Home

Benjamin Rivers has created a game bringing gamers back to a simpler time when DOS and 8-bit games ruled our computer and television screens. The simplicity of these games made many of us fall in love with video games and Home reignites that initial feeling of affection felt so many years ago.

You begin Home by waking from a slumber; confused, alone, and in a strange house. Your wallet is missing. Your ID and credit cards are gone. With nothing but a flashlight you wonder, "Where am I, how did I get here?"

You make your way through the strange house and travel through other settings including a  creepy forest and an all too familiar electrical facility. Throughout your travels you come upon gruesome crime scenes and mysterious murder weapons; all the while showing concern for your beloved wife Rachel's well being.

Making yes and no decisions changes the gameplay and affects the final outcome of the game. Do you snoop through a strangers desk? Do you take the knife? A yes or no answer to these questions could lead to your death or another step closer to finding your way home.

Home is described as a Horror Adventure game with the Horror part taken lightly. You will not jump out of your seat screaming or need to sleep with the lights on but you will have an internal reaction. Your stomach may drop or you may momentarily experience nausea from reading about the stench of a rotting body. As suggested, play Home wearing headphones in a dark room. Be sure you will not be interrupted and complete the game in one sitting.

Experiencing the game in this manner enhances the creepy pixilated world and heightens your senses, making you pay particular attention to the sounds of creaking doors, dripping water, and heavy footsteps. With lights on and background distractions Home just doesn't live up to its potential; in fact it takes away much of the excitement.

It doesn't take long for the player to grasp that Home is a simple game. This simplicity makes for a game accessible to all. The concept of the game is easy to grasp with basic commands and actions. You use your computers arrow keys to move the character and the spacebar to interact with objects (and dead bodies). The object of the game is to experience it; make yes and no decisions and watch the story unfold.

Few negative things can be said about Home as it's short, sweet, and to the point; pulling at your emotions and leaving you shell shocked at the end. All of this, of course depending on prior decisions. However, while playing the game you may feel as if you know what will happen next. Complete the game and you may find this to be true. Play the game again and you will understand why. You made the decisions and therefore were in charge of the plot and eventual outcome.

Taking only about one hour to complete, Home delivers what it promises. It's worth every comfortable 300 pennies spent.

For more information on Home visit the game's official website.

Megan Bethke, NoobFeed.
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