1000xRESIST Review
1000xRESIST is a story-driven game made right here in Canada by the Vancouver-based developer Sunset Visitor and published by Fellow Traveller Games. This game 100% caught me off guard with its experimental and innovative storytelling, unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Initially, I did find the game to be a bit clunky; however, as I became more immersed in the mysterious realm of ALLMOTHER Iris and her numerous clones, I grew more and more invested in the rich and layered world of memories. This game has a complex narrative that took me on an unexpected adventure.
The game's sound design certainly warrants special mention and accolades for its quality. The voice editing and background music are crafted with much expertise, allowing players to have an immersive atmosphere experience that significantly contributes to the storytelling aspect of the game. Although I did find that there was some space for improvement in the spatial awareness of the voices, it should be noted that this particular aspect did not present a significant issue that detracted from the overall fun and experience of the game.
During the sequence "After The Dance," is where I found myself becoming more and more intrigued as the story unfolded. At that point, the game came into its own for me as I became invested in the various layers of memory woven throughout the narrative, each becoming increasingly interesting and complicated. This game took manyunexpected twists that I had not anticipated, revealing darker and darker aspects of the seemingly utopian society that the characters inhabited, piquing my interest and assumptions about the ALLMOTHER on a profound level.
One of the most substantial and interesting features of 1000xRESIST is how profoundly it explores the complex mother-daughter relationships and the problematic idea of generational trauma that can be passed through families over many years. The game takes its time to dive deep into the complicated and frequently strained dynamics between the character Iris and her mother, presenting us with a relationship uniquely characterized by tough love and lingering unresolved tensions that have accumulated throughout the years. This strong theme not only informs their interactions but also carries out to the larger society of clones (a.k.a sisters) in the world of the game, where the ALLMOTHER's conception of love is uncomfortably coupled with aspects of punishment and an expectation of harsh obedience, illustrating the widespread power of control in their universe. It is a deeply moving and insightful contemplation of the profoundly significant ways that trauma and the dynamics of complicated familial relationships can profoundly impact and define whole societies throughout multiple generations.
The game also references timely real-world issues, like Chinese immigrant life in Canada and the challenges of assimilation to a new country. It is not afraid to tackle subjects such as racism amidst pandemics and uses current global events to place and enrich its own fictional world.
Although the narrative pace of the game sometimes felt somewhat slow, especially near the start of my adventure, the payoff in the end was well and truly worth waiting for. As I continued moving forward through layer upon layer of complex memories, I was wholly and utterly engrossed in what turned out to be a story I just couldn't put down, which I failed to anticipate when I initially began playing the game.
My time with 1000xRESIST surprised me with its incredible depth, complex richness, and powerful emotional resonance. While I at first had some reservations about the games art style and pacing, I discovered that the game eventually won me over entirely with its outstanding world-building and narrative methods. This game stays with you, encouraging profound contemplation on weighty themes such as identity, family relationships, and the stresses of societal pressures long after you have finished the gameplay experience.
With its fascinating and thought-provoking narrative, perceptive themes that prompt introspective reflection, and the surprising effect it has had on my personal perspective, I would have no hesitation in giving 1000xRESIST a worthy 8 out of 10. This is a richly rewarding, intensely layered game that impressively highlights video games' capabilities as a viable and efficient medium for conveying complicated and mature narratives.
