acquire some friends.
It’s a quietly affecting story, but
the only thing you can do – the only
thing that will really help – is simply
being there with her.
And so, you be there. You
complete the puzzle game, you pull
down that weird poster (then, after
she complains, carefully put it back
up), you try to play a tune on her
crappy old keyboard. Eventually,
having investigated/messed with
everything, you talk to Zoey once
more. She thanks you for
being there, and the game
ends. What a personal,
meaningful little story.83
BEST FRIENDS
Being a nice nuisance in Z’S ROOM. By Tom Sykes
DEVELOPER
shockpinePUBLISHER
In-houseLINK
shockpine.itch.ioNEED TO KNOWRemember the Konami code?
It’ll come in handy...I love the art style. It’s like an
interactive webcomic.T
he latest in an anthology
exploring a realm of science
fiction weirdness,Tales
from the Outer Zone: The Goat
Crone feels markedly different from
the futuristic adventuring of the
previous game. WhereCyborg
Seppukulooked like a fancy
Moebius painting brought to life,
The Goat Croneis far grittier, a little
more messily drawn, in a way that
entirely fits with the creepy horror
story at its core.
You play as a young woman who has
to care for her infant brother,
scavenge and cook the dinner, while
her father does unspecified business
in the nearby forest – an area strictly
off-limits to fearful Alma. It’s a game
that grabs your attention right off the
bat with a particularly horrible
puzzle involving the baby – a puzzle
that, thankfully, it doesn’t commit to.
From then on the tension never
subsides, as you explore the bounds
of your old-fashioned settlement
collecting ingredients for the
evening’s dinner – a goal that entails
a handful of basic puzzles.
But while these are fairly menial
in nature, the story should hold your
attention through to the end. You’ll
want to know what lies in the spooky
forest, and you’ll need to know what
the deal is with the horrifying Goat
Crone – a witch-like spectre that
haunts your every step.
Ultimately, the game doesn’t quite
manage to stick the landing,
impressing with its final vista but
never delivering on the underlying
tension. Unanswered questions are
fine, but you’re not rewarded for your
investment in the story, which merely
ends, somewhat appropriately, on a
cliff. PlayThe Goat Crone
for the atmosphere, which
is rich and dark like a
witch’s broth.72
GOATY EDITION
Uncover secrets inTHE GOAT CRONE. By Tom Sykes
DEVELOPER
TheOuterZonePUBLISHER
In-houseLINK
theouterzone.itch.ioNEED TO KNOWIt’s worth playing Cyborg
Seppukubefore this one.The game reminds a little of
recent horror film The Witch.Z’s Room / The Goat Crone
FREE GAMES REVIEW