Written By: JP Developer: We Are Museli Platforms: PC, Mac and Linux Genre: Philosophical, Art House, Surreal Release Date: July 3, 2013 Official Website | "We don't have to settle." "We can expect more than this." "Experiment! Try something new! There is no downside!" At a certain point, you get so used to the things you think you're saying to no one it almost becomes second nature to forget WHY you say them in the first place. Visual Novels have always been an opportunity to take what can be very formulaic and make the story and presentation unique to you, your group or just your idea of what fiction should be. As I have watched the medium grow in the past few years, I have played great games but never had a chance to hold up something as an ideal of my own unique tastes. Today, that changes. Ladies, Gentlemen and Others, it is a pleasure to bring you my review of Cave! Cave! Deus Videt! Which is Latin for "Beware! Beware! God Sees!" |
Story
The game's story is extraordinary and it really does you a disservice for me to try and summarize it here...mostly because I'm not sure if I even could. But let's give it a shot anyway. Half of the game focuses on exploring different interpretations of Bosch's Triptych while half explores the mindset needed to even do that much. Hoodie himself serves as an unreliable narrator as not only can you not be sure of his sanity and that everything and everyone we see are just a product of his broken mind, but that he's not actually a reincarnated Saint Anthony reliving the events of his past as is also subtly alluded to during the game.
And all of this happens as a part of the two routes of the game which gives you two unique (see: 'dark') interpretations of the actual Triptych with one from Saint Anthony's point of view and one from the artist Bosch. It is a brilliant look at not just symbolism and its evolution through human history but how it relates to where mankind puts its faith: whether it be in the divine or its own understanding. It is an excellent examination of our nature, our fears and what keeps us going in the darker times of life, however this is also where my only complaint exists.
I am not an art student and before I played Cave! Cave! I didn't even know who Bosch was. This game was made for the International Bosch Art Game Competition where young people take Bosch's work and try and translate it to the gaming medium...and one of the ones chosen for it was a visual novel. Sweet. Unfortunately it means that everyone involved are already familiar with Bosch and his work. It's kind of like being tossed into an Olympic-swimming pool with a pair of water wings if you've never swam before in your life. There isn't even an extras menu to archive the different paths and their interpretations.
That isn't to say it was a bad choice because, again you have to consider the audience it's intended for. But a part of artistic interpretation is understanding the history and context which means if you want to fully understand this game you'll have to do your own research. I can see this turning off some people though who don't want to go too deep down the rabbit hole this game pretty much is, but if it does I can only say, well, screw 'em.
This is probably one of the few plots that I can say 'This isn't a game for everyone' with a smile. No, not everyone will like it or even try to understand it, but that comes with creating something unique. And make no mistake about it, this story is unique one that has no end to its intellectual depths. As dark as it gets, I can't think of another EVN that perfectly married human nature, curiosity and identity...as well as Jedis somehow. It is a well-written, intelligent, mature story that rewards you for every thought you put into it. ..and I also think it's kinda hot.
Yeah it's cramped but with the announcement of World's Finest, I had to think of a way to sneak that in.
Can you See Me Hoodie?
Presentation & Gameplay
Have I mentioned the overwhelming mind fuck this EVN is? That can really be seen in the overall game play which takes something simple like a puzzle and makes you afraid to look at the screen. Another great element is their use of choice basically to show how futile some choices are. I won't spoil how this is done exactly, but the minute Hoodie remarked on what had happened I nearly tossed my laptop across the room. The game enjoys screwing with you and it is very good at it with even the final moments of the EVN used to push you as close to the edge as possible while not over. While it may seem like an empty comparison, this is as close to the final scene of Inception as any genre of fiction has come and to be left with that impression a full twenty-four hours after playing through it is an achievement in and of itself.
...Anyone else sees a Helghast Flipping Them Off?
Replay Value
Overall
It's faith: faith in the everlasting curiosity of human nature. It's also a reminder to us that we have barely scratched the surface of what our little medium can do. Because we are not limited to appeasing a mass audience via a console or even a specific market like many computer titles, visual novelists and their teams are free to experiment with every genre and style they want to. The world of art and fiction is yours to play with and while I will never look down or turn away from many of the great works I've seen so far in my two years doing this, it's visual novels like Cave! Cave! Deus Videt! that keeps me going and reminds me that there will always be a higher height we have yet to obtain.
As I said previously, this wasn't made just to be made. This is one of six finalists in the International Bosch Art Game Competition. And while I don't think there is fan voting or anything, some noise on social media might help as the whole point is to spread recognition for Bosch.
Well, what else can I say? Play this game. PLAY. THIS. GAME. Even if, in the end, you don't like it for whatever reason, I promise you that you will never think of this genre the same way again.
Final Score
10/10 | + Excellent Story With Unique and Interesting Characters + Great Presentation That Successful Merges Several Art Forms + Memorable Well After You've Stopped Playing |